Edinburgh · Scotland
Fernieside Sand Mastic
Our applicators work in Fernieside 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 and every job guaranteed for a year.
- Mastic round period door frames that has failed
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Failed mastic on an exposed elevation
Sand mastic in Fernieside
Sand mastic suits most period window surrounds. On modern frames we’d normally use a flexible sealant, and we will talk through which suits your home. We work on stone surrounds, period & listed homes and tenement windows, and common reasons people get in touch are tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint and crumbling sand mastic round a window.
Older stone-built tenements in Scotland’s cities were built with sash and case windows, and plenty still have them. In Fernieside, as anywhere, the mastic between frame and wall is what stops draughts and rain getting in.
All of our work is guaranteed for twelve months, and the guarantee is the same wherever you are.
- Place
- Fernieside (EH17, EH16, EH22)
- Region
- Edinburgh
- Guarantee
- A year, on every job
- Quote
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Different surfaces, different methods
Stone surrounds
Old stone surrounds are often uneven, so the joint varies in width. Sand mastic is shaped by hand to suit.
Tenement and terrace windows
Where a building is shared, window work may involve neighbours so it’s worth checking responsibilities.
How the visit works
On the day, we start by going over the job with you. Surfaces next to the work are protected before any work starts. Most jobs take a few hours for a single window, longer for several. Parking in city streets around Fernieside 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.
- Deep gaps are packed so the mastic sits at the right depth.
- The sand mastic is mixed and pressed into the joint by hand.
- The surface is finished to suit the stone or brick.
Getting ready for the visit
- Let us know if you’ve seen damp or leaks
- Tell us if parking is tricky
- Mention if the joints have been sealed before
Get a quote
If you are in Fernieside and need sand mastic, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk. Tell us what the problem is and where, and we’ll agree the price before any work begins.
Related advice
For landlords and businesses
If you manage several properties in or around Fernieside, several properties can go on one quote. Just tell us the addresses and what each one needs, and photos by email help.
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.
Common questions in Fernieside
How is work on the outside of a tenement in Fernieside usually arranged?
Most tenements arrange shared repairs through the owners or a property factor. The Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 covers the common parts where the deeds do not, and we can quote for the factor or the owners directly.
Is sand mastic in a coastal place like Fernieside any different?
Coastal homes put outside sealant through more weather than inland ones, so the choice of sealant and the preparation matter even more. It’s worth checking the walls that face the sea first.
Do you offer different sealant colours?
We help you choose a colour that suits, from white and clear to greys and other shades. The choice depends on the product the joint needs.
Does someone need to be in?
For indoor joints, yes, someone needs to let us in. After that, you can carry on with your day.
What guarantee comes with the work?
Our 12-month guarantee applies to all our work.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes. We’ve worked for hotels, offices and other businesses and we’re fully insured.
Should I check with the council before work on a listed or conservation-area home?
Speak to your local planning authority before work starts. Like-for-like sand mastic is often the preferred finish, but they decide.
What should I tell you?
Only a few details: the address or postcode, what’s wrong and any access issues. Then email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Why deal with it now?
Gaps round a sash window let in rain and draughts. Water can get to the frame and the masonry, so dealing with it now protects both. Scottish rain finds any gap around a frame or wall joint, and in Fernieside, damp can spread through stone and plaster before anyone sees it.
A failed joint rarely gets cheaper to fix by waiting, because water and mould keep working on it. If you’re unsure, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll give you an honest view and a quote.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Fernieside
- 4.9 on Google from 180+ five-star reviews
- Old sealant always removed completely
- Experience in homes, commercial sites and hotels
- A 12-month guarantee on all work
Read our cost guide or what customers say.
DIY versus a professional finish
If you do try it yourself, take your time over the preparation: take out all the old sealant, make sure the joint is clean and dry, and give it the full cure time. If it doesn’t work out, we can still put it right.
Some sealant jobs are within reach of a careful DIYer, such as a straightforward joint indoors. Where it goes wrong is sealing over the old bead, working on a wet joint or overloading the gap.
Looking after it afterwards
Good habits help new joints last longer. A few tips:
- Don’t run silicone over sand mastic
- Don’t paint over the new mastic
- Have rotten timber repaired before new mastic goes in
- Check with your local planning authority if your home is listed
Look at the mastic when you look over the windows. Catching cracks early keeps repairs small.
An open joint round the box lets weather through. The longer it’s left, the more the joint opens.
Windows and doors in Fernieside
Fernieside 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. Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Georgian New Town is known for its sash windows. For listed homes and conservation areas, check with the council before changing how windows or walls look.
Managing a site like Liberton High School? Then larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages. If you let a flat or house near Shawfair station, cracked sand mastic around sash windows lets in the draughts tenants complain about.
Fernieside is about 3 miles north of Bonnyrigg, in Edinburgh. Whether you’re in the middle of Fernieside or further out, sand mastic is available for homes and businesses alike. Across Edinburgh, we cover 175 places, and Fernieside is one of them.
Our applicators cover all of the EH17, EH16 and EH22 postcode area for sand mastic and the streets around it. You will find streets such as Drum Avenue, Gilmerton Road and Craigour Avenue, and we cover them all. Fernieside is on the A772, so it’s easy for us to get to with everything needed for sand mastic. We also cover the places around Fernieside: Ferniehill (1 mile south), Moredun (1 mile north-west), Craigour (1 mile north-west), Gilmerton (1 mile south) and Little France (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Edinburgh (4 miles north-west), Leith (5 miles north), Bonnington (4 miles north-west), Greenside (4 miles north-west), Broughton (4 miles north-west) and Bellevue (4 miles north-west).
Around Fernieside
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Drum Park. Fernieside’s nearest station is Shawfair station, roughly 1.6 miles east. Nearby you will also find Natural History Collections (1.8 miles north-west) and Cameron Toll Shopping Centre (1.6 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Nether Hill and Duddingston Loch.
Common problems we fix in Fernieside
Age is the main cause. Sand mastic is a maintenance item like any pointing, depending on exposure and upkeep.
Any of these means the joints need attention:
- Wind and rain getting in round a sash window
- Tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
- Patchy fillers round a sash window
Homes close to Liberton Parish Church include some older properties, and frames set in older brick or stone need a sealant that suits the wall as well as the frame.
What your quote should include
- Whether they seal over old material or remove it
- What product goes in the joint
- What preparation is included
- Whether VAT is included