Orkney Islands · Scotland
Sand mastic for sash & case windows in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
We cover Kirkwall for traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old material cut out, joints cleaned and sealed neatly.
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
- Failed mastic on an exposed elevation
- Wind and rain getting in round a sash window
FAQs for Kirkwall
What guarantee comes with sand mastic in Kirkwall?
All our work, in Kirkwall and everywhere else, comes with a 12-month guarantee. We’re also fully insured and ARBOMaster approved.
Do you cover Kirkwall for sand mastic?
Yes. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, and Kirkwall is part of that. Just email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job.
Can you replace silicone on a period window with sand mastic?
Normally, yes. With the silicone removed and the joint cleaned we point it with sand mastic.
Is it worth trying it myself?
For a simple, easy-to-reach joint, a careful DIYer can do a reasonable job. Most DIY failures come from sealing over old material, wet joints or too much sealant.
How long does sand mastic take to harden?
Not right away. The skin forms first, and the full set comes later, and we will tell you what to expect.
Do you work for letting agents?
Yes, regularly. Several properties can go on one quote.
I’m a tenant. Can you help?
We are happy to deal with the tenant, landlord or agent. Get your landlord’s agreement first.
Do you offer different sealant colours?
We’ll suggest a colour to suit the surroundings, from white and clear to greys and other shades. The choice depends on the product the joint needs.
About our sand mastic in Kirkwall
Sand mastic suits most period window surrounds. On modern frames we’d normally use a flexible sealant, and we will talk through which suits your home. Typical jobs include tired mastic found when preparing windows for paint and silicone on a period window that looks wrong, on brick reveals, sash and case windows and stone surrounds.
Harled walls are common in Scottish towns like Kirkwall, and the joint between a frame and rough harling needs a sealant that can grip and flex. A bead that sits on top of the harling rather than in the joint soon lets water in.
You’re covered for a year from the day we finish. If anything isn’t right with it, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
- Place
- Kirkwall (KW15)
- Region
- Orkney Islands
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Quotes
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
How the job changes by surface
Tenement and terrace windows
Where a building is shared, window work may involve neighbours so it’s worth checking responsibilities.
Stone surrounds
Stone openings are rarely perfectly straight, so the joint varies in width. Sand mastic is shaped by hand to suit.
Honest limits
Honest advice matters more to us than a booking, so here’s what sealant can’t fix:
- Decayed frames that need repair
- Cracked or broken glass
- Sash cords, weights and draught-proofing of the sashes
Not sure which it is? You can send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Surfaces we seal
- Sash and case windows
- Tenement windows
- Timber door frames
- Period & listed homes
- Brick reveals
- Stone surrounds
The process
Before we leave, we go over the finished joints with you. The visit itself usually takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several, depending on how much there is to do. In a Scottish town like Kirkwall, parking is usually straightforward, though older centres can be tighter. For flats, mention the shared stair or door entry system.
- We start by checking each surround and agreeing the joints to renew.
- We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking restrictions
- Tell us about access, such as stairs, a lift or high-level joints
- Try not to wet indoor joints just before the visit
Ask for a quote
It all starts with a short chat. Describe the problem, the location and the size of the job. When it suits you, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Read more
Leave it or put it right?
Gaps round a sash window let in rain and draughts. Left, water can reach the timber and the wall, so dealing with it now protects both. For landlords in Kirkwall, damp and leaks can fall under the Repairing Standard. Replacing failed sealant early is simpler than dealing with a complaint.
Leaving a failed joint usually makes the job bigger, not smaller, as water and mould keep getting in. If you’re not sure whether it needs doing, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk for an honest opinion and a quote.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Kirkwall
- One-year guarantee on every job
- ARBOMaster approved applicator
- 4.9 on Google from 180+ five-star reviews
- We’re fully insured
See our cost guide and our reviews.
Looking after it afterwards
How long the joints last depends on use and care. Here’s what we suggest:
- Have rotten timber repaired before new mastic goes in
- Check with your local planning authority if your home is listed
- Do not run silicone over sand mastic
- Take care around the mastic when scraping paint
Do not run silicone over the new mastic. If anything cracks, get it looked at before trying a quick fix.
It’s best to renew mastic before painting the windows. Painting over failed mastic hides the problem for a while.
Common problems we fix in Kirkwall
Decorating can disturb tired mastic. It’s often found when windows are being prepared for paint.
If you can see any of these, it’s time to have the joints looked at:
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- Gaps where the frame meets the masonry
- Old sand mastic that has cracked, crumbled or fallen out
If you look after a building such as Kirkwall Grammar School, larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.
Comparing quotes
- What the quote includes, VAT included or not
- Who does the work, and how experienced they are
- Is the old sealant removed completely?
- How the surfaces are prepared before sealing
Also near Kirkwall
Also in Kirkwall
Windows and doors in Kirkwall
Kirkwall 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. Private landlords in Scotland must meet the Repairing Standard, which includes keeping a home wind and watertight, and sound outside sealant is part of that.
If you live in an older home near Paterson Church, the windows may be timber, sash or later replacements, and each needs the right sealant against the wall.
Kirkwall is in the Orkney Islands. Across the KW15 area, we can carry out sand mastic at your property. Our the Orkney Islands coverage runs to 51 places, Kirkwall among them.
Jobs for sand mastic in KW15 is quoted and booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Main Street, Sommerville Square and High Street, all of which we cover. Kirkwall is on the A960 and A961, so it’s easy for us to get to with everything needed for sand mastic. We also cover the places around Kirkwall: Blackhill (1 mile west), Greenigoe (3 miles south-west), Balfour (4 miles north-east), Tankerness (4 miles east) and Toab (5 miles south-east). Being one of the Orkney Islands’s larger places, Kirkwall has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind. Remote and island addresses need a little more planning, so tell us where you are when you ask for a quote.
Near you in Kirkwall
In Kirkwall, that means homes and buildings near Orkney Library and Archive and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include Balfour Hospital (0.5 miles south-west) and Bishop's Palace (less than half a mile south-west). Not far away are Gallow Ha' and Loomi Shun.
Work for landlords, hotels and businesses
Landlords and agents in Kirkwall can book us as well as householders. Resealing between tenancies is a simple way to keep a property in good order before the next move-in.
Water getting past a failed joint can damage the building, which matters even more when someone else lives there. Resealing at the right time is simple maintenance that we can handle for you.