Orkney Islands · Scotland
Sand mastic for sash & case windows in Tankerness, Orkney Islands
We cover Tankerness 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.
- Gaps between timber frames and stone or brick
- Mastic dropping out of the joint
- Old cement repairs round a window that have failed
Tankerness homes and the weather
Tankerness is close to the coast, and homes near the sea take more wind-driven rain, with salt in the air closer to the shore. That’s hard on the mastic around older windows and doors, especially on the side facing the sea. Sash and case windows are common in older Scottish homes, often pointed into the wall with traditional sand mastic.
In and around Tankerness, as anywhere, good sand mastic starts with a clean, dry, properly prepared joint. In the older streets around St Andrew's Burial-Ground, the joint between an old wall and a newer frame is generally the first place rain gets in.
Tankerness is about 4 miles east of Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands. Anywhere in KW17, we can carry out sand mastic at your property. We cover 51 towns and villages across the Orkney Islands.
Our applicators cover all of KW17 for sand mastic. Neighbouring places we cover for sand mastic include Toab (1 mile south), Upper Sanday (3 miles south), Kirkwall (4 miles west), St Mary's (5 miles south-west) and Balfour (6 miles north-west). Remote and island addresses need a little more planning, so tell us where you are when you ask for a quote.
Landmarks near Tankerness
Well-known places in the area include Balfour Hospital (4.7 miles west) and Bishop's Palace (4.5 miles west). Not far away are Mull Head Nature Reserve and Loch of Tankerness.
About our sand mastic in Tankerness
Sand mastic skins over fairly quickly, but it takes longer to harden fully. Traditionally, sand mastic is left unpainted and we’ll advise if you are redecorating. We are often asked to deal with a silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look and old sand mastic that has cracked, crumbled or fallen out, across tenement windows, stone surrounds and brick reveals.
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.
There’s a 12-month guarantee on every job, whatever its size.
- Location
- Tankerness (KW17)
- Region
- Orkney Islands
- Guarantee
- One year on every job
- Quote
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
Can I do it myself?
The biggest DIY mistake is sealing over old sealant. New silicone won’t bond to old, so it lifts and traps water and mould underneath. Everything old must be removed first.
The difference is mostly in the preparation and the product. We take joints back to clean, dry surfaces, and the sealant is matched to the joint and its conditions.
Also in Tankerness
Why deal with it now?
Silicone might seem the quicker option, but on period stone or brick it often looks out of place. Sand mastic is the traditional material and finishes neatly against the masonry. In a place like Tankerness, small leaks are easy to put off, but water behind a failed seal does the most damage when nobody’s watching.
The cost depends on the size of the job, how hard the old material is to remove and how easy the joints are to reach. We give a clear quote before any work starts.
Why choose Mr Mastic in Tankerness
- We leave the area clean and tidy
- Quality sealants from Arbo and Everbuild
- 180+ five-star Google reviews
- ARBOMaster approved applicator
Read what affects the cost or our reviews.
What happens on the day
Good joint work is mostly preparation, and we do not rush it. Every joint is cleaned and dried before new material goes in. In total, it usually takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. Around Tankerness, distance and access matter more than parking. Let us know how to find you and how to reach the joints, and the visit is planned around that.
- Each surround is checked first.
- We rake out the old mastic and clean the joint.
- Large voids are packed out.
- We point the joint with sand mastic by hand.
- We finish the mastic to a tidy line.
Before we arrive
- Keep children and pets away from the work area
- Move anything stored near the joints
- Let us know about parking restrictions
Get a quote
A good description makes for an accurate quote. Tell us where the job is, what’s wrong and how much there is, and add pictures by email if you can.
Read more
Work for landlords, hotels and businesses
Landlords and letting agents in Tankerness can book us as well as homeowners. Resealing between tenancies is a simple way to keep a property in good order.
Whether it’s one flat or a portfolio, you get the same standard of work: the old material taken out, careful preparation and a 12-month guarantee.
When something else is needed
Some problems need a builder, plumber or other trade rather than us:
- Putty and glazing repairs
- Damaged stone surrounds
- 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 will tell you honestly.
What we seal
- Timber door frames
- Tenement windows
- Stone surrounds
- Period & listed homes
- Brick reveals
- Sash and case windows
Questions from Tankerness
Will you come out to Tankerness?
Yes. Tankerness is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our work covers the whole of Scotland, including the islands, where work is planned around ferry crossings. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do you cover Tankerness for sand mastic?
Yes, Tankerness is within the area we cover. Our work covers the whole of Scotland. Just send an email to info@mrmastic.co.uk with a few details of the job, and we’ll give you a clear price.
I’m a tenant. Can you help?
We can work for tenants, landlords or agents. Just make sure your landlord agrees.
Do I need permission for sand mastic on a listed building?
Your local planning authority is the one to ask. They decide whether consent is needed.
Can landlords and businesses book you?
Yes. As well as homeowners, we work for landlords, agents, businesses and hotels in Tankerness.
How long will you be here?
That depends on how much there is to do, but most jobs take anything from a few hours to a full day, depending on how many windows. We’ll tell you when we quote.
What information do you need?
The location, the problem and the rough size of the job. Photos by email help too.
Are you an approved applicator?
Yes. Mr Mastic is an ARBOMaster approved applicator, and we’re fully insured.
Looking after it afterwards
To keep the joints looking good and working properly:
- Get any rot dealt with first
- Don’t run silicone over sand mastic
- Make sure water runs off the sill
- Renew mastic before redecorating the windows
Check the mastic when you check the paintwork. Small cracks are easier to deal with early.
Fine cracks show the mastic is starting to fail. Renewing it then is simpler than waiting until it falls out.
What the job involves on each surface
Stone surrounds
Old stone surrounds are often uneven, so the gap isn’t the same all the way round. We shape it by hand to follow the stone.
Sash and case windows
Most of our sand mastic work is on sash windows. We renew the mastic round each box.