What are Glass Blocks?
Glass blocks are a special building material made of glass or acrylic. Shaped and laid similarly to brick or concrete blocks, glass blocks are available in several different sizes and are commonly used as an alternative to traditional windows, especially in basements. Glass blocks are also used to construct shower walls, uniquely shaped windows, and are frequently employed in the architectural design of office buildings. For residential purposes, glass blocks are most commonly used as an alternative to basement windows. Being located at ground level, basement windows are considered easy access to a home. Glass block windows are more difficult for would-be thieves to penetrate and thus considered a more secure alternative to traditional basement windows. Other common residential uses for glass blocks include shower walls and uniquely shaped and located windows. Glass blocks are also frequently found in office spaces. They can be used to construct non-load bearing walls, partitions, and
Glass block windows are literally glass blocks that can either stand alone as an accent window, or combined to form one large window. Typically frosted or with some form of thick, decorative glass, they work well as a privacy glass while still allowing light to pass through. Where can they be used? Block windows can be placed pretty much anywhere you desire; however, the most common locations are bathrooms, transoms, sidelights, or kitchens. They have even been incorporated into the walls of a shower or bathtub enclosure. What are the characteristics of a glass block? The actual blocks range in size from 4″-9″, and are normally around 3″ thick. They can be made out of acrylic or glass, and many are glazed for additional energy efficiency. When encased in standard frames, installation is very similar to standard windows. As illustrated in these pictures, there are many beautiful ways to incorporate glass block windows into your design. The windows come in many of the standard models, in
