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Glass Block Walls & Bars – Applications and Benefits
If you want to add style, structure, contribute to sustainable design, and add additional light to any room there may be no better solution than a glass block wall. This versatile product is being used in showers, kitchen, bedrooms, and virtually anywhere in a home where you want to create an impact and have a structural glass wall.
Radius walls in bathroom using Decora pattern. Photo courtesy of Nicholson Builders. |
Wall separating bedroom & bathroom. Photo courtesy of Dave Fox Remodeling. |
Step down glass block walk in shower wall with colored glass block. |
Glass block kitchen island bar with colored lighting. |
These walls are also popular in commercial applications in interior and exterior spaces, not only for their looks, but to increase safety and security, reduce noise and maintenance costs, and contribute to sustainable design principles. Some popular uses include gymnasiums, schools, hospitals, walkways, conference rooms, and office partitions.
Wall using different pattern blocks in a school. |
Foyer wall using aluminum grid system. |
Rounded foyer wall. |
Solid glass block wall – in a wellness center. |
NEW!
Make a memorable wall or bar with a standard or customized etched glass wall or mural. Provide your image or choose from a contemporary, traditional, floral, or earth series patterns.
Floral series glass etching. |
Personalized blocks with etching. |
Themed glass etched bar with movie pattern. |
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5 Frequently Asked Questions about Glass Block Wall & Bar Installations
• Question 1 – Do I need special support underneath the wall? Usually not. Unless there is a problem with the floor already standard subfloor framing is usually enough to support the block wall.
• Question 2 – Can the walls be prefabricated? –Yes. Straight prefabricated walls make the project easier and less costly to perform. Rounded walls are generally built at the job site.
 Prefabricated wall sections being set in place. • Question 3 – Are these walls sturdy? How are the walls attached or anchored? Most block walls are tied into surrounding wall(s) using panel anchors or vinyl stack anchors every 3rd course (or 24"). Panel reinforcing or horizontal vinyl stack pieces provide additional stability.
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| Anchors and vinyl stack material for wall assembly. |
• Question 4 – How do you make radius or angled walls? How are the ends and tops finished off? – With the development of glass blocks with angles, corners, and finished ends there is usually no need to use dissimilar materials to finish the sides and tops of your project.
• Question 5 – Are there blocks with 60 or 90 minute fire ratings, or ones that offer higher levels of security? – Yes. There are solid and 60 and 90 minute fire rated glass blocks with thicker faces providing increased resistance to bullets, noise reduction, improved protection against vandalism & graffiti, and better fire ratings.
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4 Cost Saving Glass Block Wall Ideas
1. Look for a skilled "one stop shop" – Although some masons and general contractors do glass block wall 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, prefabricating wall sections (where possible) and finally installing the walls.
Glass block wall designs & layout
Glass block wall design. |
Layout cards to design the shape of the wall.
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2. Free shipping on pre-made wall sections – Straight 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)
3. Use thinner series blocks – If possible consider using 3 1/8" thick 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.
 3 1/8" thick end block. 4. Consider both domestic and foreign block lines – Pittsburgh Corning, the only domestic manufacturer of blocks, has excellent quality and a very broad product line for walls. Mulia 4" series blocks are usually more cost effective and also offer the thin line end block to save cost on projects.
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