Wokingham · England
Sand mastic for sash & case windows in Reading, Wokingham
Our applicators work in Reading on traditional burnt sand mastic around sash and case windows and doors in stone and brick. Old sealant removed completely, joints prepared properly.
- Draughty sash windows at the surround
- Mastic round period door frames that has failed
- A silicone bead on a sash window that spoils the look
Why act early in Reading
A silicone bead can be quicker, but it can look wrong on a period surround. Sand mastic suits the building and finishes neatly against the masonry. In a busy place like Reading, a failed joint in a flat or office can send water into the space below, where it can go unnoticed until the damage is done.
Doing several joints on one visit generally makes better use of the time than several visits, so tell us about everything that needs sealing. We’ll give you a clear price for the lot.
Why Reading customers choose us
- A 12-month guarantee on all work
- Fully insured
- Any old sealant cut out fully, not covered over
- More than 20 years in sealant work
Read what affects the cost or what customers say.
Sand mastic in Reading
We renew sand mastic around sash windows and doors in stone and brick. The old mastic is raked out, the joint is prepared and new mastic is shaped by hand. We work on timber door frames, tenement windows and period & listed homes, and the jobs we see most are gaps round a timber door in stone or brick and silicone on a period window that looks wrong.
Plenty of homes in Reading are rented, and windows are easy to overlook between tenancies. Cracked or missing mastic round a frame is a common cause of damp patches and draughts.
Our work is backed for twelve months, and the guarantee is the same wherever you are.
What we can’t put right
We’d rather tell you now than do work that won’t last, so here’s what sealant can’t put right:
- Putty and glazing repairs
- Sashes that rattle, stick or will not open
- Timber that has rotted
If you are not sure, just ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer.
What we seal
- Brick reveals
- Sash and case windows
- Tenement windows
- Stone surrounds
- Timber door frames
- Period & listed homes
Nearby places to Reading
More services for Reading
Keeping the joints in good condition
Good habits help new joints last longer. A few tips:
- Have rotten timber repaired before new mastic goes in
- Keep modern sealant off the mastic
- Keep sills and gutters clear so water drains away
- Don’t paint over the new mastic
Avoid painting over the new mastic, as traditional guidance advises. If you are redecorating, ask us first.
Good mastic helps keep the frame dry. Failed mastic lets water reach the timber, which can lead to rot.
Reading questions
Is sand mastic in Reading guaranteed?
Every job comes with our 12-month guarantee, wherever it is. We’re also fully insured and ARBOMaster approved.
Is Reading in your area for sand mastic?
Yes. Our work covers London and the South East, and Reading is part of that. Just call 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email with a few details of the job, and we will give you a clear price.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. We are fully insured.
Can I add another job to the visit?
Of course. Doing several areas at once is normally more efficient, so mention them when you ask for a quote.
I rent my home. Can I book you?
We are happy to deal with the tenant, landlord or agent. Get your landlord’s agreement first.
How long does sand mastic take to harden?
It forms a skin fairly soon, then hardens over a longer period. Timing depends on the weather and the joint.
Are you ARBOMaster approved?
Yes. We are approved under the ARBOMaster scheme, which is run for the Arbo sealant brand.
Is there any odour?
Sometimes, a little. It fades as the sealant cures.
What sand mastic looks like in Reading
Compared with the north and west, the South East gets less rain, but outside sealant still needs a dry, clean surface, so outdoor work is planned around the forecast. With historic houses such as Mapledurham House (about 3.6 miles north-west) nearby, there’s older building stock in the area around Reading as well as newer homes. In older buildings, older frames set in brick or stone need a sealant that suits them, and sometimes that is traditional sand mastic.
Managing a site like Coley Primary School? Then its window and door frames need their mastic kept sound, just like a home’s. If you let a flat or house near Reading West station, older sash windows in a rental need their mastic kept sound to keep the weather out. If you live in an older home near All Nations Christian Centre, frames set in older brick or stone need a sealant that suits the wall as well as the frame.
Reading is about 38 miles west of London, in Wokingham. Anywhere in RG6, we can carry out sand mastic at your property. Our Wokingham coverage runs to 35 places, Reading among them.
Every address in RG6, RG31, RG1 and RG30 is covered for sand mastic, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as Downshire Square, Market Way and Market Place, and we cover them all. Being close to the A4 and A33, Reading is simple for us to get to for sand mastic. If you’re just outside Reading, we cover Coley Park (1 mile south-west), West Reading (1 mile north-west), Newtown (1 mile east), Lower Caversham (1 mile north-east) and Whitley (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Wokingham (6 miles south-east), Woodley (3 miles east), Crowthorne (9 miles south-east), Lower Earley (3 miles south-east), Winnersh (4 miles east) and Woosehill (6 miles south-east). Reading is among the bigger towns we cover in Wokingham.
Around Reading
In Reading, that means homes and buildings near Former Kennet Arms, Eldon Square and Kendrick School, among other places. Other local landmarks include University of Reading library (1.5 miles south-east) and Eurospeak Language School (0.5 miles north). The closest station to Reading is Reading West station, roughly 0.7 miles north-west. A little further out are The Oracle (within half a mile north-east) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (0.8 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and Longwater.
What happens on the day
Every visit runs the same way: we check the joints, protect the area around them, carry out the job and clear up. It usually takes a few hours for a single window, longer for several. Commercial jobs in Reading can be planned out of hours where a building can’t close, while home visits are arranged within our normal working hours, Monday to Saturday.
- We look at the surrounds with you and agree the joints to renew.
- We remove the old, loose mastic.
- We pack any deep voids first.
- The sand mastic is mixed and pressed into the joint by hand.
- We dress the finish so it sits neatly against the masonry.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about stairs, lifts or work at height
- Tell us if parking is tricky
- Mention any sign-in or site rules at work premises
Getting a quote
Getting a quote is simple: let us know what needs doing and where, and roughly how big it is. A few photos by email make the job easier to understand.
Advice
How the job changes by surface
Sash and case windows
Sash windows are where we do most sand mastic work. We renew the mastic round each box.
Period and listed homes
Many older homes were built with sand mastic round the windows. If your home is listed, ask your local planning authority about consent.
Quotes for sand mastic in Reading
Call for a quick quote. What matters most is:
- Mould in or behind the old joints
- The number of rooms or windows
- The old material and how stubborn it is
- When we can work, for business premises
There are no prices on our website, because the cost depends so much on the job itself. For a quick quote, please ring 0345 464 0079 or send us an email.
Asking for a quote
Photos help, but a description is a good start. Try to tell us:
- Where the property is
- Photos by email, if that is easy
- How we’d reach the joints
- Any previous sealing or DIY work
For a quote, ring 0345 464 0079 or drop us an email and tell us where the job is and what the problem looks like. You’ll have a clear quote before work begins.
DIY sealant or a professional job?
What a professional job adds is preparation and the right product. Joints are cleaned back to sound surfaces and dried, and the sealant is matched to the joint and its conditions, then guaranteed for a year.
If you are 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.