Edinburgh · Scotland
Ellen's Glen Sand Mastic
Traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick for homes and businesses in Ellen's Glen and across Edinburgh. Fully insured, ARBOMaster approved and guaranteed for a year.
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
- Gaps where the frame meets the masonry
- Crumbling sand mastic round a window
About our sand mastic in Ellen's Glen
Sand mastic has long been used to fill the joint between timber frames and masonry. It’s made from sand and a linseed-oil-based binder and built up by hand. On period homes, it looks right where silicone wouldn’t. We work on tenement windows, stone surrounds and sash and case windows, and people most often call us about weathered mastic on the most exposed windows and draughts and rain around sash boxes.
Sash and case windows are a feature of older tenements in all four Scottish cities, though many have since been replaced. Whether you are in a tenement flat or a house in Ellen's Glen, the joint between frame and wall is what keeps the weather out.
The work is covered for a year after we finish. If anything is not right with it, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
- Location
- Ellen's Glen (EH17, EH16)
- Region
- Edinburgh
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Price
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
How to look after the new joints
No joint lasts for ever, but care makes a real difference. A few tips:
- Find out about consent before window work on a listed home
- Sort the mastic before the decorators arrive
- Keep modern sealant off the mastic
- Don’t paint over the new mastic
Check the mastic when you check the paintwork. Catching cracks early keeps repairs small.
Renewing mastic before redecorating saves doing it twice. Painting over failed mastic hides the problem for a while.
Towns and villages near Ellen's Glen
More services for Ellen's Glen
Different surfaces, different methods
Stone surrounds
Old stone surrounds are often uneven, so the joint varies in width. We shape it by hand to follow the stone.
Timber door frames
Period doors in stone or brick openings are often pointed with sand mastic. The method is the same as for windows.
Questions from Ellen's Glen
I let a flat near Shawfair station. Can you help?
Yes, rental work is part of what we do. Just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us about the property, and we will give you a clear price.
Do you cover Ellen's Glen for sand mastic?
Yes, Ellen's Glen is within the area we cover. Our work covers the whole of Scotland. Just email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job, and we’ll send you a clear quote.
Is it possible to take out silicone and use sand mastic instead?
Normally, yes. Once the silicone is out and the joint prepared we point it with sand mastic.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. We’re fully insured.
Can you seal over the old sealant?
No. New silicone will not bond to old silicone, and anything trapped underneath, including mould and water, stays there. We remove it all first.
Do you hold any approvals?
Yes. We hold ARBOMaster approved applicator status and we are fully insured too.
How do I get a quote for sand mastic in Ellen's Glen?
There’s no set price, as it depends on the job: its size, the old material, access and the product needed. We agree the price before any work begins.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes. We have worked for hotels, offices and other businesses.
What we are called out for in Ellen's Glen
Shallow joints are a common cause. Mastic that is too thin cracks and drops out, which is why we pack deep voids first and get the depth right.
People normally contact us when they notice one of these:
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
- Open joints round the window box
Managing a site like Liberton High School? Then larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.
What to look for in a quote
- How long the guarantee is
- What insurance they hold
- Which colour the sealant will be
- What the cure time is
Frames and glazing around Ellen's Glen
With historic houses such as Melville Castle (about 2.2 miles south-east) nearby, there’s older building stock in the area around Ellen's Glen as well as newer homes. Where a home is older, older timber frames in brick or stone need a different approach from a modern uPVC window. Private landlords in Scotland must meet the Repairing Standard, which includes keeping a home wind and watertight, and failed outside joints work against that.
If you let a flat or house near Shawfair station, cracked sand mastic around sash windows lets in the draughts tenants complain about. Historic houses such as Melville Castle, about 2.2 miles south-east, show how far back building around Ellen's Glen goes.
Ellen's Glen is about 3 miles south-east of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh. Our applicators cover sand mastic for homes and businesses in Ellen's Glen and nearby. Ellen's Glen is one of 175 places in Edinburgh we cover.
Every address in EH17 and EH16 is within our area for sand mastic. You will find streets such as Soutra Road, Little Road and Mansion Lane. Ellen's Glen sits on or near the A772. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Gracemount (1 mile south-west), Liberton (1 mile north-west), Craigour (1 mile north-east), Moredun (1 mile north-east) and Southhouse (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Edinburgh (3 miles north-west), Leith (5 miles north), Bonnington (4 miles north), Greenside (4 miles north-west), Broughton (4 miles north-west) and Bellevue (4 miles north-west).
What’s near Ellen's Glen
In Ellen's Glen, that means homes and buildings near Liberton Parish Church and Drum Park, among other places. Ellen's Glen’s nearest station is Shawfair station, roughly 2.4 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Cameron Toll Shopping Centre (1.3 miles north-west) and Ellen's Glen House (under half a mile west). Green spaces nearby include The New Leaf Co-op and Duddingston Loch.
The process
We bring everything the job needs with us, so you do not need to buy or prepare anything. After a quick look at the joints together, we protect the area and start. Most jobs take a few hours for a single window, longer for several. In a city area like Ellen's Glen, parking may be by permit or pay-and-display, so tell us what’s nearby. 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.
- We apply the mastic by hand and shape it.
- We dress the finish so it sits neatly against the masonry.
Before we arrive
- Mention any parking rules near the property
- Keep children and pets away from the work area
- Move anything stored near the joints
Ask for a quote
For a quote, send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with the location and a short description of the problem. You will have a clear quote before any work starts.
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What we can’t put right
To be straight with you, some problems need a different trade:
- Masonry that needs repairing
- Whether work needs listed building consent
- Rotten sashes, sills or window boxes (a joiner’s job)
Not sure which it is? You can email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Surfaces we seal
- Brick reveals
- Period & listed homes
- Stone surrounds
- Sash and case windows
- Timber door frames
- Tenement windows
Why deal with it now?
Not every filler suits an old window surround. Sand mastic matches what was there and that can be important for listed homes. Wind-driven rain gets into any failed joint on the outside of a city building, and in a tall building in Ellen's Glen, damp can travel a long way before it shows.
What it costs depends on the size of the job, how hard the old material is to remove and access to the work. We give a clear quote before we start.
Why Ellen's Glen customers choose us
- Arbo and Everbuild products
- Full insurance on every job
- Domestic, commercial and hotel work
- An ARBOMaster approved applicator
Take a look at our cost guide and our reviews.
Landlords, agents and businesses in Ellen's Glen
If you manage several properties in or around Ellen's Glen, jobs at different addresses can be quoted together. Just tell us the addresses and what each one needs.
We work for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. Sealant work between tenants is a simple way to keep a property in good order.