Are you a sucker for the elegance of glass block?
Possibly like me, you like the tried-and-true (my grandma’s farmhouse had glass block windows), but you also appreciate the most recent additions, such as glass block showers, stylish room separators, and now furniture advances.
A brick mason would be needed to install the block back then. No one had the confidence to do it alone. Installing blocks was performed similarly to laying bricks.
The world has changed! You may accomplish this if you prefer to “do-it-yourself”
The glass bottle manfuacturers today have reduced the cost of installation for many people. You may create the window, shower, or other glass block invention that will make your friends envy if you can read, perform simple arithmetic, and follow instructions.
A pan or bucket for your mortar, a trowel, a level, a big sponge, and a few other tools like a tape measure and tin snips should all be close at hand. The beginning strips, which are plastic panels the width of your preferred block size, are available from the manufacturer. Use your tin snips to cut to size. Place the glass block on the inner edge of the starting panel inside. The panel is designed to securely retain the block without mortar, thus it is not necessary to embed it under the block.
Plastic bits designed to evenly position your block may also be purchased. They are inexpensive and very worthwhile! At the top junction where two blocks meet, place one of these plastic spacers. Because you can consistently space your blocks, this is how you can make your project seem professional. Over the plastic spacers, mortar is placed.
Include the mortar used to join your blocks. This has to be completely filled out. The mortar will prevent any air from blowing in between the blocks if you’re building a window. Once the mortar is on top of the previous row, add a new row of block and spacer components.
When you’ve finished setting up your block rows and the mortar has begun to harden, wet your sponge and wipe any leftover mortar off the blocks in a circular motion. The sponge should be rinsed many times. Pass over the mortar that connects your bricks carefully since it will start to flatten down as you go.
Take off the plastic spacer pieces after about an hour by rotating them in a circle until they separate. Old cotton baby diapers work well as a dry cloth to remove any remaining film off the blocks, which will still have some haze. If you wish to seal off your block window from the elements, you may also apply some silicone sealant to its exterior corners the next day.
One of the benefits of glass block windows is that, for the most part, they don’t need regular maintenance. If necessary, clean them; otherwise, routine maintenance is usually not required.