7 Frequently Asked Questions about Glass Block Shower Installations, Kits and Accessories

  • Question 1 – What type of showers are possible? – Showers can be made with a door, or without a door. Showers with doors are preferred for smaller areas or where you want to create a closed space (ex. a steam room application). Showers without doors are preferred for their ease of cleaning and to create walk in or roll in shower designs.

Custom glass shower with a frameless glass door and marble walls and soap dish wall niches. Photo courtesy of Scott Magie Remodeling, Ely, Minnesota

Doorless walk in shower

  • Question 2 – What type of shower pan or base do you need? – The 3 most common types are – (A) 1 piece extruded polystyrene base (B) Pre-formed acrylic and solid surface pans (C) custom mud set pan bases.
Advantages and disadvantages of each are explained below:

100% Waterproof Extruded Polystyrene Shower Base and Accessory System

This base is 100% waterproof base, available in standard and custom shower designs, made in one piece with no seams, and is light and quick to install.

Advantages

• 100% waterproof polystyrene base eliminates the potential of future water leaks and worries about mold/mildew.
• Reduced installation time and labor costs– takes less than 30 minutes to install
  1. Trowel out common modified latex thin-set
  2. Place a bead of silicone around the drain body
  3. Install the pre-designed and pre-slopped pan.
• Choose your drain location– You won’t have to spend extra money to rework your plumbing to accommodate a pre-determined drain location – we put it where it works best for you.
• Custom base for non-standard sizes and walk in and roll in showers– design for any size or wall shape (straight, rounded or angled walls) both with or without (barrier free entry) a curb.
• Lower cost than a custom designed solid surface base.
• Recessed soap dish, shampoo caddy, shower and bench seats available for a complete system.

Disadvantages

• Initial purchase costs are slightly higher than a mud set pan base.

Close up of pre-slopped extruded polystyrene base with 4 inch x 4 inch curb, 5" perimeter flange, and tile shower drain

Custom ready for tile shower base designed to fit prefabricated glass block wall panels with a rounded design and barrier free entry

Accessories and Options Leg shaving ledge Shower niche Roll in entry Shower seat

Glass block shower kits with pre-formed acrylic bases

Advantages

• one piece acrylic base to minimize concerns about water leakage,
• won’t crack, chip, peel or fade,
• less project coordination (note: bases can be custom made out of other solid surface materials like Corian as well)

Disadvantages

• Available in limited sizes – 72" x 51", 60" x 34" and 60" x 32" - sometimes not the right size for the space available
• difficult to get some bases into remodeled homes
• Generally more expensive than mud set pan bases

Convert a bathtub space into a shower Size of base – 60" x 34" Base colors – white or biscuit Right or left hand entry Decora or Icescapes patterns

Acrylic base walk in shower system Size of base – 72" x 51" Base colors – white or biscuit Right or left hand entry Decora or Icescapes patterns

Acrylic base for a bathtub space for glass blocks Size of base – 60" x 32" Base colors – white or biscuit Right or left hand entry Decora or Icescapes patterns

Cross section view of custom mud set pan base.

Custom mud set pan base for blocks

Advantages

• Tile setters are familiar with this process
• can use tile or marble
• create the size you need
• Cheaper initial purchase price.

Disadvantages

• increased coordination between contractors
• time consuming installation
• higher skill level required
• chance of leakage if not done properly

Question 3 – What sizes, shapes and colors are there to choose from? Various glass block sizes, shapes, and patterns available to fit the shower enclosure to your space and design requirements. Frosted and colored glass blocks can also add design and flair to a wall.

Question 4 – How tall should you make your glass block shower? Most walls are 80" of glass block high (and built on a 4" to 5" shower curb) making the finished height 84" (equal to where the shower head usually is).

Question 5 – Should the wall be built at the site or prefabricated? Straight and rounded walls can often be pre-fabricated to save money, improve quality and reduce installation time. Purchasing a base specifically designed for the premade walls will ensure a successful project.

Question 6 – What wall and backerboard materials should I use on the walls without glass blocks? Should the glass blocks be installed before my other shower wall covering materials? Masonry or extruded polystyrene backer board are used most frequently. For a more luxurious look consider tile, marble or other solid surface materials. To keep costs lower consider acrylic wall surrounds. In most cases glass blocks are installed after the other wall materials are completed.

Question 7 – Can I create a colored, frosted or custom etched shower wall? Yes, we can color, frost, or put a one of kind laser etching into an individual block or a grouping of blocks.

Colored & Frosted glass block

etched glass block sizes, shapes and colors

Etched glass design with a tree mural

5 Cost Saving Glass Block Shower Ideas

1. Look for a skilled “one stop shop” – Although some masons and tile setters dabble in glass block installations, a specialty contractor who can coordinate and perform the project from beginning to end is best. We can start with your ideas and turn them into completed projects — working from initial design and layout, installing or supplying an acrylic or extruded polystyrene shower pan, prefabricating wall sections (where possible) and finally installing the job.

Glass block shower design & layout

Layout cards for shower base and curb design

Custom shower base extruded polystyrene

Wallboard being installed getting project ready for tile

2. Stack straight prefabricated wall sections – Premade straight and radius walls are easier and less costly to build and install. We supply and install prefabricated wall sections with our Vinyl Stack spacing system to reduce installation times and save money (they are anchored to a wall, siliconed together, and field grouted)

Glass block prefabricated wall panels

Prefabricated glass block shower walls for tub to shower base	Vinyl stack panels being anchored into wall
Glass block shower wall prefabricated panels with vinyl stack spacers.

3 1/8" thick end block

3. Use thinner series blocks – If possible consider using 3 1/8" thickness blocks to reduce costs. We carry Wave pattern finished end blocks (which are often needed for glass block shower stall installations) from Mulia in the thinner series.

4. Design a walk in shower without a door – This idea has 2 benefits — you eliminate the cost of the door and cut out the need to clean a door frame.

Door less glass block shower with style caps & seat inside shower

5. Purchase your shower base, recessed niches, corner shower seat, and glass block bathroom window with your walls – You can now get your entire project designed, supplied and installed so everything works together seamlessly.

Custom glass block shower base	Glass block bathroom window	Recessed soap dish – 14" x 6"
Rectangular corner seat available in standard widths 32", 34", 36", 42" & 48"	Angled ready for tile corner shower seat	Recessed shampoo niches – sizes 14" x 22" and 14" x 11"