Edinburgh · Scotland
Sand Mastic in Swanston
Traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick in Swanston, with a one-year guarantee on every job. Call for a quick quote.
- Draughts and rain around sash boxes
- Modern sealant on a period surround
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
How it works
We bring everything the job needs with us. Once we’ve agreed what’s being done, we protect the area and start. Most jobs take anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. Somewhere like Swanston may be a longer drive, and the journey is planned ahead. 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.
- We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
- We fill deep gaps so the new mastic isn’t too thick.
- We point the joint with sand mastic by hand.
- The finish is dressed neatly.
Before we arrive
- For indoor joints, keep the area dry beforehand if you can
- Let us know about stairs, lifts or work at height
- Clear items away from the joints we’re working on
Ask for a quote
Every job is quoted individually, so the first step is telling us about yours. Just drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the details, and pictures are welcome.
Advice
How we handle sand mastic in Swanston
Across Swanston, we renew sand mastic around sash and case windows. Each joint is raked out, prepared and pointed by hand for a neat, traditional finish. We’re often asked to deal with silicone on a period window that looks wrong and cracked mastic round a front door frame, across timber door frames, period & listed homes and stone surrounds.
In and around a place like Swanston, 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.
The work is covered for a year after we finish. If anything is not right with it, drop us a line at info@mrmastic.co.uk.
- Location
- Swanston (EH10)
- Region
- Edinburgh
- Guarantee
- 12 months on all our work
- Price
- A clear price before work begins
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Swanston 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. Sash and case windows are common in older Scottish homes, and the joint between the box frame and the stone or render is traditionally pointed with sand mastic.
Letting a property close to Slateford station? Then older sash windows in a rental need their mastic kept sound to keep the weather out. Schools such as Firrhill High School are buildings too, and larger buildings have plenty of frames, and the mastic around each one ages.
Swanston is about 3 miles south of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh. Every kind of property in Swanston is covered for sand mastic. The work is guaranteed for a year. Our Edinburgh coverage runs to 175 places, and Swanston is one of them.
Every address in EH10 is covered for sand mastic. We also cover Bonaly (2 miles west), Torphin (2 miles west), Milton Bridge (3 miles south), Penicuik (4 miles south) and Silverburn (5 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Edinburgh (3 miles north), Leith (6 miles north), Bonnington (6 miles north), Greenside (5 miles north), Broughton (5 miles north) and Bellevue (5 miles north).
What’s near Swanston
For rail, the closest station is Slateford station, roughly 2.5 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Merchiston Tower (2.8 miles north) and Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital (0.9 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Caerketton Hill and The New Leaf Co-op.
Surface by surface
Tenement and terrace windows
Windows above ground floor need the right access. Tell us the height and we will confirm what’s needed.
Timber door frames
Round a period front door, sand mastic gives the right look.
DIY versus a professional finish
A DIY attempt doesn’t rule out a professional job. We cut it out and start again, so just mention it when you contact us.
If you’re set on DIY, put the effort into preparation: take out all the old sealant, make sure the joint is clean and dry, and give it the full cure time. If it fails, we can still redo it.
Common problems we fix in Swanston
Paint, silicone or cement used over old mastic causes problems. They do not move with the timber and we normally remove them.
It’s worth asking for a quote if you see:
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
- Silicone on a period window that looks wrong
- Crumbling sand mastic round a window
- Window mastic to renew ahead of painting
In the older streets around Fairmilehead Church, the windows may be timber, sash or later replacements, and each needs the right sealant against the wall.
What to look for in a quote
- Who turns up on the day
- Whether they’re fully insured
- How hidden problems are handled
- Whether they seal over old material or remove it
Why it’s worth doing now in Swanston
If you’re redecorating, renew the mastic first. Paint over cracked mastic will not stop the gaps, and the new mastic is traditionally left unpainted. 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.
A failed joint rarely gets cheaper to fix by waiting, as water and mould keep getting in. If you’re not sure whether it needs doing, email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll give you an honest view and a quote.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Swanston
- Quality sealants from Arbo and Everbuild
- An ARBOMaster approved applicator
- Rated 4.9 stars on Google
- Over 20 years’ experience
Read what affects the cost or customer reviews.
Looking after it afterwards
No joint lasts for ever, but care makes a real difference. Our tips:
- Sort the mastic before the decorators arrive
- Avoid patching sand mastic with silicone
- Ask the planning authority about consent for listed or conservation-area homes
- Have rotten timber repaired before new mastic goes in
Keep paint scrapers and sanders off the mastic when redecorating. It can be damaged by heavy scraping.
Crumbling mastic lets rain into the joint. That water can reach the timber frame and the wall, so renewing it early is worth it.
Nearby places to Swanston
More services for Swanston
When it is not the sealant
New sealant cannot fix everything, and we’ll tell you before work begins. Sealant won’t put right:
- Sashes that rattle, stick or will not open
- Whether work needs listed building consent
- Putty and glazing repairs
If you are not sure, just email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking.
Where we work in Swanston
- Period & listed homes
- Tenement windows
- Brick reveals
- Timber door frames
- Sash and case windows
- Stone surrounds
Common questions in Swanston
Do you cover smaller places like Swanston?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work across all of Scotland. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Can you help a landlord with a rental near Slateford station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can email us at info@mrmastic.co.uk with the details for a clear quote.
Is it possible to take out silicone and use sand mastic instead?
Normally, yes. With the silicone removed and the joint cleaned, sand mastic is applied by hand.
Can I do it myself?
It depends on the job. Work at height, movement joints, fire-rated gaps and large areas are best left to a professional.
Do I need to be at home?
We need access to the joints, so we will agree that with you when we book. For inside work, that normally means someone being in.
Should I use sand mastic or silicone?
We will help you decide. Period homes often look best with sand mastic, and modern sealants suit newer frames.
Is it possible to paint over sand mastic?
It’s traditionally left unpainted, as guidance on traditional windows advises. Ask us before decorating.
Do you hold any approvals?
Yes. Mr Mastic is an ARBOMaster approved applicator and we are fully insured too.