Reading · England
Sand mastic for sash & case windows in Fords Farm, Reading
Problem with your window and door surrounds in Fords Farm? We remove the old material, prepare the joints and seal them properly, and the work is guaranteed for a year.
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
Sand mastic for homes and businesses in Fords Farm
Sand mastic has long been used to fill the joint between timber frames and masonry. It’s a mix of sand and a linseed-oil-based binder, applied by hand. On period homes, it looks right where silicone wouldn’t. We work on timber door frames, sash and case windows and stone surrounds, and the jobs we see most are open joints round the window box and mastic round period door frames that has failed.
Around Fords Farm, conservatories, garden rooms and patio doors are often part of the house. Their glazing joints and frame seals are as much a part of the job as the windows, and any older timber or sash windows need a sealant that suits them.
We guarantee the work for a year. If there’s a problem with our work within the year, let us know and we will sort it.
- Where
- Fords Farm (RG30, RG31)
- Region
- Reading
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Quotes
- A clear quote up front
- Phone
- 0345 464 0079
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
The process
A visit follows a simple pattern: we look at the joints together, mask and protect the surrounding surfaces, carry out the job and tidy away. It usually takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. Parking around Fords Farm is generally easier than in a town centre, but mention any lanes, gates or long drives. If the job is outside, tell us about side access and how high the joints are.
- We check each window surround and the condition of the joint.
- The joint is raked out and cleaned.
- We fill deep gaps so the new mastic is not too thick.
- New sand mastic is applied and shaped by hand.
- The finish is dressed neatly.
Before we arrive
- On commercial sites, let us know about site rules
- Tell us about any previous sealing or DIY attempts
- Tell us about any water getting in
Getting a quote
For a quick quote, get us on the phone, or send an email if you’d rather. Tell us about the joints that need doing and we will talk you through the work.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Fords Farm
What else we do in Fords Farm
For landlords and businesses
Mouldy or split sealant often shows up at the end of a tenancy, and it’s quick to put right between tenancies. We can quote for more than one property at once.
We regularly work with letting and managing agents. Send the address, what’s needed and the access arrangements and we’ll give you a quote.
Leave it or put it right?
Not every filler suits an old window surround. Sand mastic matches what was there, which can matter on listed and conservation-area homes. In an older home around Fords Farm, damp from a failed joint can get into timber and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the sealant itself.
Every job is a little different, so we quote each one individually. The number of joints, how easy they are to reach and the sealant needed all play a part.
What you get with us
- Neat joints and a tidy finish
- 20+ years of sealant experience
- Trusted Arbo and Everbuild sealants
- Any old sealant cut out fully, not covered over
Take a look at our cost guide or our reviews.
Surface by surface
Stone surrounds
Sand mastic sits naturally against stone. It finishes to look like part of the surround.
Tenement and terrace windows
Tenements and terraces often have many sash windows with ageing mastic. We can do one window or several.
Your questions about sand mastic in Fords Farm
Can you do sand mastic in Fords Farm?
Yes. We work across London and the South East, and Fords Farm is part of that. You can ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and let us know what needs doing.
Will you come out to Fords Farm?
Yes, Fords Farm is covered. Our work covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you work for hotels and businesses?
Yes. We have worked for hotels, offices and other businesses, and we are fully insured.
Is it OK to seal over old sealant?
No. Fresh sealant does not stick to old sealant, and anything trapped underneath, including mould and water, stays there. We remove it all first.
I’m a tenant. Can you help?
Yes, but check with your landlord or agent first. Many landlords are glad to have it sorted.
Can you do several jobs on one visit?
Yes, we can. Several rooms, windows or areas can go on one quote.
Do you take out the old sealant first?
Yes. All of the old material is cut out and the joint cleaned before resealing.
Should I try DIY first?
Sometimes. The key is preparation: remove all the old material and work on a clean, dry joint. If it does not work out, we can redo it.
When to call us in Fords Farm
Timber swells and shrinks with the weather. That movement opens up the mastic joint over time.
It’s worth asking for a quote if you see:
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Crumbling sand mastic round a window
- Gaps round a timber door in stone or brick
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Kennet Valley Primary School, its window and door frames need their mastic kept sound, just like a home’s.
Comparing quotes
- How long the guarantee is
- Whether all the old sealant comes out first
- How hidden problems are handled
- How the joint is cleaned and prepared
What affects the quote in Fords Farm
You’ll get a clear quote before we start. It takes into account:
- Whether old sealant or filler has to be cut out
- How many areas need sealing
- Working hours on commercial sites
- The type of sealant required
Rather than a set price list, we look at what your job involves: how many joints, what’s in them now and how we reach them. You’ll know the price before we begin.
Asking for a quote
Before you ask for a quote, have a think about:
- Any access issues, like height or stairs
- How many joints, rooms or windows are involved
- If it’s domestic, commercial or a hotel
- What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking
Getting a quote is simple: let us know the job and the location, and roughly how big it is. A few photos by email make the job easier to understand, and we’ll come back to you with a quote.
Frames and glazing around Fords Farm
Compared with the north and west, the South East gets less rain, yet outdoor joints still have to be sealed dry, so jobs are booked with the weather in mind. With historic houses such as Mapledurham House (about 3.1 miles north) nearby, there’s older building stock in the area around Fords Farm as well as newer homes. Where a home is older, older frames set in brick or stone need a sealant that suits them, and sometimes that’s traditional sand mastic.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Matthew's, replacement windows fitted into old openings often leave uneven gaps that need backing and a flexible joint. For landlords with property near Reading Green Park station, older sash windows in a rental need their mastic kept sound to keep the weather out.
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. We provide sand mastic to homes and businesses in Fords Farm and nearby. Our area takes in 34 places across Reading, large and small.
Jobs for sand mastic in RG30 and RG31 is quoted and booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road, and we cover them all. We also cover Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Around Fords Farm
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Prospect School, Elvian School and The Cunning Man pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Reading Green Park station, about 1.4 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Not far away are Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
Should I try it myself first?
Some sealant jobs are within reach of a careful DIYer, like a short, easy-to-reach joint indoors. Where it goes wrong is sealing over the old bead, working on a wet joint or overloading the gap.
If you are set on DIY, put the effort into preparation: remove every trace of old sealant, clean and dry the joint, and follow the product’s cure time. If it fails, we can still redo it.