Orkney Islands · Scotland
Hourston Window Mastic
Mastic around window and door frames, sills and patio doors for householders, landlords and businesses in Hourston. ARBOMaster approved applicators, fully insured, with a 12-month guarantee.
- Old mastic that has gone black or come away
- Untidy mastic left by window fitters
- Mastic that has split away from the wall
DIY sealant or a professional job?
Not every job suits DIY: high-level joints, fire-rated gaps, external movement joints and big jobs call for the right materials, safe access and experience.
If you are set on DIY, put the effort into preparation: remove every trace of old sealant, clean and dry the joint, and follow the product’s cure time. If it does not work out, we can still put it right.
Window mastic in Hourston, done properly
Behind a thin line of old mastic there’s sometimes a deep void. Filling it with sealant alone leaves a joint that can’t move properly, so we fit backing rod to set the right depth. That way the new bead bonds to the frame and the wall only. We work on timber windows & doors, composite doors and patio & French doors, and the jobs we see most are draughts coming in around windows and doors and white mastic on grey or black frames.
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.
Our work is backed for twelve months.
- Where
- Hourston (KW17)
- Region
- Orkney Islands
- Cover
- One year on every job
- Price
- Quoted before any work starts
- info@mrmastic.co.uk
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
What the job involves on each surface
Patio & French doors
Patio and French doors have the longest joints on most houses. The threshold and the bottom corners take the most water, so we pay close attention there.
Composite doors
Composite doors are normally hung in an uPVC-type frame, and the joint around it is sealed like a window. We match the colour to the frame.
How we quote for window mastic
The quote reflects the job in front of us. We look at:
- Which sealant suits the joint
- Any mould that needs treating
- The number of rooms or windows
- When we can work, for business premises
What it costs depends on how much there is to do, how hard the old material is to remove and access to the work. We give a clear quote before work begins, so you know where you stand.
What to tell us for a quote
Before you ask for a quote, have a think about:
- The type of property
- The address or postcode of the job
- What’s wrong with the joints now
- Access, such as stairs, a lift or height
A good description makes for an accurate quote. Tell us where the job is, what’s wrong and how much there is, and add photos by email if you can.
What window mastic looks like in Hourston
Hourston is within about 2 miles of the coast, where wind-driven rain is a fact of life and, nearer the shore, so is salt air. That is hard on the mastic around window and door frames, especially on the side facing the sea. Private landlords in Scotland must meet the Repairing Standard, which includes keeping a home wind and watertight, and failed outside joints work against that.
In and around Hourston, as anywhere, good window mastic starts with a clean, dry, properly prepared joint.
Hourston is about 11 miles north-west of Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands. Anywhere in KW17, we can carry out window mastic at your property. Hourston is one of 51 places in the Orkney Islands where we work.
We work across KW17 for window mastic and the streets around it. Other places close to Hourston include Russland (1 mile south), Dounby (1 mile north), Harray (2 miles south-east), Skeabrae (2 miles north-west) and Tenston (2 miles south-west). For island and remote addresses, a little more planning is needed, so let us know when you get in touch.
Near you in Hourston
A little further out are Corrigall Farm Museum (1.5 miles east). The countryside around Hourston includes Loch of Bosquoy and Kame of Corrigall.
What we do, step by step
When we get to you, we compare the joints with what we discussed. If we find something unexpected, we talk it through with you first. After that, the work takes a few hours for a few frames, or a day or more for a whole house. Somewhere like Hourston 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.
- Each frame is looked over and we agree which ones need resealing.
- We remove the old mastic and clean the frame edge and wall.
- Where the gap is deep, backing rod goes in first.
- A flexible exterior sealant is applied in a colour to suit the frame.
- We tool each bead neatly and check every joint is closed.
How to prepare
- Tell us about access, such as stairs, a lift or high-level joints
- Where the joints are inside, avoid wetting them before we arrive
- Clear items away from the joints we are working on
Get a quote
Asking for a quote is easy: let us know the job and the location. A few pictures by email make the job easier to understand.
Related advice
More services for Hourston
How to look after the new joints
A little care helps the new joints last. We recommend:
- Keep drainage slots and sill grooves clear
- Check the mastic once a year
- Keep paint and stain on wooden frames in good order
- Avoid blasting the frames with a pressure washer
Most silicone sealants won’t take paint, so mention any painting plans before work begins. There are paintable sealants for joints that need it.
On timber windows, water behind the joint can lead to rot. Once wood has rotted, it needs repair before it can be sealed, so it pays to reseal before that happens.
Common questions in Hourston
Does living near the coast affect window mastic in Hourston?
Near the coast, wind-driven rain and, nearer the shore, salt air make outside sealant work harder. The right product, a clean joint and the right depth all help it cope.
Do you cover smaller places like Hourston?
Yes. Hourston is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work across all of Scotland, including the islands, where work is planned around ferry crossings. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. Mr Mastic is fully insured.
What information do you need?
The location, the problem and the rough size of the job. If you can, email a few photos.
How long does it take to reseal the windows on a house?
A handful of frames is a short visit. You’ll get a timescale with the quote.
I’m a tenant. Can you help?
We can work for tenants, landlords or agents. Just make sure your landlord agrees.
Does the work come with a guarantee?
Yes, for 12 months. A yearly look at the joints helps them last.
When is the sealant fully cured?
Most sealants are touch-dry well before they’re fully cured. We will give you the cure time for the product we used before we leave.
What we are called out for in Hourston
Every frame moves through the day. Sun on a frame makes it expand, and it contracts again overnight, while the brick or render around it hardly moves. If the sealant can’t stretch, it splits.
Look out for any of the following:
- Damp patches on the reveal after heavy rain
- Draughts coming in around windows and doors
- A bead that does not match the frame
- Black, perished sealant on frames
Skaill House, about 4.1 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hourston, and older homes nearby need a sealant that suits their walls.
What to look for in a quote
- How the joint is cleaned and prepared
- Whether you can choose the colour
- Which sealant they’ll use, and why
- What happens if the job turns out different
Work for landlords, hotels and businesses
Mouldy or split sealant often shows up at the end of a tenancy. Several properties can be quoted together.
Landlords and agents in Hourston can book us as well as homeowners. Resealing between tenancies is a simple way to keep a property in good order.