Essex · England
Sand Mastic in Fox Street
Professional sand mastic in and around Fox Street, with old sealant always removed completely.
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Old cement repairs round a window that have failed
How we handle sand mastic in Fox Street
Sand mastic has long been used to fill the joint between timber frames and masonry. It’s made from sand and a linseed-oil-based binder and built up by hand. On period homes, it looks right where silicone wouldn’t. We work on tenement windows, sash and case windows and timber door frames, and the jobs we see most are gaps round a timber door in stone or brick and draughty sash windows at the surround.
Somewhere as small as Fox Street, older homes often have timber frames set in stone or brickwork. Older buildings like these don’t always suit modern silicone, so the sealant has to be chosen to suit the building.
Our work is backed for twelve months, in Fox Street and everywhere else we cover.
- Location
- Fox Street (CO7)
- Region
- Essex
- Guarantee
- A year, on every job
- Quote
- A clear quote up front
- Phone
- 0345 464 0079
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
How the visit works
At the end, we look at the finished work together and tell you how long to leave it. The visit itself generally takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several, depending on the size of the job. Somewhere as small as Fox Street, access is often the only tricky part. For outside work, also let us know about exposed walls and any outbuildings involved.
- We look at the surrounds with you and agree the joints to renew.
- 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.
- We dress the finish so it sits neatly against the masonry.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about access, such as stairs, a lift or high-level joints
- Mention any leaks or damp you’ve noticed
- Keep pets and children clear of the area while we work
How to get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us what needs doing and where, and roughly how big it is. Photos by email help us understand the job.
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What the job involves on each surface
Brick reveals
Gaps between frame and brick let in rain and draughts. New mastic seals the gap.
Sash and case windows
The mastic round a sash window is on show, so a neat, even finish matters.
Sand mastic in Fox Street: local notes
Compared with the north and west, the South East gets less rain, but outside sealant still needs a dry, clean surface, so outdoor work is planned around the forecast. Historic houses like Castle House (about 3.2 miles north-east) are a reminder that the area around Fox Street has older buildings as well as new. Where a home is older, older timber frames in brick or stone need a different approach from a modern uPVC window.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St John, the joint between an old wall and a newer frame is usually the first place rain gets in. Managing a site like Roach Vale Primary School? Then the mastic around its windows and doors needs looking after like any other building’s.
Fox Street is about 3 miles north-east of Colchester, in Essex. From the centre of Fox Street to the outskirts, we cover sand mastic for every kind of property. We cover 644 towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. For nearby work, see our Chelmsford page (23 miles or so).
Here we cover the CO7 postcode area for sand mastic. That includes homes and businesses on Colchester Road, Crown Lane South and Fox Wood Chase. Close by, we work in Ardleigh (2 miles north-east), Ardleigh Heath (2 miles north-east), Langham (3 miles north), Lamb Corner (3 miles north-east) and Hornestreet (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (3 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Harwich (13 miles east), Camulodunum (4 miles south-west), Halstead (14 miles west) and Tiptree (11 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Fox Street
We work in homes and buildings around Gilberd School and Welsh Wood, among other places. The nearest railway station is Hythe station, about 2.1 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Lion Walk (2.7 miles south-west) and Colchester Castle (2.5 miles south-west). Not far away are Westhouse Wood.
Fox Street questions
Will you come out to Fox Street?
Yes. Fox Street is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our work covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
I let a flat near Hythe station. Can you help?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just phone 0345 464 0079 or send us an email with the address and what needs doing, and we will send you a clear quote.
Where are you based?
We work from Crawley. Our applicators cover Fox Street, along with the rest of our area.
Is it possible to take out silicone and use sand mastic instead?
Generally, yes. Once the silicone is out and the joint prepared, sand mastic is applied by hand.
Is there any odour?
Possibly a little. Any smell clears as the sealant cures, and ventilation helps.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes. We work in offices, washrooms, hotels and other commercial premises. Working times can be discussed when we quote.
How long does sand mastic take to harden?
The surface skins quite quickly, then hardens over a longer period. The weather and joint depth both affect it.
Is consent needed for window work on a listed home?
Checking first is sensible. Ask your local planning authority whether consent is needed for work on a listed home or in a conservation area.
Leave it or put it right?
If you are redecorating, renew the mastic first. Paint over cracked mastic won’t stop the gaps, and the new mastic is traditionally left unpainted. Where a wall is exposed, as many are in small places like Fox Street, wind-driven rain gets into any failed joint, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Doing several joints on one visit is generally more efficient than separate visits. You will get one clear quote for the whole job.
Why us?
- Experience in homes, commercial sites and hotels
- Old sealant always removed completely
- Sanitary silicone with an anti-fungal additive in wet areas
- Approved under the ARBOMaster scheme
Take a look at how sealant jobs are priced and our reviews.
Places near Fox Street
Other services in Fox Street
How to look after the new joints
To keep the joints looking good and working properly:
- Get any rot dealt with first
- Do not run silicone over sand mastic
- Ask the planning authority about consent for listed or conservation-area homes
- Clear gutters so water does not pour onto the windows
Avoid painting over the new mastic, which is the traditional advice. Ask us before any decorating around it.
Small cracks are a sign the mastic is ageing. Renewing it then is simpler than waiting until it falls out.
Quotes for sand mastic in Fox Street
You will get a clear quote before any work starts. It’s based on:
- How much old sealant there is and how hard it is to remove
- Whether the work is at height
- The product the joint needs
- Working hours on commercial sites
There are no prices on our website, because each job is priced on what it involves. For a quick quote, please phone 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email.
Asking for a quote
Photos by email are helpful but not essential. Try to tell us:
- The type of property
- Where the job is, and your postcode
- Any access issues, like height or stairs
- Roughly how big the job is
We quote each job on its own, so the first step is telling us about yours. Just call 0345 464 0079 or email us with the details, and photos are welcome.
When something else is needed
A few problems are outside what sealant work can do:
- Rotten sashes, sills or window boxes (a joiner’s job)
- Sashes that need overhauling
- Putty and glazing repairs
Not sure which it is? You can call 0345 464 0079 or email us and we’ll tell you honestly.
Surfaces we seal
- Timber door frames
- Sash and case windows
- Period & listed homes
- Stone surrounds
- Tenement windows
- Brick reveals
Common problems we fix in Fox Street
Scraping and sanding before painting can loosen old mastic. Many people find it crumbling when they prepare the windows, which is a good time to renew it.
These are the problems we’re asked about most:
- Mastic dropping out of the joint
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Patchy fillers round a sash window
For landlords with property near Hythe station, older sash windows in a rental need their mastic kept sound to keep the weather out.
Questions to ask before booking
- How the surfaces are prepared before sealing
- Is VAT in the price?
- What insurance they hold
- Which sealant they’ll use, and why