Medway · England
Sand mastic for sash & case windows in Chatham, Medway
Our applicators work in Chatham on traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old sealant removed completely, joints prepared properly.
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
- Modern sealant on a period surround
About our sand mastic in Chatham
Fresh sand mastic forms a skin quite soon but full hardening takes longer. Traditionally, sand mastic is left unpainted, so ask us before you decorate. We’re often asked to deal with open joints round the window box and weathered mastic on the most exposed windows, on sash and case windows, stone surrounds and tenement windows.
A place the size of Chatham has every kind of window, from older timber frames to uPVC and aluminium in newer homes, plus conservatories, patio doors and rooflights. Each needs the right sealant, and each joint wears out eventually.
You get a one-year guarantee, the same in Chatham as everywhere else we work.
What sand mastic looks like in Chatham
Compared with the north and west, the South East gets less rain, though outdoor sealant still has to go onto a dry joint, so the forecast decides the day. Historic houses like Restoration House (about 2.4 miles north-west) are a reminder that the area around Chatham has older buildings as well as new. In older buildings, older frames set in brick or stone need a sealant that suits them, and sometimes that is traditional sand mastic.
Schools such as Wayfield Primary School are buildings too, and larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages. Homes close to Christ the King include some older properties, and replacement windows fitted into old openings often leave uneven gaps that need backing and a flexible joint.
Chatham is about 29 miles east of London, in Medway. Jobs in Chatham get the same care as everywhere else we work: the old material taken out, joints prepared properly and a 12-month guarantee. Our area takes in 68 places across Medway, large and small. For nearby work, see our Chelmsford page.
Jobs for sand mastic in ME5, ME4, ME7 and ME1 is quoted and booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Luton High Street, Market Place and High Street and the roads around them. Chatham is on the A2 and A229, so it’s easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Luton (1 mile north), Hale (1 mile north-east), Darland (1 mile east), Capstone (1 mile east) and Walderslade (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Rochester (3 miles north-west), Rainham (3 miles east), Strood (3 miles north-west), Park Wood (3 miles east), Twydall (3 miles north-east) and Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north). Chatham is among the bigger towns we cover in Medway.
What’s near Chatham
Around Chatham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Huntsman pub, Walderslade Girls' School and Darland Banks. The closest station to Chatham is Chatham station, roughly 1.7 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Six Poor Travellers House (2.5 miles north-west) and Rochester Castle (2.6 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
What happens on the day
Before we leave, we go over the finished joints with you and explain the cure time. The work normally takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several, depending on the amount of work. For homes and businesses in busier parts of Chatham, parking needs a little planning. For flats, mention stairs, lifts and shared entrances as well.
- We check each window surround and the condition of the joint.
- The joint is raked out and cleaned.
- Large voids are packed out.
- We point the joint with sand mastic by hand.
- We finish the mastic to a tidy line.
Getting ready for the visit
- Tell us about access, such as stairs, a lift or high-level joints
- Keep pets and children clear of the area while we work
- Try not to wet indoor joints just before the visit
Get a quote
Call for a quick quote, or send an email if you’d rather. Tell us about the joints that need doing and we’ll explain what’s involved before giving you a price.
Related advice
When something else is needed
New sealant can’t fix everything, and we will tell you before we start. It will not solve:
- Sashes that rattle, stick or won’t open
- Cracked or broken glass
- Crumbling stone or brickwork round the window
If in doubt, phone 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and we will say what we think before you book.
Where we work in Chatham
- Sash and case windows
- Timber door frames
- Tenement windows
- Brick reveals
- Stone surrounds
- Period & listed homes
Looking after it afterwards
Good habits help new joints last longer. Our tips:
- Go gently near the mastic when preparing windows
- Avoid patching sand mastic with silicone
- Plan mastic work ahead of painting
- Ask the planning authority about consent for listed or conservation-area homes
Leave the new mastic alone while it firms up. It forms a skin fairly soon, but takes longer to harden fully.
Renewing mastic before redecorating saves doing it twice. Painting over failed mastic hides the problem for a while.
Landlords, agents and businesses in Chatham
Businesses can book us for washrooms, kitchens, offices and more. For commercial premises, we can talk through working times when we quote.
Mouldy or split sealant often shows up at the end of a tenancy, and it’s easy to sort out between tenants. Several properties can go on one quote.
Other services in Chatham
What affects the quote in Chatham
Your quote is based on your job. We take into account:
- How easy the joints are to reach
- The amount of work
- Any working-time requirements on site
- Which sealant suits the joint
What you pay reflects the work, not guesswork. That is why we ask a few questions first.
Asking for a quote
There’s no need for technical detail. Just tell us:
- If it’s domestic, commercial or a hotel
- Whether it has been sealed before
- The problem you’ve noticed
- Where the property is
We don’t publish a price list, because every job is different. Instead, your job gets its own clear quote. To arrange one, phone 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email.
Questions from Chatham
What guarantee comes with sand mastic in Chatham?
All our work, in Chatham and everywhere else, comes with a 12-month guarantee. We’re also fully insured and ARBOMaster approved.
Do you work for landlords with property near Chatham station?
Yes. We work for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. Just ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email with the address and what needs doing, and we will give you a clear quote.
What does sand mastic cost?
There’s no set price, as it depends on the job: how much there is, what’s there now, how we reach it and what it needs. We agree the price before any work begins.
Is consent needed for window work on a listed home?
Checking first is sensible. Ask your local planning authority whether consent is needed for listed or conservation-area properties.
Can I do it myself?
It depends on the job. Work at height, movement joints, fire-rated gaps and large areas are best left to a professional, while a short indoor joint may be within reach.
Do you come to Chatham?
We do. Our applicators work in Chatham, and the service is the same as everywhere else.
Should I use sand mastic or silicone?
Sand mastic normally suits period timber windows best. On modern frames, we’d normally use a flexible sealant.
Can you quote for more than one area?
Yes. More than one area can be quoted together.
Should I try it myself first?
A careful DIYer can reseal a simple joint, such as a straightforward joint indoors. Where it goes wrong is sealing over the old bead, working on a wet joint or overloading the gap.
If you’re set on DIY, put the effort into preparation: take out all the old sealant, make sure the joint is clean and dry, and give it the full cure time. If it doesn’t work out, we can still put it right.
When to call us in Chatham
Shallow joints are a common cause. A thin layer doesn’t hold well, which is why we pack deep voids first and get the depth right.
Common reasons people contact us are:
- Failed mastic on an exposed elevation
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
- Old cement repairs round a window that have failed
If you let a flat or house near Chatham station, older sash windows in a rental need their mastic kept sound to keep the weather out.
Before you book anyone
- Is the old sealant removed completely?
- Whether VAT is included
- What guarantee comes with the work
- What happens if the job turns out different