Essex · England
Sand Mastic in Harlow
Our applicators work in Harlow on traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old sealant removed completely, joints prepared properly.
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
- Mastic dropping out of the joint
Windows and doors in Harlow
Harlow is one of the post-war new towns. Many homes date from the post-war decades, and many will have had their original windows replaced. The mastic around replacement frames ages too, and gaps at sills and frame heads are where water gets in. London and the South East are among the drier parts of the UK, but outside sealant still needs a dry, clean surface, so outdoor work is planned around the forecast.
Rented homes near Harlow Town station change hands often, and any sash windows need sound mastic to keep draughts and rain out. Schools such as Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery are buildings too, and its window and door frames need their mastic kept sound, just like a home’s.
Harlow is about 21 miles north-east of London, in Essex. Wherever you are in the CM17 postcode area, we cover sand mastic for homes and businesses. Across Essex, we cover 644 places, and Harlow is one of them. For nearby work, see our Chelmsford page (16 miles or so).
Every address in CM17, CM20, CM18 and CM19 is within our area for sand mastic. We cover properties on London Road, Soper Square and Square Street and the roads around them. Harlow sits on or near the A414 and A1019, so getting to you is simple. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Mark Hall South (1 mile north-east), Netteswell (1 mile west), Latton (1 mile south-east), Mark Hall North (1 mile north) and Bush Fair (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Brentwood (13 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south), Waltham Abbey (7 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (5 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (10 miles north). Harlow is among the bigger towns we cover in Essex.
Near you in Harlow
In Harlow, that means homes and buildings near Harlow Marsh, Purple Emperor pub and BMAT STEM Academy. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Town station, about 1.2 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Princess Alexandra Hospital (1.2 miles west) and Mark Hall Cycle Museum (0.7 miles north-east). The countryside around Harlow includes Hunsdon Mead.
How we handle sand mastic in Harlow
Our applicators renew the sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors set in stone or brick. The old mastic is raked out, and new mastic is applied and shaped by hand. Common call-outs are for gaps round a timber door in stone or brick and failed mastic on an exposed elevation, across stone surrounds, period & listed homes and timber door frames.
Harlow mixes older streets, where windows have often been replaced, with newer estates fitted with uPVC. In every case, the joint between frame and wall is what keeps water out.
The work is covered for a year after we finish. If anything isn’t right with it, ring 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email.
Nearby places to Harlow
Other services in Harlow
What affects the quote in Harlow
We do not publish a price list, because no two jobs are the same. The quote depends on:
- When we can work, for business premises
- Any mould that needs treating
- How easy the joints are to reach
- The product the joint needs
Some things make a job bigger or smaller: how much old sealant there is and how stubborn it is, any mould to treat, and whether the work is at height. Your quote takes all of that into account.
Asking for a quote
When you contact us, these details help:
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
- Whether it has been sealed before
- Photos by email, if that is easy
- How many joints, rooms or windows are involved
For a quick quote, get us on the phone, or email us if that is easier. Describe what needs sealing and we will explain what’s involved and give you a clear quote.
For landlords and businesses
Whether it’s one flat or a portfolio, the work is the same standard: the old material taken out, careful preparation and a 12-month guarantee.
For anyone letting property in or around Harlow, jobs at different addresses can go on one quote. Send us the addresses and the work at each, and pictures by email help.
Aftercare tips
To keep the joints looking good and working properly:
- Ask a joiner to look at soft timber first
- Go gently near the mastic when preparing windows
- Inspect the joints round the windows every year or so
- Find out about consent before window work on a listed home
Make sure water drains away from the window surround. Constant wetting wears the mastic faster.
Sound mastic protects the frame. Failed mastic lets water reach the timber and timber that stays wet can rot.
Harlow: your questions answered
Can you do sand mastic in Harlow?
Yes, Harlow is within the area we cover. We work across London and the South East. You can call 0345 464 0079 or email us and tell us what needs doing, and we will send you a clear quote.
Can you help a landlord with a rental near Harlow Town station?
Yes. We work for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. Just call 0345 464 0079 or email us with the address and what needs doing, and we will send you a clear quote.
Which is right for my windows, sand mastic or modern sealant?
It depends on the window. Period windows in stone or brick usually suit sand mastic, while modern frames normally get a flexible sealant.
What exactly is sand mastic?
It’s sand mixed with a linseed-oil-based binder, used between timber frames and stone or brick.
Are you fully insured?
Yes. We are fully insured, and we have been doing sealant work for more than 20 years.
How long does the job take?
It depends on the size of the job, but as a guide it takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. We will tell you when we quote.
Is it possible to paint over sand mastic?
Traditional guidance is not to paint over sand mastic. If you are redecorating the window, ask us first and we’ll talk you through it.
Do you guarantee sand mastic work?
All our work has a one-year guarantee.
How the visit works
All our tools and materials come with us in the van. Once we have agreed what’s being done, we protect the area and start. It normally takes anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. For a job in Harlow, we need access to where the work is and somewhere nearby to park. For outside work, let us know about side access, gates and any upper-floor joints.
- First, we look at the surrounds with you and agree what needs doing.
- Old, loose mastic is raked out and the joint cleaned.
- Deep voids are packed so the mastic is the right thickness.
- Sand mastic is mixed and applied by hand, then shaped to the joint.
- The mastic is finished to sit tidily against the stone or brick.
Getting ready for the visit
- Clear the area around the work
- Mention any tricky access
- Let us know about parking restrictions
Get a quote
The more we know about the job, the more useful the quote. Tell us where the job is, what’s wrong and how much there is, and add pictures by email if you can.
Related advice
Should I try it myself first?
Sealing over old silicone is the commonest DIY error. Silicone does not stick to old silicone, so it peels away and traps moisture behind it. All the old material has to come out first.
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.
Signs you need sand mastic in Harlow
Rain on the window surround works into any crack and pushes it out. Exposed elevations normally fail first.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Mastic dropping out of the joint
If you live in an older home near St Andrew's Methodist Church, replacement windows fitted into old openings often leave uneven gaps that need backing and a flexible joint.
Comparing quotes
- What happens if the job turns out different
- Are they insured?
- What the quote includes, VAT included or not
- When the joint can take water or movement
How the job changes by surface
Stone surrounds
The stone is treated with care while raking out the old mastic.
Timber door frames
A neat sand mastic joint round a front door suits a period home.