Facade Sealing in Kirkwall
Facade sealing for Kirkwall, from a contractor working since 2005. Fully insured, with a 12-month guarantee.
- Previous reseals run over old sealant
- Damp patches beside frames after rain
- Draughts around frames and panels
Facade sealing for Kirkwall sites
Photos, a specification or a quick description of the joints is enough to start a fixed quote.
Common problems we fix in Kirkwall
Sun, rain and temperature swings wear facade sealant down over the years. UV and weather harden the sealant until it can’t stretch with the building, then it splits or peels.
Common reasons buildings call us in:
- Sealant pulling away from frames or panels
- Water coming in around window frames
- Air leaks through failed facade joints
- Discoloured or dirty facade joints
School extensions, at buildings such as Kirkwall Grammar School, usually run to the summer holidays, mastic included.
Questions to ask before you book
- What level of public liability insurance do they hold?
- Are they CHAS accredited or on Constructionline?
- Is the sealant right for the movement and the substrate?
- The terms of the workmanship guarantee
Facade sealing in Kirkwall, done properly
Installing framed glazing systems isn’t part of our work. We handle the sealant joints that surround those elements: the frame-to-structure perimeter, panel-to-panel joints and window and door surrounds, using sealants classified for facade or glazing use. The enquiries we see most involve failed seals around shopfront and entrance frames and damp patches beside frames after rain, across perimeter joints where frames meet the structure, window and door perimeters and cladding panel joints. Looking for mastic applicators who cover Kirkwall? We have been sealing commercial buildings since 2005, CHAS accredited and a Constructionline member.
External sealant on a Scottish site depends on the weather, and Kirkwall is no exception: joints must be dry and above the product’s minimum temperature. We agree the plan with the site team and adjust as the forecast changes.
We stand behind the joints we seal: 12 months, guaranteed. That covers our preparation and application.
- Place
- Kirkwall (KW15)
- Wider area
- Orkney Islands
- Guarantee
- A 12-month guarantee
- Price
- Fixed quote, scope in writing
- Telephone
- 01277 525 020
- Updated
- 3 November 2026
New build and refits around Kirkwall
Kirkwall lies within about 2 miles of the sea. On a coastal site, facade and perimeter joints face driven rain and, closer to the beach, salt, so joint design, primers and product choice deserve extra care. Plenty of hotels sit less than 2 miles from Kirkwall. Hotel schemes tend to have fixed reopening dates, so the mastic is programmed tightly with the other trades.
Work at a hotel such as Orkney Hotel (to the west of Kirkwall) tends to be programmed around bookings, mastic included. New wings at hospitals like Balfour Hospital, 0.5 miles to the south-west of Kirkwall, bring long runs of window and panel joints to seal.
Kirkwall is in the Orkney Islands. We cover commercial sites throughout Kirkwall, for single jobs and planned programmes alike. Our the Orkney Islands coverage takes in 51 places, large and small.
Commercial sites across KW15 are covered for facade joints. Buildings on Main Street, Sommerville Square and High Street are within our area for facade joints. Access to Kirkwall is via the A960 and A961. Just outside Kirkwall, we also work in Blackhill (1 mile west), Greenigoe (3 miles south-west), Balfour (4 miles north-east), Tankerness (4 miles east) and Toab (5 miles south-east). Among the larger centres in the Orkney Islands is Kirkwall, and its commercial and public buildings are all within our area. For island and remote sites, we plan travel and materials carefully, so include the location in your enquiry.
Local landmarks in Kirkwall
In Kirkwall, that means premises near Orkney Library and Archive, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Balfour Hospital (0.5 miles south-west) and Bishop's Palace (less than half a mile south-west). Green spaces nearby include Gallow Ha' and Loomi Shun.
Owners, agents and contractors
When you manage a building on behalf of an owner, clear figures and clear communication matter. We quote a fixed sum, confirm the scope and walk the finished work with you or your representative.
We work for building owners and managing agents on sealant work across single buildings or whole portfolios around Kirkwall. Several sites can go on one quote, which keeps the paperwork simple.
Nearby places to Kirkwall
Other services in Kirkwall
Your questions answered
Does the sea air around Kirkwall change the choice of sealant?
It can. Driven rain and salt are tougher on outside sealant than sheltered inland conditions. We choose the product for the exposure, prime where the manufacturer requires it and size the joint for its movement.
Can you take on a job in Kirkwall, on the island?
Yes, Kirkwall is within the area we cover. Every Scottish council area is within our area. Ferry times and the weather set the plan, so we ask for photographs and a full list first.
Do you work to architects’ specifications?
Yes. Include it with the drawings when you ask for a quote, and we’ll price the work to it.
How long will the new sealant last?
There’s no fixed lifespan: movement, exposure, cleaning, traffic and the product all play a part. Treat them as maintenance items and inspect them regularly.
Is it okay to overlay old mastic?
No. Overlaying is a shortcut that peels away quickly. We remove the failed sealant, clean the faces, set the depth and reseal.
Is old mastic on our building likely to contain asbestos?
In older non-domestic buildings, old sealant can contain asbestos. The dutyholder’s asbestos register should be checked first; if it’s suspected, work stops until it has been tested. Removal of asbestos isn’t something we do.
How soon can the area be used again?
We will confirm how long the chosen product needs to cure, and flag anything to keep off until it has cured.
Why it’s worth doing now in Kirkwall
Topping up a failed joint usually buys very little time. A full cut-out and reseal costs more on the day but lasts much longer, so you aren’t paying for the same joint twice. Water through a failed joint in a building in Kirkwall can spoil ceilings, floors and stock. Early action limits what needs repairing.
No two sites price the same: the joint sizes, the specified product, access and working hours each have a bearing. Send the details and a fixed figure follows.
Why us?
- Constructionline member
- CHAS accredited
- Old sealant cut out, never sealed over
- One number for every site we cover
Read our cost guide and our accreditations.
Diagnose, treat, sign off
We bring the products specified for the job, along with primers and backing rod. Joint faces are cleaned back to sound, dry surfaces, primer goes on where the manufacturer specifies it, and each bead is tooled to a neat concave finish. If you manage more than one building in Kirkwall, they can be grouped, with one quote. Give us access times for each.
- We look at the joints, the drawings and the access before pricing.
- The old bead is cut away completely, not overlaid.
- Both faces are cleaned and, where the product needs it, primed.
- Backing rod, or bond-breaker tape in shallow joints, limits the depth.
- A facade-grade sealant rated for the movement goes in, tooled to a concave profile.
- We walk the finished joints with you before handing over.
What we need from you
- Let building users know which areas are affected
- Have the specification and drawings to hand
- Tell us what induction or permit system the site runs
Quotes
Need a figure for a tender or a budget? Send the scope and any drawings, and we’ll return a fixed quote you can plan around. If you have questions first, speak to us on 01277 525 020 or send photos by email.
Related advice
How the job changes by surface
Cladding panel joints
On sealed panel systems, every joint keeps water out. We cut out failed joints along their full length and rebuild them with backing and a facade-grade sealant.
Precast concrete panels
Precast panel joints have to absorb thermal and structural movement. A sealant of the right movement class goes in over backing rod with primer where the product requires it.
Aftercare for building managers
Regular inspection catches problems early. In particular:
- Record the product and colour used on each elevation
- Keep sills, gutters and drainage paths clear
- Never let anyone seal over old sealant
- Brief window cleaners about newly sealed joints
Record the sealant type and date on the building file. Future work can then match the product and colour without guesswork.
Planned resealing is cheaper than reacting to leaks. Regular checks let you renew joints before water gets in instead of after the damage.