What are glass blocks used for?
Glass block is used in place of conventional clear glass exterior windows at the front of the house or on bathroom windows. It is also used as an interior non-load-bearing wall alongside foyers or in bathrooms. Privacy is the top reason this material is installed.
What are the advantages of glass block windows?
4 Excellent Benefits of Glass Block Windows
- Higher Energy Cost Savings. Glass block windows offer energy efficiency advantages, comparable with what thermal pane windows provide.
- Improved Security and Privacy. Glass block windows come in different kinds to suit your preference.
- Enhanced Curb Appeal.
- Reduced Maintenance.
Can glass block be used for load-bearing walls?
Sometimes referred to as “bricks,” glass blocks do not have the load-bearing capabilities as do other masonry products. In fact, glass block can only carry the load of its own weight. Therefore, where panels are inserted into openings, provisions must be made to support the construction above.
Can glass blocks used exterior walls?
That means that glass block windows never contribute to a drafty room. And because glass block windows can be used across a large expanse of exterior wall space, they provide ample amounts of energy-efficient daylight illumination indoors.
When were glass blocks first used?
Owens-Illinois Glass Company first introduced their glass block to the American public in 1933 at the Chicago Century of Progress Exhibition.
Are glass block walls strong?
Glass block is inherently stronger than conventional glass because of the thickness of the faces and the mortar that binds the blocks together, he says. Since the block doesn’t have load-bearing capabilities like other masonry block, structural support is needed above block openings.
Can glass blocks be structural?
Glass blocks, or bricks, can be used to create architectural structures such as partition walls or screen walls across part of a room, around a shower or bath, as part of stair constructions and so on. They are capable of dividing a room without blocking light transmission.
Why do glass blocks crack?
The reason for the intense pressure is generally that there is no expansion joint in the panel (if the glass bricks or the surrounding structure can’t expand then the glass bricks tend to break because they are generally weaker than the surrounding brick, steel or concrete structures).
Are glass blocks good insulators?
As the block cools down after the fusing process, the air inside it contracts. This vacuum produces the good insulating quality. A glass block window also virtually eliminates air leakage around it because it is sealed with mortar in the wall.