Argyll and Bute · Scotland
Sand Mastic in Dunbeg
Window and door surrounds in Dunbeg need attention? We cut out the old, prepare the joints and apply the right sealant, and the work is guaranteed for a year.
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
Sand mastic for homes and businesses in Dunbeg
Our applicators renew the sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors set in stone or brick. The old mastic is raked out, and new mastic is applied and shaped by hand. We work on period & listed homes, tenement windows and sash and case windows, and people most often call us about wind and rain getting in round a sash window and old sand mastic that has cracked, crumbled or fallen out.
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.
The work is covered for a year after we finish. If there’s a problem with it, please send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk.
- Location
- Dunbeg (PA37)
- Region
- Argyll and Bute
- Cover
- One year on every job
- Quotes
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
How to look after the new joints
Simple care keeps the joints in good condition. We recommend:
- Ask us before painting near the mastic
- Take care around the mastic when scraping paint
- Inspect the joints round the windows every year or so
- Ask the planning authority about consent for listed or conservation-area homes
Check the mastic when you check the paintwork. Catching cracks early keeps repairs small.
An open joint round the box lets weather through. Left, the gap tends to get bigger as more mastic falls out.
Dunbeg questions
I let a flat near Connel Ferry station. Can you help?
Yes, rental work is part of what we do. You can drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the address and a few details, and we’ll give you a fixed price before any work starts.
Does the coastal weather in Dunbeg affect outside sealant?
Coastal homes put outside sealant through more weather than inland ones, so preparation and the right sealant matter all the more. It’s worth checking the walls that face the sea first.
What exactly is sand mastic?
It’s a mix of sand and a linseed-oil-based binder. It’s built up in the joint by hand and finished to sit neatly against the masonry.
Will the old sealant be removed?
Yes, every time. New sealant won’t bond properly to old, so any old material comes out before anything new goes in.
Can sand mastic be painted?
It’s traditionally left unpainted, as guidance on traditional windows advises. Talk to us before any painting near it.
How long does the job take?
A typical job takes a few hours per window, depending on the condition of the joints. We’ll confirm how long when we quote.
Do the sealants smell?
Possibly a little. Any smell clears as the sealant cures.
Is sand mastic better than silicone for my windows?
We’ll help you decide. Period homes often look best with sand mastic, and modern sealants suit newer frames.
Sand mastic in Dunbeg: local notes
Dunbeg is within about 1 mile of the coast, and homes near the sea take more wind-driven rain, with salt in the air closer to the shore. That’s hard on the mastic around older windows and doors, especially on the side facing the sea. The west of Scotland is wetter than the east, so there’s plenty of rain for the mastic around older windows and doors to keep out.
Rented homes near Connel Ferry station change hands often, and cracked sand mastic around sash windows lets in the draughts tenants complain about.
Dunbeg is in Argyll and Bute. We carry out sand mastic for homes and businesses in Dunbeg and the surrounding area. Our Argyll and Bute coverage runs to 118 places, Dunbeg among them. There’s also a page for Glasgow, roughly 61 miles from Dunbeg.
Work in PA37 is quoted and booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Young Crescent, Castle Road and Stewart Way, all of which we cover. Other places close to Dunbeg include Ganavan (1 mile south-west), North Connel (2 miles north-east), Dunollie (2 miles south-west), Connel (2 miles east) and Oban (3 miles south). If you’re somewhere remote, a little more planning is needed.
Around Dunbeg
The nearest railway station is Connel Ferry station, roughly 2.5 miles east. Nearby you will also find Oban Museum (2.2 miles south-west) and Lorn and Islands Hospital (3.4 miles south). Open spaces near Dunbeg include Lochan Dubh.
Surface by surface
Timber door frames
Doors face weather and wear, so their mastic can fail sooner. We rake it out and renew it.
Sash and case windows
The mastic round a sash window is on show so we finish it carefully.
What we’re called out for in Dunbeg
Sand mastic slowly weathers. It hardens, cracks and starts to come away from the frame or the masonry.
People usually contact us after spotting something like this:
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
- Weathered mastic on the most exposed windows
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
For an older house near a landmark such as Dunstaffnage Chapel, frames set in older brick or stone need a sealant that suits the wall as well as the frame.
What to look for in a quote
- How long to leave it before use
- What the quote includes, VAT included or not
- How long the guarantee is
- What product goes in the joint
For landlords and businesses
We also work for property managers and facilities teams in Dunbeg and across Argyll and Bute. Several sites can go on one quote, and we are fully insured for the work.
Whether it’s one flat or a portfolio, you get the same standard of work: the old material taken out, careful preparation and a 12-month guarantee.
Also near Dunbeg
Also in Dunbeg
What affects the quote in Dunbeg
The price is agreed before any work begins. It takes into account:
- How many rooms, windows or areas are involved
- The type of sealant required
- Whether the work is at height
- When we can work, for business premises
The cost depends on how much there is to do, how much old material has to come out and how easy the joints are to reach. You will have a clear quote before any work starts.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it’s useful to know:
- Whether it has been sealed before
- Where the job is, and your postcode
- Pictures of the joints, sent by email
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
If you are in Dunbeg and need sand mastic, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk. A short description of the job and where it is helps us quote, and you will get a clear quote before work begins.
What we do, step by step
We keep the work tidy and contained to the area we’re working on, so you can carry on as normal. Expect the work to take anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows, and we explain the cure time before we leave. In smaller Scottish places, parking is usually less of an issue than access and distance. Tell us how to find the property and how to reach the work, and the visit is planned around that.
- We start by checking each surround and agreeing the joints to renew.
- The loose and crumbling mastic is raked out and the joint cleaned.
- Deep voids are packed so the mastic is the right thickness.
- Sand mastic is mixed and applied by hand, then shaped to the joint.
- The finish is dressed so it sits neatly against the stone or brick.
Before we arrive
- Where the joints are inside, avoid wetting them before we arrive
- Move anything stored near the joints
- On commercial sites, let us know about site rules
How to get a quote
We quote each job on its own, so start by telling us what you need. Simply send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk and describe the job and send pictures if you have them.
Read more
DIY sealant or a professional job?
Sealing over old silicone is the commonest DIY error. New silicone won’t bond to old, so it peels away and traps moisture behind it. Everything old must be removed first.
Some jobs are best left to a professional: work at height, external movement joints, fire-rated sealant and large areas need the right product, the right access and the right method.