Utrecht · approx. 10 km from Utrecht
Sealant work in De Bilt
The Dutch weather is measured in De Bilt, and that weather is exactly what a facade joint has to cope with. Sun that makes the brickwork expand, frost that makes it shrink again, driving rain that seeks out where the joint no longer closes. How long sealant work lasts is not a matter of brand but of exposure, and that differs from facade to facade.
Since 1959
Experience and craftsmanship from Utrecht
Clear communication
Short lines, clear agreements
100% satisfaction
We only leave once you are satisfied
Lasting quality
Top-quality materials for a long-lasting result
What matters in De Bilt
The weather determines the lifespan
A village centre that has grown together with Utrecht, pre-war buildings along the old roads, post-war residential areas and scattered buildings towards the surrounding countryside.
Along the older ribbon roads stand pre-war buildings with timber window frames, putty and glazing that is often still original; there the sealing around the glass is usually the oldest part of the facade. The post-war residential areas were built in terraces and are well past the first replacement round of their facade sealant; anything dating from before 1994 is suspected of containing asbestos until testing shows otherwise. Towards the countryside the buildings are more loosely spaced, often detached, and the facades catch more wind than in the sheltered streets of the centre.
What stands out here is how much the exposure differs over a short distance. A facade in a densely built street in the centre is sheltered; the same facade a kilometre further on, on the open side, catches wind and rain unfiltered. That difference determines not only how quickly sealant ages but also which product belongs there. We therefore look at orientation and shelter and not just at year of construction and substrate.
In the centre, parking in some streets is limited or permit-only; we check that in advance so we are not shuffling the van about on site. In the post-war areas and towards the countryside there is plenty of room and we park at the door. For detached properties on the open side we check during the site survey whether the facade can be reached at height, because above four metres a ladder is not good enough to run a neat joint.
Ten kilometres from our base, a quarter of an hour's drive. That makes this one of the nearest places in our area, and we also come for a single bathroom or a single joint. The call-out fee is among the lowest we charge. For business work it means we can work here on call without travel time affecting the budget.
What we do in De Bilt
- Bathroom, sanitary & kitchenSealing of sanitary ware, showers, baths, washbasins and kitchens.
- Window frames & glazingNeat, durable sealant work around window frames and glass.
- Facades & structural jointsFacade joints, connection joints and expansion joints in floors and walls.
- Swimming pool & wellnessSealant work in swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and spas.
- Renovation & maintenanceSealant work during renovation, repairs and periodic maintenance.
- Specialist sealant workFor specific requirements and specialist applications.
You will hear from us within 15 minutes on working days, and the work comes with a 2-year guarantee.
The work here
What we do most often in De Bilt
Facade joints facing south
A joint on the sunny side stretches and shrinks every day and therefore ages faster than the same joint facing north. On a house we usually start on that side, because that is where the damage is furthest along. We choose the product for elasticity and UV resistance, because a sealant that hardens under sun exposure is the first to crack open.
More about this serviceGlazing in pre-war properties
In the older buildings the glass is still set in putty or in glazing sealant that is decades old. It comes loose at the edges, and then rainwater runs along the pane into the rebate, where it can no longer escape. We take the old seal out without damaging the glass and check whether the timber underneath is still sound enough.
More about this serviceBathroom and kitchen
Indoors the outdoor weather plays no part, but use and ventilation all the more. Around the shower tray and worktop the sealant is constantly exposed to water and heat. Discolouration in the corners points to mould in the material; that does not go away with cleaning. The joint comes out, everything dries, and a sanitary sealant goes in.
More about this serviceHow we approach it here
Which sealant on what, and what it costs
The substrate decides the sealant
The joint faces here range from pre-war brickwork to modern materials, and the choice follows from that. Older brickwork is more porous and, without pre-treatment, draws the binder out of the sealant; we test the suction and prime where necessary. Painted timber requires the paint layer to be firmly attached, because the sealant bonds to that and not to the timber underneath; if it is loose, the joint comes off with it. Where plastic window frames were fitted in later years, the choice changes completely: smooth surface, large expansion in the sun, so a product that bonds to it and follows that movement. And for facades on the open side UV resistance weighs more heavily, because they catch sun all day.
Costs and lead time
The quote is made up of metres, accessibility and the time it takes to remove the old sealant. With old glazing that last part is the largest share of the work: hardened sealant has to come out while the glass stays intact, and that cannot be rushed. For buildings dating from before 1994, the asbestos test comes before the price for the work. A bathroom usually takes half a working day; the connection joints all round a house more like a full one. You get the amount before we start, call-out included. The curing time is added as a separate period and is in the schedule.
Two routes
Business or homeowner in De Bilt
For property managers and painting contractors in this municipality it is mainly about the post-war housing stock: complexes of identical homes where one site survey per type is enough and the price per metre stays predictable. For properties from before 1994 we include the asbestos question in the preparation instead of running into it during the work. We work as a subcontractor within a repainting cycle or take on only the sealant part, with the handover per address recorded on camera.
For businesses
Contractors, painters, homeowners' associations, property managers and interior fit-out.
See what we do for businessesAlso near De Bilt
As the crow flies from the centre. By road it is further.
- Bilthoven 2 km
- Utrecht 6 km
- Zeist 6 km
- Maartensdijk 5 km
- Bunnik 7 km
Is your town or city not listed? See the whole service area.
Questions from De Bilt
What people in De Bilt ask most often
Why does my front facade not last as long as the back?
Almost always because of orientation. A facade facing south or south-west catches the most sun and therefore makes the largest stretching and shrinking movement every day; on top of that, UV radiation slowly breaks the material down. By comparison, a north-facing facade barely moves. That difference can add up to years. That is why we start a site survey on the sunny side and say what we expect for each facade, instead of a single timescale for the whole house.
Does my sealant from before 1994 always contain asbestos?
Not always, but it is suspect until testing shows otherwise. Up to that year asbestos was used in certain types of sealant, especially around glazing and in facade sealing; not every sealant from that period contains it. The point is that you cannot tell by looking. That is why we cut nothing out before it has been established. Having a sample tested costs little and takes little time, and only then can we say how we will work and what it will cost.
Can I have the work done in winter?
Often yes, but not in all conditions, and we say so honestly. Most types of sealant need a minimum temperature to cure properly and do not bond to a wet or frozen substrate. In frost or persistent rain we would rather put it back a day than deliver work that will not hold. Indoor work such as a bathroom can be done all year round; the outdoor weather plays no part there.
How can I tell whether my joints need replacing?
There are three things you can see for yourself. Press your fingernail into the sealant: if it does not spring back or a small dent remains, it has hardened. Check whether the joint sits against both faces along its full length; if it has come loose on one side, water gets in there. And watch for dark discolouration in the timber right next to the joint: that usually means there is already moisture behind it, even if the sealant still looks reasonable from the front.
Do you also come for a single window?
In De Bilt, yes, because it is ten kilometres from our base. A minimum charge does apply for a single joint, because travelling, unpacking and clearing up take time regardless. You hear that amount in advance rather than finding it on the bill afterwards. If you have more windows or a neighbour joins in, the price per window drops noticeably because that fixed part is only needed once.
