Glass blocks: sizes, prices and installation technologies

Among the countless variety building materials there is one that stands out for its unusual combination of properties: it is as strong as a stone, and transparent as glass, and even beautiful, like a facing tile. It's called glass block. This is really glass, but unusual, very durable. It can be used to build walls that will withstand any vertical load laid down for them. This wall can be transparent and let in light like a window. And the appearance will be such that no additional finishing is required.

Glass blocks have been invented and produced for a long time, but before they were colorless, boring, and they were used only in industrial and office premises. In recent years, having diversified their range, glass blocks have penetrated into the residential interior and are expanding their positions.

Varieties of glass blocks depending on various parameters

A variety of glass blocks lends itself to ordering according to classification criteria. The most practical classification is carried out by design and size, by color design and by functional purpose.

Structure and dimensions

The glass block consists of two box-shaped semi-blocks hermetically glued together. Surfaces can be smooth or corrugated, transparent or colored. Due to the hollowness, the blocks are light and are good heat insulators.

PHOTO: ivd.ru

In general, there is a state standard for glass blocks, but its presence does not prevent manufacturers from producing products with deviations from the regulations. Basically it's about size. According to the standard, block dimensions should be 190 × 190 × 80 mm or 240 × 240 × 80 mm, but in reality they can differ by several millimeters in any direction.

PHOTO: stroyday.ru

The mass of glass blocks, depending on the type of glass and its size, ranges from 2.2 kg to 4.5 kg, the specific gravity is approximately 800 kg/m³. The blocks are buoyant and can be not only square, but also rectangular, and triangular, and with bevelled edges. This facilitates the construction of free-form objects. The coefficient of thermal conductivity of the glass block has a value of 0.4 W / (m × K). This is almost twice as good as brick.

Builders note a large number of various advantages of glass blocks. The most obvious are strength, heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties. The reason for the insulating properties of glass blocks is a still air environment or vacuum inside a hermetically sealed box. Glass blocks withstand high temperatures (up to 500 ⁰C) and temperature fluctuations. They are non-flammable and do not spread fire. To break a glass block, you need a good hammer and considerable effort.

The use of such blocks provides easy maintainability of the partition. It is necessary to remove the remains of the damaged block and insert a new one. This material is absolutely moisture resistant, it is not afraid of condensate. Different types of glass blocks have different degrees of transparency, but they are the only transparent building material. Colored glass blocks are less transparent. Blocks with a matte surface let light through, but nothing can be seen through them.

Color Variety

Glass blocks are distinguished either as transparent or as colored. Transparent blocks let through about 80% of the light, and multi-colored blocks are worse than plain ones. If coloring agents have been added during the production of glass mass, then the color will be very stable if internal surfaces are painted, then the paint under the action of ultraviolet irradiation by the sun will crack and fade.

PHOTO: m-strana.ru

Special purpose

Glass blocks are used where it is desirable to create at least a small element of a light-transmitting partition, wall or decorate a room in a non-standard way. In industrial premises, it is possible to build transparent walls and partitions, receiving natural light when energy savings. By the way, the first glass blocks were invented precisely for the purpose of saving. It is also very effective to use glass blocks in production shops that work with chemically active agents.

In residential interiors, colored translucent partitions can be a decorative element or a luminous signaling device about an obstacle in the dark. In addition, it is a good tool for interior zoning (translucent borders are created).

Which glass blocks to choose

The choice of the buyer will be difficult. First you need to decide for yourself: why does he need glass blocks, what problem does he want to solve using such a building material? The task can be purely utilitarian - to build a wall that transmits light. Or maybe a designer one - with multi-colored blocks to diversify the dull monotony of the walls covered with wallpaper.

If the surface of glass blocks is not supposed to be flat, then special-shaped blocks should be used in the right places - to form external and internal corners, roundings, etc. Additional blocks are produced half the width of the main one. There are also finishing elements for free cuts and corners of partitions. There are hexagonal blocks.

Material characteristics

Glass blocks as a building material have a whole range of interesting mechanical, physical, chemical and technological characteristics. The blocks have a low specific gravity - about 800 kg / m³, light transmission is in the range of 40-80%. The thermal conductivity coefficient of glass block is half that of brick, and is approximately 0.4 W / (m × K).

Blocks for exceptional cases of installation have a wide variety of shapes. The light passing through the block can be diffused, bright concentrated or directed - it depends on the texture of the glass surface. Their surface cannot be damaged by acids or alkalis.

Manufacturers

A large number of companies around the world are engaged in the production of glass blocks. The products of Russian factories are in great demand. Products made in Poland, the Czech Republic, Belarus and China are also in demand. Goods of Germany and Italy stand out from the crowd by strict execution of shape and size, smooth polished surface and a wide palette of soft tones. And the price of these products is the highest on the market.

The following brands are popular in the market:

• VITRABLOK. The Czech company is considered the world leader in the glass block market. It produces high-quality blocks of various designs and shapes. Their price is also very good.
• VETROARREDO. The Italian brand is considered one of the best in the world. Glass blocks produced by this company have an ideal geometry, different design, color, shape. Coloring happens outside and inside, metallized, with a mirror surface.
• CIECH VITROSILICON. The Polish company, founded at the end of the last century, is very popular in the building materials market. Its glass blocks have excellent fire-resistant characteristics and even have anti-burglary protection.

Glass block installation technologies

Glass blocks are very easy to install, almost like ordinary bricks. There are two main ways to install glass blocks: using various types of frames and frameless method, on adhesives.

Technique "on the frame"

When installing a partition in this way, a frame is first built from wooden or metal slats. Reiki are installed and fixed between the floor and ceiling with a step equal to the width of the glass block. Blocks are inserted into the gaps between the vertical rails, each block is fixed from above with a horizontal rail. If necessary, the gaps between the blocks are sealed in the same way as when facing with ceramic tiles. The use of this method of laying glass blocks requires very accurate marking and installation of vertical rods and certain financial costs.

Installation on mortar and glue

This method requires a preliminary accurate calculation to check whether the width of the intended masonry matches the total width of the required sides and the seams between them. If a whole number of blocks is not enough for the entire width of the wall, you need to prepare inserts from another material, such as wood. The mounting mixture must be applied slightly in excess so that voids do not appear between the blocks. Additional masonry strength is provided by laying between rows of galvanized wire or perforated tape as reinforcement.

PHOTO: chonemuzhik.ru

Laying glass blocks with the QuickTech and Vetroclick systems

The QuickTech glass block installation system guarantees high quality and safety of the method when using SEVES glass blocks (Vitrablock, Czech Republic) and QuickTech profiles/glue. The method consists in the fact that a horizontal and vertical profile is glued to the floor and wall, and glass blocks are installed on it. Docking of pieces of a horizontal profile in different rows should be carried out separately. During work, it is necessary to regularly check the verticality of the masonry. Joints in contact with walls, floors and ceilings must be sealed.

PHOTO: skr.sh

The use of glass blocks in a modern interior

Glass blocks are widely used not only in industrial premises, but also in the arrangement of interiors of residential and utility rooms.

Kitchen and living room

Glass blocks are used both as a means for space zoning and as interior decoration. Skillful owners with taste and artistic imagination with the help of glass blocks can turn their living room into a work of art. The choice of the shape of glass blocks, non-standard order of their laying, all kinds of lighting options will create a unique interior.

From glass blocks to studio apartment can be built septum, separating the kitchen area from the living room or bed. She will decorate the room and perform the function of separation assigned to her. Technically, it is not very difficult to make sliding partitions from glass blocks. And in a kitchen with good dimensions, you can zone the production and technological area and the dining room, make a stand under the countertop or bar counter.

PHOTO: design-homes.ru

Bedroom and children's room

In the bedroom, you need to create conditions for rest and relaxation. If something is already being built from glass blocks, then you should consider the color of the material, the organization of the backlight, the size and shape of the blocks themselves and the entire wall / partition.

A partition of blocks can zone a bedroom for dressing room and the actual bed. You can make a wall through which the light will pass, but the images will not, and thus provide half-light from the next room. For a bedroom, a significant advantage is such a property of glass blocks as good sound insulation. No one will object to the fact that superfluous sounds will not penetrate there.

You don't need a lot of glass in a child's room. More coziness and warmth is created by wood trim. For a change, you can make one or two narrow inserts from blocks, but they should be with bright patterns.

PHOTO: design-homes.ru

Bathroom and toilet

In the bathroom, fantasy can run wild. Can be folded from glass blocks shower stall, and an apron would look appropriate over the sink, and not necessarily colorless. Glass blocks with drawings on beach themes are suitable for the bathroom: sun, sea and sand, as well as all sorts of fish and birds.

A glass block partition can be erected at the border of the bathroom and toilet. Drawings and colors of the blocks are chosen at the discretion of the owners.

Bath and sauna

The bath and sauna are solid structures. Moisture and heat resistance make glass blocks an ideal material for the construction of these establishments. Here the main material, of course, will be wood. But glass inserts will significantly enliven this specific interior. And the coloring of the blocks does not hurt at all.

How to care for glass block partitions

You need to care for glass blocks in the same way as for window panes. They should be wiped with a damp cloth, and once a year they can be washed with glass cleaner and wiped with a dry cloth.

Prices for glass blocks

Prices for glass blocks depend on many conditions. Large blocks are more expensive than small ones, with texture - more expensive than smooth ones. In addition, prices also differ in different regions and from different sellers, and the products of a well-known company will always be more expensive than others. Even shops can set their own price. For a general idea, it is worth looking at the prices in the Leroy Merlin building materials store. This will be the market average.

For example, one of the cheapest samples is Bohemia Savona colorless glass block. The surface looks like a collection of water drops. Price - 283 rubles apiece. Designed for interior use. Standard dimensions - 190 x 190 x 80 mm. Production Czech Republic. The same glass block of the middle price segment costs 477 rubles, and an expensive one costs 630 rubles.

Conclusion

The builder is one of the oldest professions on Earth. And already the first builders began to create new building materials. And now they are building houses (though not yet entirely) from transparent glass blocks. It turns out interesting and beautiful. It's only the beginning!