Edinburgh · Scotland
Sand Mastic in Ratho
We cover Ratho 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 and every job guaranteed for a year.
- Old sand mastic that has cracked, crumbled or fallen out
- Open joints round the window box
- Failed mastic on an exposed elevation
How we handle sand mastic in Ratho
Sand mastic is the traditional way to point the gap between a timber window frame and the stone or brick around it. It’s a mix of sand and a linseed-oil-based binder, applied by hand. On period homes, it looks right where silicone wouldn’t. Common call-outs are for mastic dropping out of the joint and a silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look, on period & listed homes, stone surrounds and sash and case windows.
Many older Scottish homes still have timber windows set into stone walls. Those suit a traditional sand mastic or a neutral-cure sealant, not an acetoxy silicone that can attack some stone.
A one-year guarantee comes with the work, just as it does everywhere we cover.
- Where
- Ratho (EH28)
- Wider area
- Edinburgh
- Cover
- One year on every job
- Quotes
- A clear price before we start
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we look over the joints with you first, so there are no surprises. We protect the surfaces around the joints before any work begins. Most jobs take a few hours for a single window, longer for several. For a place like Ratho, longer drives are planned in advance. Tell us about tracks, gates, a ferry crossing or anything unusual about getting there.
- First we agree which joints need doing.
- Old mastic and any loose material are raked out.
- We pack any deep voids first.
- The sand mastic is mixed and pressed into the joint by hand.
- The surface is finished to suit the stone or brick.
Before we arrive
- Mention if the joints have been sealed before
- Mention any tricky access
- Mention any leaks or damp you’ve noticed
How to get a quote
Quotes start with a quick conversation. Describe the problem, the location and the size of the job. When it suits you, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
Read more
Common questions in Ratho
Do you cover Ratho for sand mastic?
Yes. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, and Ratho is part of that. Just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job.
Is Ratho within the area you cover?
Yes, Ratho is covered. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, from towns to the smallest places. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Are you insured?
Yes. Full insurance covers our work, and we can confirm the details when we quote.
How do I get a quote for sand mastic in Ratho?
We do not publish prices, because the cost depends on the job: how much there is, what’s there now, how we reach it and what it needs. We agree the price before any work begins.
Do you work for hotels and businesses?
Yes, regularly. Larger jobs can be planned room by room or area by area.
Can you do several jobs on one visit?
Yes. Just list everything you need.
Can I do it myself?
For a simple, easy-to-reach joint, a careful DIYer can do a reasonable job. The usual mistakes are sealing over old sealant, sealing a damp joint and using too much.
Should I use sand mastic or silicone?
Sand mastic generally suits period timber windows best. On modern frames, we’d normally use a flexible sealant.
Towns and villages near Ratho
More services for Ratho
Different surfaces, different methods
Brick reveals
An open joint at a brick reveal lets weather in. New mastic seals the gap.
Tenement and terrace windows
Windows above ground floor need the right access. Tell us the height and we’ll confirm what’s needed.
For landlords and businesses
Letting agents often deal with us directly. Send the address, what’s needed and the access arrangements and we’ll quote.
We also work for property managers and facilities teams. We can quote a run of properties together, and we’re fully insured for the work.
Do you need sand mastic in Ratho?
Shallow joints are a common cause. Mastic that’s too thin cracks and drops out so we make sure the new mastic is the right thickness.
People generally contact us when they notice something like this:
- Silicone on a period window that looks wrong
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Failed mastic on an exposed elevation
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
Letting a property close to Edinburgh Gateway station? Then any sash windows need sound mastic to keep draughts and rain out.
Comparing quotes
- Who does the work, and how experienced they are
- What product goes in the joint
- Which colour the sealant will be
- Whether VAT is included
Quotes for sand mastic in Ratho
Jobs vary more than people expect. The main factors:
- Whether there’s mould to deal with
- How many rooms, windows or areas are involved
- Access and height
- The product the joint needs
Some things make a job bigger or smaller: how much old sealant there is and how stubborn it is, whether mould needs treating, and whether the work is at height. We take all of that into account in your quote.
What to tell us for a quote
Photos by email are helpful but not essential. Try to tell us:
- Any previous sealing or DIY work
- Photos by email, if that is easy
- How many joints, rooms or windows are involved
- How we’d reach the joints
A good description makes for an accurate quote. Let us know the location, the problem and roughly how many joints, and email pictures if that’s easy.
Honest limits
Some problems need a builder, plumber or other trade rather than us:
- Decisions on consent for listed homes
- Sashes that need overhauling
- Decayed frames that need repair
If in doubt, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we will say what we think before you book.
Joints and surfaces we work on
- Period & listed homes
- Tenement windows
- Brick reveals
- Timber door frames
- Stone surrounds
- Sash and case windows
Why deal with it now?
Replacing sash windows is a big decision for a period home and on a listed home, consent may be needed. If the frames are sound, renewing the mastic deals with gaps and draughts at the surround. 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.
Rather than a set price list, we price the job in front of us: the amount of work, the old material and the access. The price is agreed before we begin.
Why Ratho clients choose us
- Old sealant always removed completely
- Arbo and Everbuild products
- Approved under the ARBOMaster scheme
- 180+ five-star Google reviews
Read what affects the cost or customer reviews.
Ratho homes and the weather
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Georgian New Town is known for its sash windows. If a home is listed or in a conservation area, it’s worth checking with the council before changing the look of windows or walls. Many older homes in Scotland have sash and case windows, often pointed into the wall with traditional sand mastic.
For an older house near a landmark such as Ratho Parish Church and Lady's Well, frames set in older brick or stone need a sealant that suits the wall as well as the frame.
Ratho is about 6 miles east of Livingston, in Edinburgh. Across the EH28 area, we cover sand mastic for homes and businesses. 175 places in Edinburgh are on our list. We also work in Edinburgh, around 7 miles away.
We work across EH28 for sand mastic and the streets around it. If you need sand mastic at a property on Main Street, Dalmahoy Road and Lidgate Shot or anywhere close by, we can help. If you’re just outside Ratho, we cover Ratho Station (1 mile north), Ingliston (1 mile north), Warriston (2 miles south-east), Gogar (2 miles north-east) and Hermiston (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Edinburgh (7 miles east), Leith (9 miles north-east), Bonnington (8 miles north-east), Greenside (8 miles east), Broughton (8 miles east) and Bellevue (8 miles east).
Local landmarks in Ratho
The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Gateway station, roughly 2.7 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include The Gyle Shopping Centre (2.8 miles north-east) and Illieston Castle (2.4 miles west). Open spaces near Ratho include Dundas Loch and Warklaw Hill.