Glass block

[theoldwizard1]

How come no one uses glass block "windows" on their builds ?

They are strong, break in resistant and let in day light. What is their down side ? Cost ? Appearance ?

 

[rickairmedic]

I just had 4 new basement windows done with Glass blocks . Regular basement casement windows would have been around $600.00-$700.00 . The glass block windows were $1000.00 for all 4 installed and guaranteed for life seemed like a deal to me especially for basement windows.


Rick

 

[Lugnut64052]

I think the reason they're rarely used nowadays is that they're not the current fad, although glass block is making sort of a feeble comeback lately. You see more of it around than you used to (in new construction, not old '50s buildings).

I agree about the basement windows. They are permanent, look good and are pretty burglarproof. Same plusses would apply to a garage. And you could hose them down periodically, inside and out, without hurting anything.

I just did a bathroom glass block window in a house I renovated. If you do-it-yourself, they're not that expensive, but you do have to know how to lay brick (same as laying block) or, if you're an accomplished DIY-er you can fake it pretty well. Google "Pittsburg Corning glass block" for info and tutorials. There's also youtube videos on laying glass block.

Home Depot has all the stuff (the block, white mortar, spacers, reinforcments).

 

[ddawg16]

Part of the problem....what good is a window if you can't open it?

Limited uses....it's one of those things that I personally get tired of looking at pretty quick.

 

[R6 Racer]

I think the big issue is that they provide Zero insulation value.
That combined with eliminating a possible fire escape really makes them obsolete.

Steve

 

[Joe B.]

Same reason this guy does not wear socks. (It was last cool in the 80s)

 

[e-tek]

I think they're better built now, but historically they've had poor inulating (R) values and - depending on who does the work and what material is used to attach them - can allow a lot of air movement at the edges.

 

[PECVD2]

I did. Used 12 in my build. R value is about same as double pane glass. I built a 2x6 frame and Silicon RTV the glass block in place. No problems so far. great source of light.
Con- you cant open for ventilation but I installed a ventilator witch will move 850-1200 cfm through roof vent.

 

[willysrule]

My family had a glass block business from 78-92, my grandfather was a bricklayer by trade, he built the windows and my father and uncle installed them…They installed thousands of windows in my area…After my grandfather had a stroke he wasn’t able to built the windows and they decided to close up shop, that was in 92…My dad’s current home phone number was the number for the business, to this day he still gets a few calls a year asking about windows…

If you’re looking at them try to find someone who builds them the "old school way"...they build them like building a block wall standing up with full mortar joints, finished on both sides of the block...not the ones that they build laying down and squeeze silicone or mortar thru them…the silicone ones are pointless and the mortar ones they build this way look like **** on one side and are not nearly as strong as ones built the old way…

If installation is done right you shouldn’t have any gaps or voids…in applications where block or brick is around the window it should be mortar joints on sides and bottom then a silicone joint across the top against the top plate for allow for expansion.

True the older ones do not have a very high insulation value but they have gotten much better…Pittsburgh Corning LightWise blocks are really nice, they are even Energy Star rated…

You can have built in opening vents, dryer or vent fan outlets or even vent fans built into them…the possibilities are up to you…I remember one set up they did that even had two double-hung vinyl windows built into them…

 

[snyder]

Can you cut them to fit existing openings ?

 

[Cabby89]

Not a good picture but put one in my apartment bathroom. Lets light in but blocks anybody from seeing in. Also included a small vent window. I didnt like the idea of a regular window specially since the shower is on this wall.

I built it using silicone and did both sides Its been in for over 2 years and has been pretty good. If I were to do it again I would try the mortar just to do it differently.

 

[Lugnut64052]

Can you cut them to fit existing openings ?

Don't think so. You have to make your opening fit the sizes of block you have.

Willys is right~ they turn out much better when they're built like a regular brick'n'mortar wall. I used a block called "Icescapes" in that bathroom. It lets in so much light I couldn't get a decent picture of it in the daytime~ pictures turned out like the one in Cabby's post, so I had to wait until after dark.

 

[willysrule]

Can you cut them to fit existing openings ?

That’s another advantage to being built the “old school” way…if needed they can make the mortar joints larger or smaller to accommodate for the overall size, doesn’t take much, the differences can really add up…They also make different sized block to accommodate different sized openings, sometimes using smaller blocks for the outer rows and columns…between the two you can get them to fit quite nice…you also have the material that will be put around the windows to use for compensation...

 

[willysrule]

I used a block called "Icescapes" in that bathroom.

another one by Pittsburgh Corning... I really like that design!

 

[cowboyjosh]

I like glass block in basement windows, i think it looks spiffy. However, in my neck of the woods, our basement windows are large egress and glass block is strictly prohibited.

 

[PECVD2]

Cabby89,
where did you get the small vent from and what are the dimensions of it?

 

[willysrule]

Cabby89,
where did you get the small vent from and what are the dimensions of it?

They make those in a handful of different sizes but that looks like a standard 16" x 8" with two 4" blocks on either side...
home depot and lows sells them, or search the net for “glass block vents”…

Here is a link to decently made ones, and check out their “power ventilators”
Stark GB products

I have the power vents in two of my basement windows...I have radiant heat and only have AC on the main floor (ranch style home), the vents really help move air around in the basement, if not for them there would be no air moving around...

 

[PECVD2]

Thanks Willy.

 

[bochnak]

I have 3 glass block windows in my garage. The 4th window in the back is a double slider.

My garage is cinder block with a brick face.

Last year, I replaced 5 basement hopper windows with glass block. Each window has a little vent. Two of them have a dryer vent in place of a block (one for dryer and the other for bath vent). I paid 600 for these while regular window companies were quoting me 1600. Also, I don't have to buy window treatments as they add a bit of privacy.

 

[Cabby89]

Yes I got mine from Menards but Home Depot or Lowes will have the same thing.

 

[SuperSocket]

I just had 4 new basement windows done with Glass blocks . Regular basement casement windows would have been around $600.00-$700.00 . The glass block windows were $1000.00 for all 4 installed and guaranteed for life seemed like a deal to me especially for basement windows.


Rick

Ouch.


I paid $140 for two basement glass block windows installed, same day, and they hauled the old windows away. It's super cheap. You must have had big windows or something that would cause the price to be increased.

 

[willysrule]

Ouch.


I paid $140 for two basement glass block windows installed, same day, and they hauled the old windows away. It's super cheap. You must have had big windows or something that would cause the price to be increased.

Depends on quality of the installation and the way the window was built…not saying yours was done wrong…just saying if silicone joint windows were slapped in quickly it’s ALOT cheaper than having full mortar joint ones put in correctly…like anything else “99% of the time you get what you pay for…”

 

[Rickenbackerman]

I think they're better built now, but historically they've had poor inulating (R) values and - depending on who does the work and what material is used to attach them - can allow a lot of air movement at the edges.

I thought that by the nature of how they are made - the two halves are heated up and fused together - would create a partial vacuum inside which would make them insulate pretty well, no?

 

[willysrule]

I thought that by the nature of how they are made - the two halves are heated up and fused together - would create a partial vacuum inside which would make them insulate pretty well, no?

The newer ones are alot better than when they first came out, thicker glass, different designs and use of acrylic and other materials...

Glass is an excellent thermal conductor and with “block” the problem is there is no "thermal break" between the “faces” of the block...like in a double pane window there is the material (vinyl, wood, metal, etc) that hold the two panes in place, that and the air between makes an insulator…

This is supposedly another advantage of full mortar joints, they help slow the transfer of heat or cold and insulate each block from the next..

Can you tell I dig this thread????

 

[SuperSocket]

Depends on quality of the installation and the way the window was built…not saying yours was done wrong…just saying if silicone joint windows were slapped in quickly it’s ALOT cheaper than having full mortar joint ones put in correctly…like anything else “99% of the time you get what you pay for…”

Mine was done by the largest glass block company in the metro area, done with proper mortar and everything. They came highly referred, licensed, insured, and they were known for making some impressive glass block designs for banks and other public buildings here.


Neighbors liked it so much, right now just about the entire neighborhood has had theirs done by them.... We all had ****** basement windows where the builders cut corners... so this saved a lot of heating costs and increased security in general. ...I should get some kickbacks for those referrals

 

[willysrule]

Mine was done by the largest glass block company in the metro area, done with proper mortar and everything. They came highly referred, licensed, insured, and they were known for making some impressive glass block designs for banks and other public buildings here.


Neighbors liked it so much, right now just about the entire neighborhood has had theirs done by them.... We all had ****** basement windows where the builders cut corners... so this saved a lot of heating costs and increased security in general. ...I should get some kickbacks for those referrals

Sounds great...they do enough windows to keep costs down, it's awesome when you can find a company like that! Hard to come by...
That is the same way my dad was, if he did one house on a road he would end up doing half of them on the same road before it was all said and done...and he did give "thank you" packages to the first home who had them done...

 

[NUTTSGT]

When I bought our place, one of my garage windows was a single pane window, similar to a basement window. I felt it was a security risk, so I took it out. In it's place is stack of 12 or 16 glass block. It allow the light in and Ilike to see somebody try to break in crawl through it.

 

[59 wagon man]

they stilll use them a lot down here on new homes with zero lot lines since your window cant open cause the lawn & air on a zero lot line home on that side is not yours

 

[MN BIANCHI]

16 years ago I installed 2 glass block windows in my basement as replacements for traditional basement ranch style windows. None of the local glass block dealers had the correct size blocks in stock to properly fill the existing opening. I found a glass block window maker in Minneapolis to assemble the glass block as a unit. I set them in place with mortar on 3 sides and silicon on the top. They are better insulated than the old units.

 

[FITO]

I've slapped together a few blocks over the years.

 

[Matt M PA]

A friend of mine is in the home improvement biz. I needed to replace a broken basement window and decided on a glass block.

The one thing Steve told me was to have one made. He said the pieces you buy at Lowes aren't near as nice as one custom made. As said above, its nicely finished inside and out, etc. Looks great. I'm glad we did this over another type of basement window.

For a "regular" window type area, I'm not sure I'd want glass block. You can get them made with jalousie windows inside etc...but I prefer better viewing.

 

[onewaydave]

I built a custom walkin shower in the MB. I like it. If you're worried about a fire escape, just lat det cord around the perimeter. Problem solved.

Dave.

 

[willysrule]

I've slapped together a few blocks over the years.

Looks good! Nice work!

 

[SHAKEnBLAKE]

Thread from the dead! Since this is apparently THE glass block thread, I'm reviving it.

Has anyone used "Innovate Protect All" glass block? It has layers of vinyl between the block and silicone, which apparently makes it stronger and 20% more energy efficient than traditional block.

I am replacing my single pane basement windows for both security and energy efficiency reasons, and I'm trying to decide which ones to go with. I have five 30x36" windows. My first quote came back at ~$2000 for traditional glass block (with silicone), or $2500 for the "Protect All" windows. These prices included one vent in each window.
This contractor claimed silicone was more durable than mortar between each block. Thoughts? I have another company coming next week and they estimate a much lower price over the phone.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm fond of glass block, but IMO, for anything other than basement windows, they're very "50's commercial" looking and don't look right in residential use.

Tommy

 

[yatg]

There's also acrylic block, which looks about the same but its plastic. You can even get premade windows in specific sizes at Home Depot.

 

[Marctrees]

Seems to me that "in the old days" glass blocks were assembled w Mortar because...

RTV Silicone was not yet available.

Just thinking logically, a glass block wall assembled w RTV has GOT to be WAY stronger than Mortar.

Marc

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I’ve used them in my build, was looking for the vintage look.
Pretty sure they can not be used for basement windows in my jurisdiction as windows are put in as a point of egress.
With a step up in energy restrictions and being more fire proof. I wouldn’t doubt that glass block will make a comeback.
I have one more on the east side of the building that is approx 4’ square.
I like the effect.

 

[BajaScout]

I’ve used them in my build, was looking for the vintage look.
Pretty sure they can not be used for basement windows in my jurisdiction as windows are put in as a point of egress.
With a step up in energy restrictions and being more fire proof. I wouldn’t doubt that glass block will make a comeback.
I have one more on the east side of the building that is approx 4’ square.
I like the effect.

Looks great!

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Thanks BajaScout. I’m busy working on the inside right now second coat of paint done today.