Oxfordshire · England
Shiplake Cross Sand Mastic
Our applicators work in Shiplake Cross on 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.
- Crumbling sand mastic round a window
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
Sand mastic in Shiplake Cross
A silicone bead around a sash window can look out of place and does not suit the building. Sand mastic gives a finish that matches the age of the house and we can swap the silicone for it. Common call-outs are for modern sealant on a period surround and open joints round the window box, on timber door frames, sash and case windows and brick reveals.
Around Shiplake Cross, many homes face open ground, so their windows and doors take the full weather. Exposed frames and sills lose their mastic sooner than sheltered ones.
Every job is covered by our one-year guarantee, wherever you are in Oxfordshire.
- Location
- Shiplake Cross (RG9)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Guarantee
- 12 months on all our work
- Price
- A clear quote up front
- Telephone
- 0345 464 0079
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
Looking after it afterwards
Joint life depends on how it’s used and looked after. Here’s what we suggest:
- Sort the mastic before the decorators arrive
- Find out about consent before window work on a listed home
- Avoid heavy scraping on the mastic joint
- Look over the window mastic once a year
Leave the new mastic unpainted, as traditional guidance advises. If you’re redecorating, ask us first.
Sound mastic protects the frame. Once it fails, water can sit against the timber, which can lead to rot.
The process
On the day, we start by going over the job with you, so you know exactly what we’re doing. Surfaces next to the work are protected before any work begins. The work normally takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. In a small place like Shiplake Cross, access is usually the main thing to plan. If the job is outside, mention outbuildings, exposed walls and how to reach them.
- First, we look at the surrounds with you and agree what needs doing.
- We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
- Deep voids are packed so the mastic is the right thickness.
- We mix the sand mastic and apply it by hand, shaping it to the joint.
- The mastic is finished to sit tidily against the stone or brick.
Preparing for the visit
- Where the joints are inside, avoid wetting them before we arrive
- Tell us about access, such as stairs, a lift or high-level joints
- For business premises, tell us about site rules or sign-in
Ask for a quote
For sand mastic in Shiplake Cross, phone 0345 464 0079 or send us an email. A short description of the job and where it is helps us quote, and we’ll agree the price before any work begins.
Related advice
Why deal with it now?
Draughts round a sash window are not always the sashes. Gaps between the frame and the wall can be just as bad and new mastic seals them. Older cottages and farmhouses around Shiplake Cross can have timber floors and frames, where water from a failed joint can cause rot if it’s left.
Leaving a failed joint usually makes the job bigger, not smaller, because water and mould keep working on it. If you are not sure whether it needs doing, ring 0345 464 0079 or email us and we will give you an honest view and a quote.
What you get with us
- Neat joints and a tidy finish
- 12-month guarantee on every job
- Any old sealant cut out fully, not covered over
- Approved under the ARBOMaster scheme
Take a look at how sealant jobs are priced and customer reviews.
Nearby places to Shiplake Cross
Other services in Shiplake Cross
What sand mastic looks like in Shiplake Cross
The South East is one of the drier parts of the UK, yet outdoor joints still have to be sealed dry, so jobs are booked with the weather in mind. With historic houses such as Greys Court (about 3.8 miles north-west) nearby, there’s older building stock in the area around Shiplake Cross as well as newer homes. In older buildings, older frames set in brick or stone need a sealant that suits them, and sometimes that’s traditional sand mastic.
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. Rented homes near Shiplake station change hands often, and older sash windows in a rental need their mastic kept sound to keep the weather out.
Shiplake Cross is about 3 miles north-east of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. For sand mastic in and around Shiplake Cross, please phone 0345 464 0079 or email us for a quick quote. We cover Oxfordshire from our Crawley base, Shiplake Cross included. 443 places in Oxfordshire are on our list, from the larger towns to small villages.
Work in RG9 is quoted and booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Memorial Avenue, Plowden Way and Orchard Close and the roads around them. If you are just outside Shiplake Cross, we cover Binfield Heath (1 mile west), Harpsden (1 mile north), Harpsden Bottom (2 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (2 miles north) and Sonning Common (4 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (14 miles north), Tilehurst (6 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (7 miles south-west) and Oakley (14 miles north).
Landmarks near Shiplake Cross
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Plough pub, The Piggott School and Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School. The nearest railway station is Shiplake station, roughly 1.1 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Royal Berkshire Hospital (4.3 miles south-west) and Frazer Nash Archives (2 miles north). The countryside around Shiplake Cross includes Sonning Hill and South Lake.
What we are called out for in Shiplake Cross
Decorating can disturb tired mastic. It’s often found when windows are being prepared for paint.
People usually contact us after spotting one of these:
- Cracked mastic round a front door frame
- Cement or filler used on old window joints that has cracked
- Mastic worn away on windows facing the weather
- Mastic that needs renewing before redecorating
Managing a site like Shiplake Church of England School? Then the mastic around its windows and doors needs looking after like any other building’s.
Comparing quotes
- How the colour is chosen
- How long the guarantee is
- Who turns up on the day
- Are they insured?
Landlords, agents and businesses in Shiplake Cross
We work for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. Resealing between tenancies keeps a property looking cared for before the next move-in.
Businesses can book us for washrooms, kitchens, offices and more. For commercial premises, we can talk through working times when we quote.
What affects the quote in Shiplake Cross
Jobs vary more than people expect. What affects the quote:
- The old material and how stubborn it is
- The number and length of the joints
- How many rooms, windows or areas are involved
- Mould in or behind the old joints
We do not show prices on the website, because each job is priced on what it involves. Call for a quick quote.
Helping us quote
Before you ask for a quote, have a think about:
- How we’d reach the joints
- Whether it’s a home or a business
- Whether it has been sealed before
- Where the job is, and your postcode
Call for a quick quote, or email us if that is easier. Tell us about the joints that need doing and we will talk you through the work.
Different surfaces, different methods
Brick reveals
Gaps between frame and brick let in rain and draughts. Renewing the mastic closes it.
Period and listed homes
Materials matter on listed and conservation-area homes. Sand mastic is often the preferred finish.
Shiplake Cross: your questions answered
Do you work for landlords with property near Shiplake station?
Yes. We work for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. You can ring 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email with the details for a clear quote.
Is Shiplake Cross within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest places. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you hold any approvals?
Yes. We’re an ARBOMaster approved applicator.
Will it make a mess?
Not at all. We work neatly, protect the area around the joints and tidy up afterwards.
Are you fully insured?
Yes, we’re fully insured.
What does sand mastic cost?
Every job is different, so each one gets its own quote. To get one, ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and tell us what needs doing and where.
Do I need permission for sand mastic on a listed building?
It’s best to ask your local planning authority first. Like-for-like sand mastic is often the preferred finish, but they decide.
What’s sand mastic made of?
Sand mastic is a traditional material for pointing round windows and doors. It’s made with sand and a linseed-oil-based binder.