Shetland Islands · Scotland
Houbie Sand Mastic
Our applicators work in Houbie on traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old sealant removed completely, joints prepared properly.
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
How we handle sand mastic in Houbie
Sand mastic skins over fairly quickly but full hardening takes longer. Traditionally, sand mastic is left unpainted and we will advise if you are redecorating. We are often asked to deal with draughty sash windows at the surround and mastic round period door frames that has failed, on stone surrounds, sash and case windows and tenement windows.
In and around a place like Houbie, homes range from older stone-built cottages to newer houses. Wind-driven rain finds any gap around a frame or sill, so the mastic there works hard.
The work is guaranteed for twelve months. If there’s a problem with our work within the year, let us know and we’ll sort it.
- Location
- Houbie (ZE2)
- Region
- Shetland Islands
- Guarantee
- 12 months on all our work
- Quotes
- A clear quote up front
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
What happens if it’s left?
Not every filler suits an old window surround. Sand mastic matches what was there, which can matter on listed and conservation-area homes. Around Houbie, water from a failed joint in an older stone home can soak into timber and plaster.
Homes and businesses are quoted the same way: the amount of work, the access and the products needed. Call for a quick quote and we will go through it with you.
What you get with us
- Domestic, commercial and hotel work
- Approved under the ARBOMaster scheme
- Rated 4.9 stars on Google
- Arbo and Everbuild products
Read our cost guide or our reviews.
What affects the cost of sand mastic
Call for a quick quote. What matters most is:
- Working hours on commercial sites
- How easy the joints are to reach
- Mould in or behind the old joints
- The product the joint needs
No two jobs are quite the same, so we quote each one individually. The number of joints, how easy they are to reach and the sealant needed all play a part, and we will explain the quote if you ask.
What we need to know
What to tell us when you ask for a quote:
- Pictures of the joints, sent by email
- Roughly how big the job is
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
- If someone has resealed it before
For a quote, send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us where the job is and what the problem looks like. You will have a clear quote before we start.
Other services in Houbie
When something else is needed
Before booking, it’s worth knowing the limits too:
- Rotten sashes, sills or window boxes (a joiner’s job)
- Decisions on consent for listed homes
- Masonry that needs repairing
Not sure which it is? You can email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll tell you honestly.
Where we work in Houbie
- Period & listed homes
- Sash and case windows
- Tenement windows
- Stone surrounds
- Brick reveals
- Timber door frames
Windows and doors in Houbie
Houbie is close to the coast, where wind-driven rain is a fact of life and, nearer the shore, so is salt air. Both are hard on the mastic around older windows and doors, which can dry out and crack sooner where a building faces the weather. Island weather, with its wind and salt spray, is tough on the mastic around older windows and doors.
If you live in an older home near Fetlar Church, the windows may be timber, sash or later replacements, and each needs the right sealant against the wall.
Houbie is in the Shetland Islands. Jobs in Houbie get the same care as everywhere else we work: the old material taken out, joints prepared properly and a 12-month guarantee. Houbie is one of 63 towns and villages in the Shetland Islands where we work.
Postcode districts we cover here for sand mastic: ZE2. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Clivocast (6 miles north), Aywick (6 miles south-west), Mid Yell (7 miles west), Camb (7 miles west) and Burravoe (9 miles south-west). For island and remote addresses, the job takes a little more planning.
Around Houbie
Well-known places in the area include Fetlar Interpretive Centre (under half a mile south-east). Green spaces nearby include Vord Hill and Skutes Water.
Different surfaces, different methods
Stone surrounds
Stone openings are rarely perfectly straight, so the gap isn’t the same all the way round. Sand mastic is shaped by hand to suit.
Period and listed homes
A traditional finish suits a period property, and sand mastic is one of them.
How the visit works
All our tools and materials come with us in the van, so there’s nothing for you to buy. After a quick look at the joints together, the area is protected and the work begins. It normally takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. In smaller Scottish places, parking is usually less of an issue than access and distance. Tell us how to find the property and how to reach the work.
- Each surround is checked first.
- We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
- We fill deep gaps so the new mastic isn’t too thick.
- New sand mastic is applied and shaped by hand.
- The finish is dressed neatly.
Preparing for the visit
- Plan for the work area to be out of bounds to pets and children
- Tell us about access, such as stairs, a lift or high-level joints
- Let us know if you’ve seen damp or leaks
Get a quote
Need a quote? Please email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details. We will explain what we’d do and give you a clear quote before we start.
Advice
Common questions in Houbie
Is Houbie within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, islands included, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Is Houbie in your area for sand mastic?
Yes, Houbie is within the area we cover. Our work covers the whole of Scotland. You can drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk and tell us what needs doing.
Can tenants book the work?
We are happy to deal with the tenant, landlord or agent. Get your landlord’s agreement first.
Can I add another job to the visit?
Yes, and it often makes sense. Doing several areas at once is generally more efficient.
How long does sand mastic take to go off?
Not straight away. The skin forms first, and the full set comes later and we will give you an idea for your job.
Should I check with the council before work on a listed or conservation-area home?
Speak to your local planning authority before work starts. Like-for-like sand mastic is often the preferred finish, but they decide.
How long will you be here?
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.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on the job. Inside work needs someone to give us access.
Aftercare tips
Aftercare is simple:
- Ask us before painting near the mastic
- Don’t run silicone over sand mastic
- Clear gutters so water does not pour onto the windows
- Renew mastic before redecorating the windows
Look at the mastic when you look over the windows. Catching cracks early keeps repairs small.
Gaps round a sash box let in draughts and rain. Left, the gap tends to get bigger.
When to call us in Houbie
Shallow joints are a common cause. A thin layer does not hold well so we make sure the new mastic is the right thickness.
These are the problems we are asked about most:
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
- Wind and rain getting in round a sash window
- Gaps where the frame meets the masonry
Managing a site like Fetlar Primary School? Then larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.
What your quote should include
- Are they insured?
- Which colour the sealant will be
- What the quote includes, VAT included or not
- What preparation is included