Glass block windows can be a great choice for basement or bathroom windows. Ours offer strength and security at an affordable price.
Glass block can be installed with or without vents. Whether you're looking for a new window for your basement or your bathroom, our installation system maximizes light while giving you great privacy and security.
We use mortar on all of our glass block windows as well as a non-rusting poly-banding process to give our glass block windows strength. We use mortar not only on the sides, but between the blocks as well.
We offer both vented (pictured to the left) or non-vented.
Because there are many fad, or dated styles, we stick with the classic designs of either wave or ice (privacy) glass block.
Most customers choose the traditional wave pattern for basements and the ice pattern for bathrooms, but you can choose either block for your needs. If you are completing a project that was started with diamond, we can accommodate your needs, but we recommend against starting projects with dated designs. (Just like nobody would want to be caught dead with a mullet or a leisure suit these days.)
Glass block adds light : This article talks about the benefits concrete over hot glue.
If you really want to find out what a company will do for you, and what they might be hoping that you don't ask about, check out our article: Mortar, Hot-Melt or Silicone.
The Advantages of Mortar over Silicone
Strength & Security
Mortar is the strongest material on the market to put together a glass block window with. If someone attempts to kick in a mortared glass block window they will hurt themselves and fail break in.
Kick a silicone glass block window and chances are that it will buckle.
Cracking
Mortar holds each block in place making it so they do not bang into each other and chip or flake off at the edges. The mortar becomes part of your house because our windows are mortared directly to the bricks or block in your basement.
"Hot Melt" or silicone blocks are right next to each other making it so that even natural seasonal settling and shifting in some houses can cause blocks to chip or flake off.
Light
We remove the wood (also known as buck) frame from around the window and install directly to the masonry walls of your basement. The mortar, necessary for structural integrity, is only about 1/4 of an inch between each block.
A hot melt or silicone window gives the same amount of light. Although they are often advertised as giving you more light, the installation process of these windows requires that the installer use more mortar on the sides in order to make up for the space they are not using mortar for between the blocks.
Price vs Durability
Mortar remains an affordable material for creating glass block windows. While it is more labor intensive, the price difference is negligible and the product will last a lifetime.
One person can mass produce up to 30 siliconed or "hot melt" glass block windows in about an hour which makes it so you can produce these low quality windows for less. House flippers focused on a temporary or quick-fix may prefer cheap windows, but we find most homeowners are looking for something that will last longer than just a few years.
Mold & Mildew
With mortar filling all of the voids between the blocks, there is no danger of mildew between the blocks.
Voids between the glass are the perfect breeding places for black mold and mildew, especially once the silicone or glue starts to peel away or break down. Moisture then gets between the blocks.
Building Codes
Mortared glass block windows are approved for all communities.
Silicone or "hot melt" is not legal in all communities. Check your local building codes before installing one of these windows or allowing a company to install one.
Learn More about Glass Block Windows
What Kind of Variables Affect Price of a Glass Block Window?
The first thing you should know is that there is no such thing as an honest “ballpark” estimate. There’s no easy answer but here’s a few things that might help you. Here’s what an installation company is looking for: Identify the location the block will be put in. Basement Bathroom Identify the purpose of the block. Privacy Security…
Debunking the “Standard Size” and “Quick Install” Myth
When a glass block company receives a call and the customer tells them that they have “just standard size” windows, professionals cringe. The Professional knows that there will be a disconnect between what the customer expects, and what can be delivered and for what price it can be installed. So here’s a quick checklist to better understand…
To Vent or Not to Vent
We often hear, glass block “vents give you great air flow”, or so my customers tell me that “Joe” down the street told them. Now I’ll be honest — if you want vents, we will sell them to you, but not because you need them and as long as we’re being honest, not because they’re…
Q: How do I know if a company mortars their glass block?
A: This is a common question and in order to get the straight answer from a company you have to ask a few more questions. Here’s why: Many homeowners who do their homework prior to having a company come out for an estimate know that mortar is the best way to put together a window,…
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