Aberdeenshire · Scotland
Sand Mastic in Forbes
Traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick for homes and businesses in Forbes and across Aberdeenshire. Fully insured, ARBOMaster approved and guaranteed for a year.
- Open joints round the window box
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- Old cement repairs round a window that have failed
How we handle sand mastic in Forbes
If your home is listed or in a conservation area, check with your local planning authority if consent is needed before window work. Sand mastic is often favoured as a like-for-like material. We work on stone surrounds, sash and case windows and tenement windows, and the jobs we see most are wind and rain getting in round a sash window and mastic round period door frames that has failed.
Mastic can only go onto a dry joint, so outside work in Forbes depends on the weather. Let us know about access to every frame, including any upstairs.
Whatever the size of the job, it’s backed by our one-year guarantee.
- Where
- Forbes (AB33)
- Region
- Aberdeenshire
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Price
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Aftercare tips
Simple care keeps the joints in good condition. We recommend:
- Go gently near the mastic when preparing windows
- Leave the new mastic unpainted
- Check with your local planning authority if your home is listed
- Make sure water runs off the sill
Look at the mastic when you look over the windows. Small cracks are easier to deal with early.
Crumbling mastic lets rain into the joint. That water can reach the timber frame and the wall so early renewal protects both.
Also in Forbes
What sealant work can’t fix
In fairness, some problems need a different trade:
- Damaged stone surrounds
- Rotten sashes, sills or window boxes (a joiner’s job)
- Broken panes
If in doubt, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we will say what we think before you book.
Where we work in Forbes
- Period & listed homes
- Sash and case windows
- Tenement windows
- Brick reveals
- Timber door frames
- Stone surrounds
What we do, step by step
Good joint work is mostly preparation, and we don’t rush it. Joints are cleaned back and dried before anything new goes in. All told, the work takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. For a place like Forbes, longer drives are planned in advance. Tell us about tracks, gates, a ferry crossing or anything unusual about getting there.
- We check the window surrounds and agree which joints need renewing.
- We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
- We pack any deep gaps so the mastic sits at the right depth.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Mention any leaks or damp you’ve noticed
- Plan for the work area to be out of bounds to pets and children
- Mention any parking rules near the property
How to get a quote
For sand mastic in Forbes, send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk. A short description of the job and where it is helps us quote, and you’ll get a clear quote before work begins.
Related advice
Should I try it myself first?
Too much sealant is as bad as too little. A thick, smeared bead looks untidy and does not move well, and the joint depth matters as much as the finish.
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 does not work out, we can still put it right.
Forbes: your questions answered
Is Forbes in your area for sand mastic?
Yes, Forbes is within the area we cover. We work across all of Scotland. Just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job, and we’ll give you a clear quote.
Is Forbes within the area you cover?
Yes. Forbes is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work across all of Scotland. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do you work for letting agents?
Yes. As well as homeowners, we work for landlords, agents, businesses and hotels in Forbes.
What should I tell you?
Just the basics: the address or postcode, what’s wrong and any access issues. After that, simply drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Is it possible to take out silicone and use sand mastic instead?
Usually, yes. Once the silicone is out and the joint prepared, sand mastic is applied by hand.
Which products do you use?
We choose the sealant for the joint, not the other way round. Where it moves, gets wet or faces the weather makes a difference, and we will explain our choice.
Can new sealant go over the old?
No. New silicone will not bond to old silicone, and it traps any mould or water underneath. It all has to come out first.
How long will you be here?
As a guide, most jobs take anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. Bigger jobs take longer, and we will tell you how long to expect.
What sand mastic looks like in Forbes
Many older homes in Scotland have sash and case windows, often pointed into the wall with traditional sand mastic. Under the Repairing Standard, private landlords in Scotland have to keep homes wind and watertight, and failed outside joints work against that.
If you live in an older home near Alford Parish West Church, frames set in older brick or stone need a sealant that suits the wall as well as the frame. If you look after a building such as Alford Academy, larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.
Forbes is about 13 miles west of Inverurie, in Aberdeenshire. Whether you are in the middle of Forbes or further out, we cover sand mastic for every kind of property, from flats and houses to offices and hotels. Our Aberdeenshire coverage runs to 161 places, and Forbes is one of them. You can also see our page for Aberdeen, roughly 23 miles from Forbes.
All of AB33 is covered for sand mastic, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Suie Road and Waterside Gardens. Nearby, we also carry out sand mastic in Bridge of Alford (1 mile north), Alford (1 mile south-east), Tullynessle (1 mile north), Kirkton of Tough (4 miles south-east) and Auchleven (6 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Inverurie (13 miles east), Huntly (14 miles north), Garioch (13 miles east), Kemnay (10 miles east), Kintore (14 miles east) and Aboyne (12 miles south).
What’s near Forbes
Well-known places in the area include Grampian Transport Museum (1.2 miles south-east) and Asloun Castle (2.1 miles south-west). Not far away are Coiliochbar Hill.
Landlords, agents and businesses in Forbes
Housing providers, facilities teams and property managers book us too. Several sites can go on one quote.
If you manage several properties in or around Forbes, jobs at different addresses can go on one quote. Just tell us the addresses and what each one needs.
Why it’s worth doing now in Forbes
A silicone bead can be quicker, but it can look wrong on a period surround. Sand mastic is the traditional material and finishes neatly against the masonry. When the nearest tradesperson is a drive away, it’s tempting to leave a small leak, but water through a failed joint keeps working away until it’s fixed.
Instead of a standard rate, we price the job in front of us: the amount of work, the old material and the access. The price is agreed before we begin.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Forbes
- Sanitary silicone with an anti-fungal additive in wet areas
- A 12-month guarantee on all work
- 180+ five-star Google reviews
- Tidy, careful work
Read what affects the cost and what customers say.
How the job changes by surface
Timber door frames
Round a period front door, sand mastic gives the right look.
Period and listed homes
On a listed home or in a conservation area, the right material matters. Sand mastic is often the preferred finish.