Midlothian · Scotland
Howgate Sand Mastic
Specialist sand mastic for Howgate: careful preparation, the right product and tidy work. Call for a quick quote.
- Weathered mastic on the most exposed windows
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
- Gaps where the frame meets the masonry
What we do, step by step
Our applicators work methodically: protection first, then preparation, sealing and a tidy-up. Typically it takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. For a place like Howgate, longer drives are planned in advance. Tell us about tracks, gates, a ferry crossing or anything unusual about getting there.
- 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.
- We point the joint with sand mastic by hand.
- We finish the mastic to a tidy line.
How to prepare
- Try not to wet indoor joints just before the visit
- Tell us about access, such as stairs, a lift or high-level joints
- Plan for the work area to be out of bounds to pets and children
Ask for a quote
There’s no standard price list, as no two jobs are quite the same. Instead, we give you a clear quote for your job. To arrange one, send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk.
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Sand mastic for homes and businesses in Howgate
Silicone on a period window often looks wrong and doesn’t suit the building. Sand mastic gives a finish that matches the age of the house, and we can replace one with the other. We’re often asked to deal with gaps round a timber door in stone or brick and a silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look, across stone surrounds, tenement windows and period & listed homes.
In and around a place like Howgate, homes range from older stone-built cottages to newer houses. Exposed frames and sills take the full force of wind-driven rain, so the mastic there works hard.
Our work is backed for twelve months, and the guarantee is the same wherever you are.
- Location
- Howgate (EH26)
- Wider area
- Midlothian
- Guarantee
- 12 months on all our work
- Price
- A clear price before work begins
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
When to call us in Howgate
Timber frames move with the seasons. That movement opens up the mastic joint over time.
Common reasons people contact us are:
- Old cement repairs round a window that have failed
- Gaps round a timber door in stone or brick
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint
For an older house near a landmark such as Howgate Church, the joint between an old wall and a newer frame is normally the first place rain gets in.
Before booking anyone
- Which sealant they’ll use, and why
- What happens if they find a problem under the old sealant
- How the colour is chosen
- How much experience the applicator has
How the job changes by surface
Brick reveals
An open joint at a brick reveal lets weather in. Renewing the mastic closes it.
Timber door frames
Round a period front door, sand mastic gives the right look.
Places near Howgate
More services for Howgate
Why it’s worth doing now in Howgate
New mastic over crumbling mastic will not hold. Raking out and preparing the joint gives it a sound base so the new work lasts. Out of town in Scotland, exposed walls take a lot of weather, and once water gets behind a failed joint, damp in stone or harled walls is slow to dry out.
Every job is a little different, so each one gets its own quote. The number of joints, how easy they are to reach and the sealant needed all play a part.
Why us?
- 180+ five-star Google reviews
- Approved under the ARBOMaster scheme
- Fully insured
- We never seal over old sealant
Take a look at how sealant jobs are priced or customer reviews.
Aftercare tips
So the new joints stay in good condition:
- Make sure water runs off the sill
- Ask a joiner to look at soft timber first
- Avoid heavy scraping on the mastic joint
- Inspect the joints round the windows every year or so
Leave the new mastic unpainted, as traditional guidance advises. Ask us before any decorating around it.
Sound mastic protects the frame. Once it fails, water can sit against the timber and timber that stays wet can rot.
What affects the quote in Howgate
The quote reflects the job in front of us. We look at:
- How much old sealant there is and how hard it is to remove
- The product the joint needs
- Access and height
- When we can work, for business premises
Commercial jobs are quoted on the same basis as homes: the amount of work, the access and the products needed, along with when we can work on site. Call for a quick quote and we’ll go through it with you.
Helping us quote
When you call or email, these details help:
- What the problem is, such as mould, gaps, leaks or cracking
- How we’d reach the joints
- Whether it’s a home or a business
- Pictures of the joints, sent by email
For a quick quote, get us on the phone, or email us if that’s easier. Describe what needs sealing and we will explain what’s involved and give you a clear quote.
Can I do it myself?
Not every job suits DIY: high-level joints, fire-rated gaps, external movement joints and big jobs need the right product, the right access and the right method.
What a professional job adds is preparation and the right product. We take joints back to clean, dry surfaces, and the sealant is matched to the joint and its conditions, and the work is guaranteed for a year.
Windows and doors in Howgate
Sash and case windows are common in older Scottish homes, often pointed into the wall with traditional sand mastic. Private landlords in Scotland must meet the Repairing Standard, which includes keeping a home wind and watertight, and failed outside joints work against that.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Wellington School, its window and door frames need their mastic kept sound, just like a home’s.
Howgate is about 2 miles south-east of Penicuik, in Midlothian. Homes, rented property, offices and hotels in Howgate is covered for sand mastic, old or new, large or small. Every job comes with our 12-month guarantee. Howgate is one of 33 towns and villages in Midlothian we cover. Edinburgh is on our list too, around 9 miles away.
Work in EH26 works the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you’re just outside Howgate, we cover Penicuik (2 miles north-west), Milton Bridge (3 miles north), Silverburn (3 miles north-west), Swanston (6 miles north) and Bonaly (6 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Bonnyrigg (6 miles north-east), Dalkeith (8 miles north-east), Loanhead (5 miles north), Gorebridge (6 miles east), Newtongrange (7 miles north-east) and Mayfield (8 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Howgate
In Howgate, that means homes and buildings near Penicuik High School, among other places. Nearby you will also find Ravensneuk Castle (1.6 miles west) and Penicuik Paper Heritage Museum (1.1 miles north-west). Open spaces near Howgate include Turnhouse Hill and Edgelaw Reservoir.
FAQs for Howgate
Will you come out to Howgate?
Yes, Howgate is covered. We work across all of Scotland, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Is sand mastic in Howgate guaranteed?
All our work, in Howgate and everywhere else, comes with a 12-month guarantee. We are also fully insured and ARBOMaster approved.
How long will you be here?
As a guide, most jobs take a few hours for a single window, longer for several. Bigger jobs take longer.
How long does sand mastic take to harden?
It skins over fairly quickly but takes longer to harden fully. We will tell you what to expect for your job.
Should I use sand mastic or silicone?
Sand mastic normally suits period timber windows best. On modern frames, we’d normally use a flexible sealant, and we will explain why.
Is it possible to take out silicone and use sand mastic instead?
Normally, yes. With the silicone removed and the joint cleaned we point it with sand mastic.
What sealant do you use?
Each joint gets the product that suits it. Movement, water and weather all affect the choice.
Does someone need to be in?
For indoor joints, yes, someone needs to let us in. After that, you can carry on with your day.