How To Install Glass Block Basement Windows

08.twenty.2018

It is no hole-and-corner that vandals tend to effort to break into homes and businesses through basement windows. Ordinarily, these are less conspicuous locations on the building, and the windows are at "basis level," which makes them far more accessible to suspension and enter. Furthermore, owners may not notice a broken basement window has been damaged as quickly every bit other windows in the building.

Replacing standard glass basement windows with high-quality glass cake is a good thought for other reasons. In some climate zones, ground level basement windows may be exposed to significant snow buildup, flooding, and other weather-related stresses. And, when children and adults are engaged in brawl games and other activities involving flying objects, standard drinking glass basement windows tin can be shattered very easily.

Advantages of Glass Block Basement Windows

Drinking glass block is becoming a meaning architectural feature of homes and commercial buildings around the world. Stunning and award-winning structures in the United States and virtually every continent are becoming preferred over buildings created by more conventional structure methods for specific reasons. These are:

● Sustainability: The transparency or translucence of glass block permits natural low-cal to permeate the building, thereby substantially reducing energy costs for both light and heat.
● Beauty: Glass block buildings reflect and diffuse light in interesting, ever-changing ways.
● Immovability: Glass block is highly durable and resistant to forces of nature.
● Fireproof: Glass block will not burn down.
● Soundproof: While glass cake is an excellent free energy insulator, the material as well insulates individual rooms from sound penetration.
● Secure: Properly installed glass block is resistant to breakage and will discourage vandals from trying to intermission in.

While glass block windows are far more secure than conventional glass, the material tin be equally transparent. Withal, certain textures and styles can all the same acknowledge plenty of lite while preventing others from seeing what is within. The interior will seem as bright equally earlier during the day.

And the glass cake windows are excellent insulators, keeping heat inside in the winter and absurd temperatures inside during the summertime.

These practical attributes make drinking glass block platonic for basement windows in homes and businesses.

32x24 Ice Vented glass block basement windows 32x24 Ice Solid glass block window installation

How to Install Glass Cake Basement Windows

Because glass block windows will be an integral part of your home or business organisation security, you must ensure that these are correctly installed. Since any inappropriately mounted basement windows can still be kicked in, post-obit the instructions for proper installation is essential.

If you are unsure almost installing glass block yourself, you lot should seek a professional to brand sure the job is completed correctly. GBA Architectural Products + Services, a leader in glass block technology in Due north America, can offering assistance all over the United States.

The installation process consists of the following steps:

Completely remove the existing window frame without damaging the surrounding substrates. Cut the bottom of the frame, whether wooden or metal, and pry information technology from the lesser with a bar. Side by side, loosen the sides of the existing window and pry the top of the frame away from the opening.
Make clean the opening, sills, and jambs and make every bit shine every bit possible, chiseling away all sometime adhesives, caulk, and mortar. Brush the at present cleared window perimeter to set for calculation the glass block.
From the outside, decide where the block should rest. It is a skillful idea to set the cake into the opening, possibly i or two inches, to allow space for efficient sealing of the new window.
Mask the sill to protect it from the mortar as y'all go along. If the reveal or jamb of the window is to be ii" within the outer edge of the sill, simply two inches of masking is required.
Lay the bed joint or the horizontal layer of mortar upon which the block will remainder. The height of the bed joint should match the head joint above the drinking glass cake.
Set the new glass block window advisedly on summit of the bed joint. Square the block so that the reveal spacing is the same on both sides. Plumb the window with a small torpedo level to ensure that it is entirely vertical. Insert a wooden shim wedge at the head to temporarily hold the glass block window in identify.
Use a grout purse or pointing tool to fill the jambs and the head with a total mortar articulation. Remove backlog cloth with the pointing trowel and shine the mortar. Remove the masking tape.
Allow the grout to set, normally most 15-xx minutes, until the window is stabilized. Remove the shim wedge from the head joint and fill up the wedge hole. Smooth the space with a trowel.
Remove whatsoever backlog mortar from the drinking glass with a rag or steel wool. Don't scar the mortar since it has not still fully cured.
Finally, use a soft castor to clean the sill and area around the glass cake window completely.

You lot are finished. Congratulations on installing a new, secure, and energy efficient glass block window. The added value of enhanced security, beauty, efficiency, and depression maintenance will last throughout the life of the abode.

Contact GBA Architectural Systems + Services

GBA Architectural Systems + Services has been a provider of high-quality drinking glass cake and drinking glass brick materials for interior and exterior applications for over 30 years. GBA supplies and installs structural drinking glass products, glass cake, and LightWise systems for homes, businesses, and other commercial buildings.

The company serves Due north America past partnering with the global producers of the earth's most elegant glass architectural products. GBA is a highly collaborative trendsetter in the home, businesses and construction industries.

Bank check out the GBA website for ideas and new applications for glass block products, similar glass block pavement lights. In add-on to accenting beautifully designed homes, GBA products have been used for commercial building exteriors, hotels, subway stations, and even a secure correctional institute. Glass block tin can be used for windows, walls, partitions, flooring, custom drinking glass stairs, and more.

Phone the professionals at GBA Architectural Products at one of the three numbers below:

● Midwest: (877)-280-7700
● Eastward Coast: (212)-255-5787
● Due west Coast: (213)-634-7050

Or, complete the simple course on the GBA Contact Us page, and one of the GBA experts volition contact you promptly.

Tags: Installation, Glass Block