Orkney Islands · Scotland
Dounby Sand Mastic
Window and door surrounds in Dounby need attention? We remove the old material, prepare the joints and seal them properly, and the work is guaranteed for a year.
- Mastic round period door frames that has failed
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
The process
The work is kept neat and contained to the area we’re working on. The job normally takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. Around Dounby, distance and access matter more than parking. Tell us how to find the property and how to reach the work.
- Each surround is checked first.
- We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
- Large voids are packed out.
- New sand mastic is applied and shaped by hand.
- The finish is dressed neatly.
Before we arrive
- On commercial sites, let us know about site rules
- Let us know about earlier repairs to the joints
- Mention any parking rules near the property
Ask for a quote
For a quote, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the location and a short description of the problem. We’ll give you a clear price before any work starts.
Related advice
How we handle sand mastic in Dounby
Silicone on a period window often looks wrong and does not suit the building. Sand mastic gives a finish that matches the age of the house, and we can replace one with the other. If you have window mastic to renew ahead of painting and draughts and rain around sash boxes, we can put it right.
Older stone-built homes in Scotland often have sash and case or timber windows set in stone. The sealant has to suit the stone, which rules out acetoxy silicones that can mark or attack it.
We guarantee the work for a year. If something is not right with it in that time, tell us and we will put it right.
- Location
- Dounby (KW17)
- Wider area
- Orkney Islands
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Quotes
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
What we can’t put right
It helps to know what we can’t do too:
- Putty and glazing repairs
- Planning or listed building consent (your local planning authority decides)
- Decayed frames that need repair
If in doubt, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we will say what we think.
Joints and surfaces we work on
- Brick reveals
- Timber door frames
- Tenement windows
- Period & listed homes
- Stone surrounds
- Sash and case windows
What sand mastic looks like in Dounby
Dounby is close to the coast, where wind-driven rain is a fact of life and, nearer the shore, so is salt air. That’s hard on the mastic around older windows and doors, especially on the side facing the sea. On the islands, wind and salt spray are hard on outside sealant.
Historic houses such as Skaill House, about 4 miles west, show how far back building around Dounby goes, and older homes nearby need a sealant that suits their walls.
Dounby is about 12 miles north-west of Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands. If you need sand mastic in Dounby, it’s easy to get a quote: please send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk. We cover the Orkney Islands from our Crawley base. Our the Orkney Islands coverage runs to 51 places, Dounby among them.
Every address in KW17 is within our area for sand mastic. We cover properties on Flett's Park, Back Road and Hillside Road. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Hourston (1 mile south), Skeabrae (1 mile west), Russland (2 miles south), Harray (3 miles south-east) and Tenston (3 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in the Orkney Islands, Dounby has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind. Island and remote addresses take a little more planning, so please mention your location when you email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Around Dounby
A little further out are Corrigall Farm Museum (2.1 miles south-east). Open spaces near Dounby include Birsay moors RSPB Reserve and Greeny Hill.
Should I try it myself first?
If you do try it yourself, take your time over the preparation: remove every trace of old sealant, clean and dry the joint, and follow the product’s cure time. If it doesn’t work out, we can still put it right.
The biggest DIY mistake is sealing over old sealant. New silicone will not bond to old, so it lifts and traps water and mould underneath. Everything old must be removed first.
What affects the quote in Dounby
You will get a clear quote before any work starts. It’s based on:
- When we can work, for business premises
- Any mould that needs treating
- The old material and how stubborn it is
- The amount of work
The cost reflects the work involved, not guesswork. That’s why we ask about the job first.
Helping us quote
You don’t need to know the technical terms. Just tell us:
- The address or postcode of the job
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
- What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking
- Whether it’s a home or a business
We quote each job on its own. Simply email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and describe the job and send photos if you have them.
Other services in Dounby
What the job involves on each surface
Period and listed homes
A traditional finish suits a period property.
Brick reveals
Loose mastic comes out and deep gaps are packed before the new mastic goes in.
What we’re called out for in Dounby
Shallow joints are a common cause. Mastic that is too thin cracks and drops out so we make sure the new mastic is the right thickness.
Most people get in touch when they notice one of these:
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- Tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint
In and around Dounby, as anywhere, good sand mastic starts with a clean, dry, properly prepared joint.
What your quote should include
- Who turns up on the day
- What happens if the job turns out different
- Whether they seal over old material or remove it
- How long the guarantee is
How to look after the new joints
Looking after new joints is easy, and it makes a real difference:
- Make sure water runs off the sill
- Keep modern sealant off the mastic
- Ask the planning authority about consent for listed or conservation-area homes
- Avoid heavy scraping on the mastic joint
Avoid painting over the new mastic, which is the traditional advice. Ask us before any decorating around it.
Sound mastic protects the frame. Once it fails, water can sit against the timber, which can lead to rot.
Your questions about sand mastic in Dounby
Will you come out to Dounby?
Yes. Dounby is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, including the islands, where work is planned around ferry crossings. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is sand mastic in a coastal place like Dounby any different?
Coastal homes put outside sealant through more weather than inland ones, so the choice of sealant and the preparation matter even more. Walls facing the sea are generally the first to need attention.
Can new sealant go over the old?
No. Fresh sealant doesn’t stick to old sealant, and it traps any mould or water underneath. It all has to come out first.
Is it possible to paint over sand mastic?
Sand mastic is normally left unpainted, as guidance on traditional windows advises. Ask us before decorating.
Do you remove the old sealant?
Yes. We cut out all the old sealant and clean the joint before resealing.
Is sand mastic better than silicone for my windows?
Sand mastic normally suits period timber windows best. On modern frames, we’d normally use a flexible sealant, and we will explain why.
Do you guarantee sand mastic work?
All our work has a 12-month guarantee, and we’re fully insured.
How long does the job take?
Typically it takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. Larger jobs naturally take longer, and we will tell you how long to expect.