Edinburgh · Scotland
Chesser Sand Mastic
Problem with your window and door surrounds in Chesser? We cut out the old, prepare the joints and apply the right sealant, and the work is guaranteed for a year.
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Wind and rain getting in round a sash window
Sand mastic in Chesser, done properly
Sand mastic is the traditional way to point the gap between a timber window frame and the stone or brick around it. It’s made from sand and a linseed-oil-based binder and built up by hand. On older homes, it suits the building far better than silicone. We are often asked to deal with tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint and mastic round period door frames that has failed, on brick reveals, stone surrounds and timber door frames.
Sash and case windows are a feature of older tenements in all four Scottish cities, though many have since been replaced. In Chesser, as anywhere, the mastic between frame and wall is what stops draughts and rain getting in.
The work is guaranteed for twelve months. If something is not right with it in that time, tell us and we’ll put it right.
- Place
- Chesser (EH14, EH11, EH12)
- Region
- Edinburgh
- Guarantee
- A year, on every job
- Quotes
- A clear price before we start
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Questions from Chesser
Do you work for landlords with property near Slateford station?
Yes. We work for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners, and several properties can go on one quote. You can send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with the details for a clear quote.
Do you cover Chesser for sand mastic?
Yes, Chesser is within the area we cover. Our work covers the whole of Scotland. Just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job.
How long does sand mastic take?
It depends on the size of the job, but as a guide it takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. We will tell you when we quote.
Should I check with the council before work on a listed or conservation-area home?
Check with your local planning authority. They’ll tell you if consent is needed for work to your windows.
Can you match the sealant colour?
We will suggest a colour to suit the surroundings, from white and clear to greys and other shades. The product needed can limit the range.
Should I use sand mastic or silicone?
It depends on the window. Period windows in stone or brick generally suit sand mastic and newer frames usually get a flexible sealant.
Will there be a smell?
Possibly a little. Any smell clears as the sealant cures.
Do you take out the old sealant first?
Always. Sealing over the old bead is the commonest cause of early failure, so we never do it.
Surface by surface
Stone surrounds
Sand mastic sits naturally against stone. The finish blends with the masonry.
Sash and case windows
On a sash window, the mastic joint shows on the outside, so a neat, even finish matters.
Other services in Chesser
When to call us in Chesser
Water gets into small cracks in the mastic and loosens it further. Windows facing the weather tend to go first.
Signs it’s time to call us include:
- Open joints round the window box
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
Managing a site like Balgreen Primary School? Then the mastic around its windows and doors needs looking after like any other building’s.
Comparing quotes
- Is VAT in the price?
- What insurance they hold
- Which sealant they’ll use, and why
- How much experience the applicator has
Aftercare tips
After the cure time, these simple habits help:
- Go gently near the mastic when preparing windows
- Keep sills and gutters clear so water drains away
- Don’t run silicone over sand mastic
- Ask the planning authority about consent for listed or conservation-area homes
Avoid painting over the new mastic, as traditional guidance advises. Ask us before any decorating around it.
Small cracks are a sign the mastic is ageing. It’s easier to renew it before it drops out.
Frames and glazing around Chesser
Historic houses like Whitefoord House (about 3.2 miles north-east) are a reminder that the area around Chesser has older buildings as well as new. Where a home is older, older frames set in brick or stone need a sealant that suits them, and sometimes that’s traditional sand mastic. Sash and case windows are common in older Scottish homes, and the joint between the box frame and the stone or render is traditionally pointed with sand mastic.
For an older house near a landmark such as Stenhouse Saughton Church, the joint between an old wall and a newer frame is normally the first place rain gets in. If you let a flat or house near Slateford station, cracked sand mastic around sash windows lets in the draughts tenants complain about.
Chesser is about 2 miles south-west of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh. From the centre of Chesser to the outskirts, we cover sand mastic for every kind of property. Chesser is one of 175 towns and villages in Edinburgh we cover for sand mastic.
All of EH14, EH11 and EH12 is within our area for sand mastic. We cover properties on Appin Lane, Ford's Road and Gorgie Road. We also cover the places around Chesser: Slateford (1 mile east), Parkhead (1 mile south-west), Redhall (1 mile south-west), Stenhouse (1 mile north-west) and Longstone (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Leith (5 miles north-east), Bonnington (4 miles north-east), Greenside (3 miles north-east), Broughton (3 miles north-east), Bellevue (3 miles north-east) and Silvermills (3 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Chesser
We work in homes and buildings around Cross Keys Tavern, Gabrielle Keiller Library and Merchiston Castle School, among other places. Also close by are Saughton Park (under half a mile north) and Firrhill High School (1.1 miles south-east). Chesser has its own railway station: Slateford station. Nearby you’ll also find Merchiston Tower (1.4 miles east) and Murrayfield Experience (0.9 miles north). For a walk, there’s Dunsapie Loch and Craiglockhart Hill.
What we do, step by step
We keep the work tidy and contained to the joints we are treating. The job usually takes a few hours per window, depending on the condition of the joints. Many homes in Scotland’s cities are tenement flats, reached through a shared close and up a common stair. In Chesser, it helps to know the floor, the door entry arrangements and the nearest parking.
- First we agree which joints need doing.
- We remove the old, loose mastic.
- Deep gaps are packed so the mastic sits at the right depth.
- We apply the mastic by hand and shape it.
- We dress the finish so it sits neatly against the masonry.
Getting ready for the visit
- Let us know about parking restrictions
- Mention any sign-in or site rules at work premises
- Mention any leaks or damp you’ve noticed
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: let us know the job and the location, and roughly how big it is. A few photos by email make the job easier to understand, and we’ll take it from there.
Advice
Leave it or put it right?
New mastic over crumbling mastic won’t hold. Raking out and preparing the joint gives it a sound base so the new mastic stays put. Private landlords in Chesser must meet the Repairing Standard, and damp or leaks can fall short of it, so it’s worth fixing failed sealant before a tenant reports it.
Doing several joints on one visit is generally more efficient than separate visits, so it’s worth mentioning everything you’d like done. You will get one clear quote for the whole job.
What you get with us
- We’re fully insured
- Neat joints and a tidy finish
- Anti-fungal sanitary silicone in wet areas
- Every job guaranteed for a year
See our cost guide and customer reviews.
What we can’t put right
We will always be straight with you, so here’s what sealant can’t fix:
- Sash cords, weights and draught-proofing of the sashes
- Timber that has rotted
- Cracked or broken glass
If you are not sure, just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk and we will give you a straight answer before booking.
Surfaces we seal
- Stone surrounds
- Brick reveals
- Sash and case windows
- Tenement windows
- Period & listed homes
- Timber door frames
Quotes for sand mastic in Chesser
Every job gets its own quote. This is what makes a difference:
- Whether there’s mould to deal with
- The size of the job
- Access and height
- How many areas need sealing
Every job is a little different, so we quote each one individually. The number of joints, how easy they are to reach and the sealant needed all make a difference, and we will explain the quote if you ask.
What we need to know
What to tell us when you ask for a quote:
- What’s wrong with the joints now
- How we’d reach the joints
- If it’s domestic, commercial or a hotel
- Photos by email, if that’s easy
For a quick quote, get us on the phone, or email us if that is easier. Describe what needs sealing and we will explain what’s involved and give you a clear price.