Shetland Islands · Scotland
Exnaboe Sand Mastic
Traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick for homes and businesses in Exnaboe and across the Shetland Islands. Fully insured, ARBOMaster approved and guaranteed for a year.
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint
- Patchy fillers round a sash window
Sand mastic in Exnaboe, done properly
Our applicators renew the sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. The old mastic is raked out, the joint is prepared and new mastic is shaped by hand. We work on timber door frames, tenement windows and sash and case windows, and people most often call us about mastic that needs renewing before redecorating and mastic worn away on windows facing the weather.
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 stand behind the work with a one-year guarantee.
- Location
- Exnaboe (ZE3)
- Region
- Shetland Islands
- Cover
- A year, on every job
- Quote
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
Keeping the joints in good condition
Good habits help new joints last longer. A few tips:
- Find out about consent before window work on a listed home
- Look over the window mastic once a year
- Ask us before painting near the mastic
- Take care around the mastic when scraping paint
Leave the new mastic alone while it firms up. It skins over quickly, but takes longer to harden fully.
Sound mastic protects the frame. Failed mastic lets water reach the timber, which can lead to rot.
How we quote for sand mastic
Your quote is based on your job. We look at:
- The product the joint needs
- The number of rooms or windows
- The old material and how stubborn it is
- The size of the job
Homes and businesses are quoted the same way: the amount of work, how we reach it and what it needs, along with when we can work on site. Ask us for a quote and we will go through it with you.
What we need to know
You don’t need to know the technical terms. Just tell us:
- The address or postcode of the job
- A few pictures by email, if you can
- How we’d reach the joints
- Whether it’s a home or a business
Asking for a quote is easy: let us know the job and the location and its rough size. Photos by email help us understand the job, and we’ll come back to you with a quote.
What sand mastic looks like in Exnaboe
Exnaboe is close to the coast, and homes near the sea take more wind-driven rain, with salt in the air closer to the shore. Both are hard on the mastic around older windows and doors, which can dry out and crack sooner where a building faces the weather. Island weather, with its wind and salt spray, is tough on the mastic around older windows and doors.
In and around Exnaboe, as anywhere, good sand mastic starts with a clean, dry, properly prepared joint.
Exnaboe is about 19 miles south of Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands. Across the ZE3 area, we can carry out sand mastic at your property. Across the Shetland Islands, we cover 63 places, and Exnaboe is one of them.
Here we cover the ZE3 postcode area for sand mastic. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Toab (1 mile west), Hestingott (1 mile west), Scatness (1 mile south), Boddam (2 miles north) and South Scousburgh (3 miles north). Island and remote addresses take a little more planning, so please mention your location when you drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Local landmarks in Exnaboe
A little further out are Shetland Crofthouse Museum (1.6 miles north). For a walk, there’s Loch of Huesbreck and Sumburgh Head RSPB reserve.
What the job involves on each surface
Stone surrounds
Stone surrounds suit sand mastic well. It finishes to look like part of the surround.
Timber door frames
Doors face weather and wear and the mastic can crack early. We rake it out and renew it.
Places near Exnaboe
What else we do in Exnaboe
Exnaboe: your questions answered
Is Exnaboe within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, islands included, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does living near the coast affect sand mastic in Exnaboe?
Near the sea, outside joints face more wind, rain and salt than they would inland, so the choice of sealant and the preparation matter even more. It’s worth checking the walls that face the sea first.
How long does sand mastic take to go off?
It forms a skin fairly soon and it hardens fully over a longer time. Timing depends on the weather and the joint.
Can you match the sealant colour?
Most of the time, yes. We’ll tell you which colours the right product comes in and agree one before we start.
Is it possible to take out silicone and use sand mastic instead?
In most cases. The silicone is cut out and the joint cleaned before the sand mastic goes in.
Will it make a mess?
Tidy work is part of the job. Nearby surfaces are protected, and the area is left clean when we finish.
Are you an approved applicator?
Yes. We are approved under the ARBOMaster scheme, which is run for the Arbo sealant brand.
How long does the job take?
Most jobs take anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows, including the preparation. We’ll confirm how long when we quote.
DIY versus a professional finish
Overfilling a joint is a classic DIY mistake. A thick, smeared bead looks untidy and does not move well, and getting the depth right matters as much as the look.
A DIY attempt does not rule out a professional job. We cut it out and start again.
The process
When we arrive, we start by going over the job with you, so there are no surprises. Surfaces next to the work are protected before any work begins. Most jobs take a few hours for a single window, longer for several. For a place like Exnaboe, longer drives are planned in advance. Mention tracks, gates, ferries or anything else about the route.
- 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
- Plan for the work area to be out of bounds to pets and children
- Mention if the joints have been sealed before
- Where the joints are inside, avoid wetting them before we arrive
Ask for a quote
If you are in Exnaboe and need sand mastic, send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk. Tell us what the problem is and where, and you’ll get a clear quote before work begins.
Read more
When it is not the sealant
We will not take on work that will not last, so here’s what sealant cannot put right:
- Planning or listed building consent (your local planning authority decides)
- Putty and glazing repairs
- Decayed frames that need repair
Not sure which it is? You can drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll tell you honestly.
Joints and surfaces we work on
- Tenement windows
- Stone surrounds
- Timber door frames
- Period & listed homes
- Brick reveals
- Sash and case windows
Signs you need sand mastic in Exnaboe
Timber frames move with the seasons. The movement cracks the mastic little by little.
The most common problems we see are:
- Patchy fillers round a sash window
- Crumbling sand mastic round a window
- Gaps round a timber door in stone or brick
- Failed mastic on an exposed elevation
Whether the job is in Exnaboe itself or nearby, the right material for each joint matters as much as a neat finish.
What your quote should include
- Is VAT in the price?
- What the cure time is
- What preparation is included
- What insurance they hold