Glass Blocks

Glass Blocks

Posted By: Blue Print Blog on 31st of October 2013

Glass block is an architectural element made from glass and they are used in a building to add beauty while at the same time to provide visual obscuration while admitting light. The glass block was originally developed in the early 1900s to provide natural light in manufacturing plants but over the years it has been considered as an element of interior design commonly applied as part making the interior of the house more appealing to the eye.  Glass bricks are produced for both wall and floor applications. Glass blocks for use in floors are normally manufactured as a single solid piece, or as a hollow glass block with thicker side walls than the standard wall blocks. These blocks are normally cast into a reinforced concrete grid-work or set into a metal frame, allowing multiple units to be combined to span over openings in basements and roofs. Glass wall blocks should not be used in flooring applications. Hollow glass wall blocks are manufactured as two separate hemispheres and, whilst the glass is still molten, the two hemispheres are pressed together and annealed. The resulting glass blocks will have a partial vacuum at the hollow centre. Glass wall blocks in a house are erected after the floor and wall finishes are completed can be erected in short walls of three feet high to full height walls. They can be used to divide an entry porch and a sunken lounge or dinning. The blocks can also be used in a niche that provides light into a dark lobby as well as in the bathrooms as cubicles or for beauty since have they have good aesthetics. When installing glass blocks the area to be walled should be clean and free of any debris and dust and the abutting masonry should have the plaster complete as the blocks will be an in fill as they are not load bearing. The wall can be reinforced on the sides with aluminum frames to house doors or openings.  The bonding should be carefully done in accordance to the manufacturer’s instructions.  The most commonly used bonding agent with glass wall blocks is Silicon. Care should be taken to ensure that every part of the joint is filled with the adhesive. When all the courses are complete to the desired height the top of the wall can be finished with timber, aluminum or rubber rails. The top finishing is used as a protection for the glass block and can also be used for holding small flower pots, portraits, paintings or any other interior beauty enhancing objects.