Essex · England
Fordstreet Sand Mastic
Traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick for homes and businesses in Fordstreet and across Essex. ARBOMaster approved applicators, fully insured, with a 12-month guarantee.
- Old sand mastic that has cracked, crumbled or fallen out
- Weathered mastic on the most exposed windows
- Gaps round a timber door in stone or brick
About our sand mastic in Fordstreet
Burnt sand mastic is a traditional material that sits naturally against stone and brick. It’s a good fit for period properties, where modern sealant can look out of place. Common call-outs are for wind and rain getting in round a sash window and mastic that needs renewing before redecorating, across stone surrounds, tenement windows and sash and case windows.
Somewhere as small as Fordstreet, older homes often have timber frames set in stone or brickwork. Older buildings like these do not always suit modern silicone, so the sealant has to be chosen to suit the building.
The work is guaranteed for twelve months. If there’s a problem with our work within the year, let us know and we will sort it.
- Location
- Fordstreet (CO6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cover
- One year on every job
- Quotes
- A clear price before we start
- Telephone
- 0345 464 0079
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
What affects the quote in Fordstreet
Some jobs are bigger than they look, and some smaller. The main factors:
- Access and height
- Working hours on commercial sites
- The product the joint needs
- How many rooms, windows or areas are involved
What it costs depends on the size of the job, how much old material has to come out and access to the work. We give a clear quote before work begins, so you know where you stand.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it’s useful to know:
- The rough size of the job
- The type of property
- The problem you’ve noticed
- Any access issues, like height or stairs
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.
Work for landlords, hotels and businesses
We also work for businesses, from offices to washrooms and kitchens. For commercial premises, we can talk through working times when we quote.
Water getting past a failed joint can damage the building, which matters even more when someone else lives there. Keeping joints in good order is simple maintenance that we can handle for you.
What sand mastic looks like in Fordstreet
Rainfall in the South East is lower than in much of the UK, but outside sealant still needs a dry, clean surface, so outdoor work is planned around the forecast.
In the older streets around Church of St Margaret and St Catherine, the windows may be timber, sash or later replacements, and each needs the right sealant against the wall. Letting a property close to Chappel & Wakes Colne station? Then any sash windows need sound mastic to keep draughts and rain out.
Fordstreet is about 5 miles west of Colchester, in Essex. Across the CO6 area, we cover sand mastic for homes and businesses. Fordstreet is one of 644 places in Essex we cover for sand mastic. There’s also a page for Chelmsford, about 18 miles away.
Postcode districts we cover here for sand mastic: CO6. If you need sand mastic at a property on Ford Street, Fordstreet Hill and Ponders Road or anywhere close by, our applicators can take on the job. If you’re just outside Fordstreet, we cover Rose Green (1 mile north-west), Chappel (2 miles north-west), Swan Street (2 miles west), Wakes Colne (2 miles north-west) and Great Tey (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (5 miles east), Braintree (10 miles west), Maldon (13 miles south), Witham (10 miles south-west), Camulodunum (4 miles south-east) and Halstead (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in Fordstreet
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Queen's Head Public House and the streets around them. Fordstreet’s nearest station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, roughly 1.8 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Essex County Hospital (4.4 miles east) and Mount Bures (3.6 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Iron Latch.
Keeping the joints in good condition
Simple care keeps the joints in good condition. Our advice:
- Make sure water runs off the sill
- Get any rot dealt with first
- Ask the planning authority about consent for listed or conservation-area homes
- Leave the new mastic unpainted
Avoid sealing over the mastic with silicone. If you see a crack, ask us to take a look rather than patching it.
It’s best to renew mastic before painting the windows. Painting over failed mastic hides the problem for a while.
Common questions in Fordstreet
Is Fordstreet within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. 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 cover Fordstreet for sand mastic?
Yes, Fordstreet is within the area we cover. Our work covers London and the South East. You can ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and tell us what needs doing.
How long does sand mastic take to harden?
It forms a skin fairly soon and it hardens fully over a longer time. Timing depends on the weather and the joint.
Can you quote for more than one area?
Yes, we can. More than one area can go on one quote.
Do you have insurance?
Yes, we are fully insured for every job we do.
Can you match the sealant colour?
Normally, yes. Sealants come in white, clear, grey and other colours, and we agree the colour with you before we start.
What do you put in the joint?
We choose the sealant for the joint, not the other way round. Movement, water and weather all affect the choice.
Is the work guaranteed?
All our work has a 12-month guarantee.
Also near Fordstreet
Also in Fordstreet
What we do, step by step
Once we are on site, we check the joints match what you told us. If anything is different, we explain it before carrying on. After that, the work takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. In a small place like Fordstreet, access is usually the main thing to plan. If the job is outside, mention outbuildings, exposed walls and how to reach them.
- Each surround is checked first.
- The joint is raked out and cleaned.
- We fill deep gaps so the new mastic is not too thick.
- We point the joint with sand mastic by hand.
- The finish is dressed neatly.
Getting ready for the visit
- Clear the area around the work
- On commercial sites, let us know about site rules
- Let us know about stairs, lifts or work at height
Get a quote
A good description makes for an accurate quote. Let us know the location, the problem and roughly how many joints, and email pictures if that’s easy.
Read more
DIY versus a professional finish
Not every job suits DIY: work at height, external movement joints, fire-rated sealant and large areas call for the right materials, safe access and experience.
If you’re set on DIY, put the effort into 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.
Signs you need sand mastic in Fordstreet
Previous repairs in cement or silicone often trap water or crack away. They do not suit the joint and we normally remove them.
If you can see any of these, it’s time to have the joints looked at:
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
- Mastic round period door frames that has failed
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
Managing a site like Holy Trinity CofE Primary School? Then larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.
Comparing quotes
- Which colour the sealant will be
- Whether the sealant suits the joint
- What the quote includes, VAT included or not
- What happens if they find a problem under the old sealant
Honest limits
We’ll always be straight with you, so here’s what sealant can’t fix:
- Putty and glazing repairs
- Masonry that needs repairing
- Planning or listed building consent (your local planning authority decides)
If in doubt, ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and we will say what we think before you book.
Where we work in Fordstreet
- Sash and case windows
- Timber door frames
- Brick reveals
- Tenement windows
- Stone surrounds
- Period & listed homes