Edinburgh · Scotland
Sand Mastic in Comely Bank
Our applicators work in Comely Bank on traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old material cut out, joints cleaned and sealed neatly.
- Old cement repairs round a window that have failed
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Weathered mastic on the most exposed windows
About our sand mastic in Comely Bank
Silicone on a period window often looks wrong and isn’t always the right material. Sand mastic is the traditional choice and we can swap the silicone for it. We work on stone surrounds, sash and case windows and tenement windows, and common reasons people get in touch are tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint and modern sealant on a period surround.
Scotland’s cities are full of stone-built tenements and terraces, in sandstone or granite. Natural stone around older windows needs a sealant that won’t mark or attack it, so acetoxy silicones, which can attack some stone, are best avoided.
Every job comes with a 12-month guarantee, wherever you are in Edinburgh.
- Where
- Comely Bank (EH4, EH3, EH2)
- Wider area
- Edinburgh
- Cover
- 12 months on all our work
- Price
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
Signs you need sand mastic in Comely Bank
Previous repairs in cement or silicone often trap water or crack away. They do not move with the timber, and they generally need raking out.
Common reasons people contact us include:
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
Letting a property close to Haymarket station? Then cracked sand mastic around sash windows lets in the draughts tenants complain about.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the sealant suits the joint
- Whether they’re fully insured
- How the colour is chosen
- What the quote includes, VAT included or not
Keeping the joints in good condition
So the new joints stay in good condition:
- Leave the new mastic unpainted
- Get any rot dealt with first
- Make sure water runs off the sill
- Plan mastic work ahead of painting
When preparing windows for paint, take care around the mastic. Hard scraping can loosen it.
Crumbling mastic lets rain into the joint. That water can reach the timber frame and the wall so early renewal protects both.
How the visit works
All our tools and materials come with us in the van, so you do not need to buy or prepare anything. Once we have agreed what’s being done, the area is protected and the work begins. It normally takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. Parking in city streets around Comely Bank can be tight or controlled, so it helps to know about permits or nearby bays. For flats, mention the door entry system and any shared-stair arrangements.
- First we agree which joints need doing.
- Old mastic and any loose material are raked out.
- We pack any deep voids first.
- The sand mastic is mixed and pressed into the joint by hand.
- The surface is finished to suit the stone or brick.
How to prepare
- Mention any leaks or damp you’ve noticed
- Let us know about earlier repairs to the joints
- Where the joints are inside, avoid wetting them before we arrive
Get a quote
Want a quote for sand mastic? Please drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us about the job. We’ll explain what we’d do and give you a clear quote before we start.
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When it isn’t the sealant
We’d rather tell you now than do work that won’t last, so these are the limits:
- Damaged stone surrounds
- Putty and glazing repairs
- Sashes that need overhauling
If in doubt, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Surfaces we seal
- Period & listed homes
- Sash and case windows
- Stone surrounds
- Brick reveals
- Tenement windows
- Timber door frames
Comely Bank: your questions answered
Who arranges sealant work on the shared parts of a tenement in Comely Bank?
Shared parts of a tenement, such as the roof and outside walls, are generally repaired with the agreement of the owners, often through a property factor. The Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 sets out how that works where the title deeds do not. Your title deeds will say who owns the windows.
Do you work for landlords with property near Haymarket station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the address and what needs doing, and we’ll send you a clear quote.
Which products do you use?
We choose the sealant for the joint, not the other way round. Where it moves, gets wet or faces the weather makes a difference, and we will explain our choice.
Do you remove the old sealant?
Yes. All of the old material is cut out and the joint cleaned.
What is sand mastic?
It’s sand mixed with a linseed-oil-based binder, used between timber frames and stone or brick.
Which is right for my windows, sand mastic or modern sealant?
Sand mastic normally suits period timber windows best. On modern frames, we’d normally use a flexible sealant, and we will explain why.
Can old silicone round a sash window be swapped for sand mastic?
Yes, it’s a common request. All the old silicone is removed first so the mastic can sit properly.
Is it messy?
No. We protect the surfaces around the joints, and we clear up the old sealant and our materials before we leave.
Work for landlords, hotels and businesses
We regularly work with letting and managing agents. Tell us the address, the job and how access works and we’ll give you a quote.
Whether it’s one flat or a portfolio, you get the same standard of work: old sealant fully removed, joints prepared properly and a 12-month guarantee.
How we quote for sand mastic
For a quick quote, just ask. What matters most is:
- How many areas need sealing
- Any working-time requirements on site
- Any mould that needs treating
- Whether the work is at height
Doing several joints on one visit normally makes better use of the time than several visits, so it’s worth mentioning everything you’d like done. You’ll get one clear quote for the whole job.
What we need to know
To help us quote quickly, please include:
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
- Whether it has been sealed before
- What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking
- The address or postcode of the job
Every job is quoted individually. Just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with the details, and photos are welcome.
Should I try it myself first?
Not every job suits DIY: work at height, external movement joints, fire-rated sealant and large areas call for the right materials, safe access and experience.
If you are 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 fails, we can still redo it.
Frames and glazing around Comely Bank
Comely Bank is within about 2 miles of the coast, where wind-driven rain is a fact of life and, nearer the shore, so is salt air. That is hard on the mastic around older windows and doors, especially on the side facing the sea. Historic houses like Whitefoord House (about 1.7 miles east) are a reminder that the area around Comely Bank has older buildings as well as new. Where a home is older, older timber frames in brick or stone need a different approach from a modern uPVC window.
Homes close to Dean Parish Church include some older properties, and the joint between an old wall and a newer frame is usually the first place rain gets in. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Broughton High School, larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.
Comely Bank is about 1 mile north-west of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh. Homes, rented property, offices and hotels in Comely Bank can book us for sand mastic, old or new, large or small. Every job comes with our 12-month guarantee. We cover 175 towns and villages across Edinburgh, from the larger towns to small villages.
All of EH4, EH3 and EH2 is within our area for sand mastic. Local streets include Circus Lane, Belford Road and Orchard Road. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Stockbridge (1 mile east), Craigleith (1 mile north-west), Dean Village (1 mile south), Silvermills (1 mile east) and Inverleith (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Queensferry (7 miles west), South Portobello (4 miles east), Southhouse (5 miles south-east), Mayfield (3 miles south-east), Gilmerton (5 miles south-east) and Gracemount (4 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Comely Bank
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Stewart's Melville College, Tollcross Primary School and Stockbridge public library. You will also find Princes Street Gardens (0.8 miles south-east), Hamilton's Bar & Kitchen (within half a mile east) and St Cuthbert's Church (0.8 miles south-east). Comely Bank’s nearest station is Haymarket station, about 0.9 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Museum of the Grand Lodge of Scotland (0.8 miles south-east) and Waverley Mall (1.1 miles east). Open spaces near Comely Bank include Salisbury Crags and Dunsapie Loch.