Are you looking to introduce some more natural light into your home? Then, your dream home must have a wall or surface that allows sunlight to enter your room. The wall must offer you the optimum privacy, while adding a modern touch to your home. Well that’s the magic of glass blocks. Although people once looked at these as a piece of decorative item, over time, glass bricks have evolved into a practical, durable and aesthetically pleasing construction material.
When you install a glass block roof or wall, you welcome natural lighting, enhance visual appearance and even contribute to energy efficiency. Whether you are looking to design stunning room dividers or design stylish facades, the blocks introduce beauty and functionality to your modern space.
Do you know what exactly goes into creating the blocks? How are they different from traditional bricks? Read this blog to know more about their manufacturing process, applications, types, cost and the potential advantages and disadvantages of using the blocks in construction. Whether you are a homeowner looking to recreate your existing home with glass bricks, or a construction professional looking to introduce them in your next project, this guide will help you understand if you are making the right choice.
What are Glass Blocks?
A glass block is a translucent building material mostly made using thick glass and comes in various sizes, designs and textures. Besides being a decorative element, the blocks today serve practical purposes in modern architecture, offering excellent style and durability.
Traditionally, construction professionals, including designers and architects used them in high-end commercial buildings. However, their ability to allow natural light and maintain privacy has expanded their popularity. How is it different from your normal glass windows? With a glass brick wall, you witness a diffused lighting effect, reduction in the glare and enhanced indoor ambience, which your regular glass window fails to offer.
When it comes to their structure, glass blocks are generally hollow from the inside, making them strong and lightweight. Since glass block walls offer thermal insulation properties, they help maintain indoor temperatures and reduce energy consumption, making it an excellent choice for homes in areas experiencing cold weather. Moreover, since they are soundproof, you can install them in your offices, bathrooms and other private areas
Solid Glass Bricks vs. Hollow Glass Bricks
You can avail two types of glass blocks in the market- solid and hollow. Manufacturers make the solid blocks from a single piece of glass. Since these blocks have better strength and durability, you can use them in structures that require high loadbearing capacity. On the other hand, manufacturers make hollow blocks by sealing two pieces of glass blocks together, creating an insulating air pocket. Since they are lighter than solid bricks, they are ideal for non-load-bearing glass brick partition walls and decorative elements.
Manufacturing Process of Glass Bricks
Although made from glass, manufacturers must abide by a systematic way of manufacturing these delicate elements. This includes:
Raw materials
Manufacturers need two basic components to manufacture glass bricks– sand and lime, of which sand is the main ingredient. One can source sand from the local sand deposits. Then the experts combine sand with other materials such as soda ash to form a mixture of silica and other substances.
Melting
The process of melting starts next. In this stage, the manufacturer places the raw materials in a furnace, which then gets heated to a temperature of around 2000 degrees. When the materials get heated, they become liquids, forming molten glass. These are then poured into molds, which undergoes cooling.
Molding
Once the molten glass cools down, the manufacturers mold it into the desired shape. After pouring the liquid glass into the mold, the experts cool it in tempering over. Once cooled, the manufacturers cut the glass bricks into individual pieces with the help of diamond saws and other tools.
Finishing
The individual pieces then undergo polishing, creating a smooth surface to remove any imperfections. The manufacturers then analyse the quality of each brick. In case a brick fails to meet the required specifications, they discard them.
Glass manufacturing companies make glass bricks from a special type of heat resistant glass, often referred to as float glass. You can produce float glass from floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin, offering the glass a smooth and uniform surface. The molten glass then undergoes molding and is cut into the desired shape and size.
Manufacturers then anneal the glass. During this process, they heat and cool the bricks to reduce internal stress, making them durable and stronger. After annealing, they coat the bricks with a chemical, giving them a unique colour and texture. They finally undergo painting to obtain the desired finish.
Application of Glass Bricks in Construction
Some common applications of glass bricks are:
Partition Walls
Glass bricks allow more light to flow around a room, thereby brightening up dark spaces. You can even get your room dividers in an interesting shape of your choice. For instance, you can opt for a divider with curved edges rather than a straight one. Besides, they control room temperatures by retaining heat and control noise reduction.
Splashbacks
In a kitchen island, glass blocks can make the perfect splashback. The best part of these splashbacks is that they are easy to maintain and durable. You can easily clean these splashes with just a wipe.
Shower Enclosure
If you are looking for an enclosure that offers privacy and natural light at the same time, opting for one made from glass bricks is an excellent choice. With such an enclosure, you need not rely on artificial lighting anymore. Besides, cleaning the enclosure is easy. You just require warm water and mild detergent.
Façade
Your façade is an elegant component, helping you to determine the unique architectural aesthetics of your structure. When it comes to energy performance, it plays a critical role. If you are looking to give a stunning appearance to your structure, choosing a glass brick façade is the best choice.
Windows
Whether you want to install windows for your bathroom, garage or any other area that requires privacy, you can choose one made of glass bricks. Besides offering privacy, they also allow light to enter the space, making them more secure than regular windows. They are a perfect deterrent for thieves, thanks to their thickness.
Types of Glass Blocks
You can avail various glass block designs, shapes, sizes and types, each serving specific aesthetic and functional purposes in construction. The various types of glass blocks include the following:
Clear Glass Blocks
With these blocks, you enjoy maximum transparency, allowing maximum natural light to pass through to maintain structural integrity. These bricks are ideal for constructing windows, decorative walls and partitions.
Frosted Glass Blocks
You can instantly segregate these blocks visually, as they come with an etched surface. These bricks diffuse light, offering optimum privacy without blocking the flow of natural light into your space. They are ideal for constructing the most private spaces, including bathrooms and office partitions.
Patterned Glass Blocks
If you are looking for something appealing to your eyes, these are a good option. While slightly diffusing natural light, the unique patterns and textures create a visual interest. You can use them for creating decorative elements in residential and commercial buildings.
Coloured Glass Blocks
As the name suggests, you can avail them in various shades, adding style and vibrancy to your architectural designs. They are ideal for creating feature walls, accent décor and artistic installations.
Energy-efficient Glass Blocks
With insulating properties, these blocks can help in regulating indoor temperatures and boost your interior’s energy-efficiency. If you are striving to create sustainable projects, these bricks are your perfect choice.
Fire-resistant Glass Blocks
These are created specially to withstand high temperatures and are the best choice to enhance fire safety. If your project includes designing stairwells, fire-rated walls and emergency exits, a fire-resistant glass block is the perfect choice.
Advantages of Glass Blocks
Aesthetics
Their unique appearance and ability to diffuse natural light makes glass blocks windows an aesthetic addition to projects. They improve the lighting and ambience of your interiors.
Free Flow of Natural Light While Protecting Privacy
The translucent nature of glass bricks allows free flow of natural light while maintaining optimum privacy. Therefore, they are the perfect choice for usage in places where you store your valuables, such as garages and basements. Furthermore, they find an excellent use in the bathroom, where you can enjoy privacy without relying on artificial light.
Boosts Safety
It’s more difficult to pry open glass brick windows than regular ones. Windows constructed using glass bricks are also waterproof, making them an ideal choice for areas prone to moisture.
Energy-Efficient
The hollow part of glass bricks offers insulation similar to a double-glazed window. Besides, the mortar connecting each brick outperforms the traditional window frames, thereby preventing air penetration.
Disadvantages of Glass Bricks
Load Bearing Capacity
When you use glass bricks for walls, they do not possess load-bearing capabilities. The glass can carry only its own load, making the wall or window more fragile that it seems.
Lack of Ventilation
Glass block windows come with small vents built into them. Since you cannot open an entire window, you limit the ventilation in your room.
Heavy
If you are using a glass brick wall externally, you will find it heavy. It will require a sturdy base consisting of a properly built sill and cripple studs running vertically beneath it.
Glass Block Cost
The cost of your chosen glass brick depends on various factors, including its type, size, design, thickness and brand. While most people can afford clear glass bricks, frosted, coloured, patterned and coloured bricks are expensive due to their unique finishes. Fire resistant and energy-efficient bricks for specialised applications are even more expensive.
In local markets, you can avail standard glass blocks between INR 150 and INR 500/ sq ft, while high-end designs and energy-efficient glass blocks range between INR 700 and INR 2000 per piece. The prices further fluctuate depending on the demand, supply and transportation cost, making the premium glass bricks highly expensive in some regions.
Conclusion
Glass block as a constriction material exhibits multifaceted characteristics. When installed as windows or walls, they are a stunning addition to modern architecture and interior design. With these unique elements in your space, you enjoy design versatility, privacy and natural light simultaneously. Despite the several benefits, you must consider their installation challenges, weight and cost implications. Ensure to weigh the pros and cons carefully before opting for glass blocks.
As one of the most trustworthy and prominent construction firms in India, Brick & Bolt offers end-to-end services. Since the professionals are empathetic about the efforts that you put into building your dream home, they ensure that the process does not become tiresome. Whether you are looking to install glass brick walls or other innovative materials, you get the best ones since they have the best suppliers of raw materials. Brick & Bolt aims to offer clients a flawless construction process with real-time tracking, regular updates, quality checks and transparent communication until the delivery of your project. Contact them today!