Discovering new ways to bring the world outside indoors has been a favorite part of our design exploration in the last couple of years. Creative architects, designers and homeowners willing to try new ideas have shown us fun and creative ways in which we can once again connect with nature even as we are forced to stay indoors. There is absolutely no doubt that a global pandemic that has kept us largely indoors for over two years now has profoundly shaped home design and decorating trends. People are once again embracing, brighter, cheerful and more open homes that invite in light and create a healthier lifestyle. It is this journey that has helped the world rediscover the magic of glass blocks.
The advantage of glass blocks goes well beyond just a balance between natural light and privacy. These bricks are also far sturdier than your traditional glass windows or floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Modern glass blocks are much, much stronger than the early blown glass versions of the brick, and this automatically improves the security of your home. Then you also have the added advantage of a material that provides several times better insulation than some of the best-rated glass out there. Cutting back on heating and cooling costs, glass bricks help improve your home in more ways than one!
6 Fun Colorful Glass Block Window Ideas to Jazz up your Home
Most homeowners pay between $410 and $1,235 per window to enjoy the practical and aesthetic benefits glass block windows provide. The national average cost to install glass block windows is $660. A prefabricated 14-inch by 24-inch ready-made glass block window can cost on average about $350, or glass blocks can be purchased individually for $6 to $25 per square of glass block.
Glass block windows are small, square-shaped blocks of thick, translucent glass stacked on top and beside one another to make one solid window. Light passes through them, but you cannot see through them, making them a great way to allow more natural light to flow into your home without compromising privacy. They provide security, are energy efficient, and add a unique decorative flare.
The national average to install one glass block window is about $660. Cost is affected by many factors in addition to labor costs. These include whether the window is prefabricated or custom, window assembly method, size of the windows, number of blocks, glass material and style, and the location in your home.
A prefabricated 14-inch by 24-inch ready-made glass block window that costs about $350 for the window alone can cost a total of $700 with installation. A custom 48-inch by 48-inch installed window can total as much as $3,900.
One of the advantages of glass block windows is their decorative versatility. You can buy a prefabricated window, which comes as one solid block and is ready to be installed, or you can purchase individual glass blocks for a custom window. These bricks are pieced together as the window is being built on your property.
Although it is rare, individual blocks can be ordered in other sizes, like 4 inches by 4 inches and 6 inches by 6 inches. Let your imagination run wild as you build custom windows with unique shapes, sizes, designs, and colors. A frosted glass block costs an average of $25 per square of glass block.
There is some considerable price overlap between these two windows, despite their difference in size. It is important to keep in mind that price is also affected by whether the blocks are pieced together by silicone, mortar, or vinyl, whether it is framed or unframed, and their location in the home.
The vinyl assembly method uses vinyl spacers between the glass blocks. Vinyl is also called the Protect All window. It is the most costly, but it is the most difficult to break apart, adding to your level of security. It is also more energy-efficient than mortar and silicone.
Most glass block windows are unframed. Many are mortared into the concrete wall or block. But you can purchase a prefabricated glass block window with a vinyl window frame or have your installer make a custom vinyl-framed window.
A very large window would be installed by using a mortared and rebarred assembly method. This method is only for custom windows. The rebar gives extra durability and support. An installed mortared and rebarred glass block window runs between $80 to $200 per square foot.
Many other factors affect the cost of glass block windows in addition to size, assembly method, and whether it is prefabricated or custom. Here are some other cost factors to keep in mind for your glass block window home improvement project.
Labor costs can be affected by the same factors that affect the cost of the window, like window size, installation method, whether the window is prefabricated or custom, and the uniqueness of the individual glass blocks. Handymen may charge by the square foot or by the window. For example, labor for installing a prefabricated window can range between $15 to $30 per square foot.
Some glass block windows are made from acrylic. Acrylic blocks are lighter than glass blocks and easier to cut. They are also stronger. Acrylic blocks cost between $12 and $20 per square block.
Glass bricks allow light to pass through while maintaining privacy by not allowing the windows to be seen through. You have options for how much light is allowed through, if any, by choosing the translucency level of the blocks. Privacy can be increased with the level of opacity. You can even choose colored blocks to suit your decorative palate.
Reusing blocks can save money on your new window, depending on the quality of the blocks and how many are reusable, but it takes more time to remove the window. Removing the entire window costs $200 to $400.
If you want to keep the blocks, removal costs between $500 to $1,000 per window. It may be worth the added cost if only a few blocks are broken and need to be replaced. You could also reuse the blocks somewhere else in your home.
You may be swapping out a standard window for the privacy and elegant look of a glass block window. Most standard windows cost between $100 and $300 per window to remove. A window that is very big or that has custom features can cost more to remove.
The cost of glass block windows will differ depending on where you live. For example, they cost more to install in Austin and Minneapolis than in Indianapolis and Chicago. Availability and demand of supplies and laborers in the area also impact costs. It may cost more to install glass block windows in a large metropolitan area than in a rural area.
Wish you could turn transparent glass into opaque glass? Whether it's for privacy or style, or if you're a homeowner or a renter, and no matter your budget, we've got ideas, tips and product suggestions to help you do it.
From permanent solutions like glass block window upgrades to stained glass installations all the way down to DIY-friendly options, like etching cream and window film, there are many ways to achieve a frosted glass technique.
Many homeowners can appreciate the aesthetic of glass block just as much as they respect it as an option for security and privacy. Glass block windows are a staple for basements and window wells, and many homeowners also use glass block to replace larger windows that compromise privacy. Furthermore, glass block is an affordable, functional solution when incorporated into indoor features, such as for shower surrounds in the bathroom. You can even invest in colorful glass blocks! If you're able to accommodate a permanent change, it should be considered.
Get one-of-a-kind privacy by piggy-backing a large stained glass pane over an existing window. Stained glass design can offer as much privacy as you need, depending on the colors and pattern you select. It can also be customized to marry to colors and themes in your home.
For renters who crave real stained glass but need a truly temporary solution, consider commissioned stained glass panels sized to hang over your window. The panels can be made with built-in hooks and are installed to hang in front of the window from the trim. These would be less permanent than any caulked installations.
Transparent films are more widely available than ever before to homeowners and renters looking to update their glass panes. A simple frosted glass window can be easily achieved by trimming a piece of the window film to size, removing the adhesive backing and using a flat tool (like a credit card) to extract bubbles between the glass and the film.
Not only is adhesive film a popular, affordable option for exterior-facing windows, but it can also be used to adjust the transparency of glass cabinet doors in your kitchen if you want to disguise your assortment of mismatched barware or pantry items.
While many manufacturers recommend removing the cream after a few minutes, many products need 5-10 minutes to effectively etch a large surface. It's always best to test the product on a sample piece of glass first (such as on an old window pane) and determine how working in smaller sections to gradually transform the transparency will change your larger window.
Fact: It's never too early to start decorating for Christmas... especially if you love the holiday season as much as we do. From outdoor Christmas lights to holiday wreaths, there are endless ways for you to deck the halls and trim your tree, and while they often get neglected during the decorating process, your windows deserve some yuletide love as well. Christmas window decorations are the perfect finishing touch to a festive holiday home, and you don't have to spend a lot to make them sparkle. Not sure how to best dress up your windows for the holidays? These unique Christmas window decorating ideas will help get you started. 2ff7e9595c
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