Essex · England
Shellow Bowells Sand Mastic
Traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick in Shellow Bowells, with a 12-month guarantee on every job. Ask us for a quote.
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
- Wind and rain getting in round a sash window
Different surfaces, different methods
Brick reveals
We rake out the old mastic and pack deep voids before pointing.
Period and listed homes
On a listed home or in a conservation area, the right material matters. Like-for-like sand mastic is usually favoured.
How we handle sand mastic in Shellow Bowells
On many period windows, sand mastic looks right and suits the building. Newer frames usually get a flexible sealant instead, and we will talk through which suits your home. We work on brick reveals, timber door frames and sash and case windows, and people most often call us about a silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look and gaps where the frame meets the masonry.
Around Shellow Bowells, many homes face open ground, so their windows and doors take the full weather. That exposure dries out and cracks the mastic around frames and sills faster.
The work is covered for a year after we finish. If there’s a problem with it, please call 0345 464 0079 or email us.
- Where
- Shellow Bowells (CM5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cover
- One year on every job
- Quotes
- Quoted before any work starts
- Telephone
- 0345 464 0079
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
What happens on the day
Before we leave, we go over the finished joints with you and tell you how long to leave it. The visit itself generally takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several, depending on the size of the job. For a village or hamlet like Shellow Bowells, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. We bring what the job needs, so it can be finished in one trip where possible.
- First we agree which joints need doing.
- We remove the old, loose mastic.
- We pack any deep voids first.
- We apply the mastic by hand and shape it.
- We dress the finish so it sits neatly against the masonry.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about any water getting in
- Keep pets and children clear of the area while we work
- Move anything stored near the joints
Ask for a quote
For a quick quote, get us on the phone, or email us if that is easier. Tell us about the joints that need doing and we’ll explain what’s involved.
Related advice
Leave it or put it right?
If you are redecorating, renew the mastic first. Painting over failed mastic doesn’t seal it and traditional guidance is to leave the new mastic unpainted. Older cottages and farmhouses around Shellow Bowells can have timber floors and frames, and water through a failed joint can rot timber if it’s left.
We do not show prices on the website, because each job is priced on what it involves. For a quick quote, please ring 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Shellow Bowells
- A 12-month guarantee on all work
- Arbo and Everbuild products
- 20+ years of sealant experience
- Homes, businesses and hotels
Take a look at our cost guide and customer reviews.
Looking after it afterwards
Good habits help new joints last longer. A few tips:
- Inspect the joints round the windows every year or so
- Have rotten timber repaired before new mastic goes in
- Keep modern sealant off the mastic
- Keep sills and gutters clear so water drains away
Avoid painting over the new mastic, which is the traditional advice. If you are redecorating, ask us first.
Renewing mastic before redecorating saves doing it twice. Paint over cracked mastic only covers it up.
Do you need sand mastic in Shellow Bowells?
Most of it is simply age. Even well-laid mastic needs renewing in time, depending on exposure and upkeep.
Signs it’s time to call us include:
- Gaps round a timber door in stone or brick
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
- Crumbling sand mastic round a window
In and around Shellow Bowells, as anywhere, good sand mastic starts with a clean, dry, properly prepared joint.
What to look for in a quote
- How long the guarantee is
- Are they insured?
- What product goes in the joint
- What happens if they find a problem under the old sealant
Nearby places to Shellow Bowells
More services for Shellow Bowells
Shellow Bowells questions
Is Shellow Bowells in your area for sand mastic?
Yes. We work across London and the South East, and Shellow Bowells is part of that. Just phone 0345 464 0079 or email us with a few details of the job.
Is Shellow Bowells within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our work covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
What sealant do you use?
Products from Arbo and Everbuild, among others, chosen to suit the joint. We’ll tell you what we are using and why.
Can I paint the new mastic?
Sand mastic is normally left unpainted, as guidance on traditional windows advises. Ask us before decorating.
Is there any odour?
Sometimes, a little. It fades as the sealant cures, and ventilation helps.
Can new sealant go over the old?
No, it won’t last. It may look fine at first, but the new layer lifts away from the old one. Removing the old sealant completely is the only lasting way.
Can you work on commercial sites?
Yes. Hotels, offices and other businesses use us and we are fully insured.
Do you remove the old sealant?
Yes. Sealing over the old bead is the commonest cause of early failure, and it’s something we never do.
DIY sealant or a professional job?
Sealing over old silicone is the commonest DIY error. Silicone doesn’t stick to old silicone, so it lifts and traps water and mould underneath. All the old material has to come out first.
Some sealant jobs are within reach of a careful DIYer, like a short, easy-to-reach joint indoors. Where it goes wrong is sealing over the old bead, working on a wet joint or overloading the gap.
How we quote for sand mastic
Your quote is based on your job. We take into account:
- Which sealant suits the joint
- The number and length of the joints
- Any mould that needs treating
- Any working-time requirements on site
A few things move the cost up or down: the old material and how easily it comes out, any mould to treat, and whether the work is at height. We take all of that into account in your quote.
Helping us quote
You don’t need to know the technical terms. It helps if you can tell us:
- Pictures of the joints, sent by email
- The problem you’ve noticed
- The rough size of the job
- The address or postcode of the job
A good description makes for an accurate quote. Tell us where the job is, what’s wrong and how much there is.
What sand mastic looks like in Shellow Bowells
Rainfall in the South East is lower than in much of the UK, yet outdoor joints still have to be sealed dry, so jobs are booked with the weather in mind.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter and St Paul, replacement windows fitted into old openings often leave uneven gaps that need backing and a flexible joint.
Shellow Bowells is about 7 miles west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Our applicators cover sand mastic for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Shellow Bowells and the surrounding area, as part of our work across Essex. We cover 644 towns and villages across Essex. Our Chelmsford page covers work nearby.
Work in CM5 works the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Willingale (1 mile west), Berners Roding (1 mile west), Radley Green (2 miles south), Chalk End (2 miles north-east) and Roxwell (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (7 miles east), Basildon (13 miles south-east), Braintree (14 miles north-east), Harlow (9 miles west), Brentwood (8 miles south) and Maldon (15 miles east).
Local landmarks in Shellow Bowells
Other landmarks nearby include Willingale Doe (0.7 miles west) and Chelmsford and Essex Hospital (5.7 miles east).