Glass Blocks
Glass block is also known as glass brick. You can explore an extensive range of innovative and uniquely styled glass bricks. They are available in different sizes, colors, textures, and shapes. Do you know why some people choose glass blocks as a necessary architectural element when they design the interior of their homes? Glass bricks are used in windows, skylights, and sidewalk lights as visual staples. For the first time, glass blocks were used in North America in the year 1933. These glass blocks were used at the Chicago Worlds Fair. A greenhouse Owens Illinois Glass Block Building was constructed by using 25000 glass blocks. From this time, the use of glass blocks came to light. They provide visual obscuration and privacy. Read the whole article to know more about glass blocks.
Where Can You Apply Glass Blocks?
The glass blocks can be used in different locations. Read the following details to know more about the glass blocks:
1. Wall Blocks
You can choose normal glass blocks and hollow glass blocks to meet your requirements. Ordinary glass blocks are good items for visual obscuration as well as for aesthetic pleasure. But hollow glass wall blocks are produced as two separate glass halves. Firstly, the glass is melted. Secondly, these halves are pressed and annealed together. Consequently, a partial vacuum is formed at the hollow center of glass blocks. The thing that makes them unique and special is the load-bearing capacity of masonry bricks is zero. They are used in curtain walls.
2. Skylights and Sidewalk Lights
Glass blocks that are used as skylights and sidewalk lights are manufactured as a single solid piece. Besides this, the hollow glass blocks are manufactured with thicker side walls. These wall blocks should not be used for flooring purposes because how they are manufactured is not supported for taking a load.
3. Construction Methods
Several methods are used for using glass blocks in construction. The most commonly known method is a Portland cement-based mortar method. In this method, the blocks are bedded together with reinforcing rods of steel that are placed within the mortar. The mortar is replaced by PVC or timber extrusions in other methods of construction.
Applications of Glass Blocks for Interiors and Exteriors
1. Bar in the Kitchen
Glass blocks can be utilized in the kitchen to frame the bar for breakfast, lunch, and supper. You can accomplish the ideal level and width by utilizing glass blocks depending on the situation.
2. Shower Partition
Glass blocks are utilized in the washroom since they give protection while the light is going through and are simple to clean.
3. Office & Room Partition
The office partition made with glass blocks permits all the more light to stream around the room lighting up dull spaces. They can likewise control room temperatures through heat maintenance.
4. Staircase Railing
Glass block can be utilized as the flight of stairs railing since it assists with changing light. Thusly, counterfeit light isn’t needed during the daytime. Likewise, it is not more difficult to clean than conventional glass.
5. Kitchen BackWall
A Glass block makes a brilliant kitchen backsplash for a kitchen island. The reason for utilizing a glass block in the kitchen backsplash is to safeguard the surface against any sprinkles. Likewise, it very well may be effectively cleaned off easily.
6. Glass Blocks For Façade
The façade is an exquisite part that assists with deciding the extraordinary compositional feel of the structure. Likewise, it plays a basic part in energy execution in the structure. Glass blocks can be utilized as a façade in the house for energy saving.
7. Glass Blocks For Wall
Source: The Mare Salon by The Archers
These days, houses and workplaces construct need to fulfill the prerequisites for energy saving. Hence glass blocks can be utilized in the development of a wall since they can send light and decrease the intensity, which will lessen energy needs and set aside cash.
8. Window
Source: Gbw Companies
In the rooms, restroom, or different regions that require protection, glass blocks can be utilized in the arrangement of the window.
9. Front Door Style
Glass blocks are utilized in the front entryway embellishment because their finished completion gives security while as yet conceding light into the hall.
Benefits of Glass Blocks
1. Security Windows
You can call glass blocks security windows. People use them for maintaining security and privacy. The best thing about them is that they do not allow anyone to see inside the building or room without obstructing the way of natural light. It is specially used in those places where security and privacy are high issues. In government buildings, hospitals, and correctional facilities these are used. A wide range of glass blocks is available in the market. You can choose the best one as per your need.
2. Power Consumption
Pressure-controlled argon gas is present inside the glass block. It is used in thermal transmittance and saves energy. Nowadays glass blocks are preferred by interior designers. They are not only able to conserve power but also make the building or room aesthetically pleasing.
3. Storm Resistant
People who live in stormy zones want to safeguard their homes and buildings against cyclones, storms, and hurricanes. The glass blocks that are manufactured for the ideal purpose of saving homes and buildings from storms are highly popular in such areas. They shield their homes by minimizing the impact of cruel weather.
Special Glass Blocks
Some special glass blocks are used for special purposes including
1. Fire Resistant
The target of fire resistance can be achieved by installing hollow glass blocks. If you use standard hollow wall blocks, you will get little resistance from fire. But this resistance is improved by those hollow glass blocks that are manufactured with thicker sidewalls. Some manufacturers use a special layer of fire resistance between the halves of a block to achieve the target of fire resistance to a large extent. It is advised the manufacturer’s advice should be taken care of while installing glass blocks otherwise the target of fire resistance will not be achieved.
2. Gas Insulated
The argon gas is used within the hollow area of glass blocks. This advanced technique of using argon glass has made glass blocks popular among customers because it has improved the thermal insulation properties of glass wall blocks.
3. Colored
Different colored variants of glass blocks are available. These glass blocks are of two types. The first type of glass block is manufactured with UV-stable colored glass. These are used as standard glass blocks. The second type of glass block utilizes a colored material. Dye or transparent paint is used to color this type of glass block. This paint is injected into the hollow center of the blocks to achieve the target of aesthetic vibrant colors. The target of vibrant colors can’t be achieved with colored glass.
Disadvantages of Glass Blocks
Though glass blocks have many advantages, there are some disadvantages too of glass blocks. Therefore, people avoid its use even though it is manufactured with top-notch techniques.
1. Difficult to Construct
You need to call a good engineer while installing glass blocks to your windows and buildings. The glass blocks should be sealed properly. If these are not sealed properly, windows and the rest of the house building can be damaged. Water leakage is also another potential risk that is associated with the application of glass blocks.
2. Starts cracking
Glass block windows should not be used to bear heavy loads. Though they have a load-bearing capacity, they can not be broken immediately. But cracks can appear on them. Subsequently, two major aims security and privacy can be achieved.
3. Expensive
If you compare the other alternatives with glass block windows, you will find that they are an expensive investment that you will have to do at your home/building.
4. Unsuitable for Hot Climates
Glass blocks can absorb heat efficiently. In this way, they convert the whole room into a greenhouse. Consequently, you will have to invest in air conditioning applications to cool down the room’s temperature. Hence, they are not used in small places.
