Great video Jeff. Many, if not all, other glass block videos left out useful information. In particular the metal supports at every third course, brick ties, and using glass block mortar between glass blocks, and the type S mortar for contact with rough opening. The spacers do come up in other videos, though, none showed, let alone mention, the twist removal of them. I decided to install glass blocks instead of glass block windows because of the weight differences. Handling each block installation is much less weight then dealing with the weight of an entire window at once. Thanks so much Jeff
Nice work, Jeff! I did this at a doctor's office to comply with HIPPA rules for separation of the waiting area to the check in area. It's a time-consuming job and takes some time. Yours looks great!
What type of person/company would you hire to install this type of window? I recently had an old window blocked up with cinderblock. I am very unhappy with it. I would like to replace it with glass blocking. It is in my kitchen. It's too heavy of a job for me .
Nice job! I heard you say you got the products locally at HD in your area (I figure you're near Pittsburgh, PA). For anyone watching, glass blocks are one of those things that are very area-specific. In the Wash DC area up to Northeast PA I couldn't find anyone who stocks the white mortar for glass blocks. In fact, neither HD nor Lowe's allows me to order it. One of the builder supply places I talked with said I could make the mortar from silica sand, white mortar and some liquid bonding polymer -- but that would have cost me about $60 bucks for my one-window project and I would have a bunch leftover. Soooo, I actually ordered a 50lb bag of glass block mortar from Menards, for $40 shipped to my home.
Well that's interesting. I've never seen this done before and don't really have brick laying experience. I'd like to get a side window of the house done with something like this in Florida, i assume it helps reduce heat.
Are we to assume that you came back and pointed and finished the blocks in the same way on the interior? I want to do this on a partition wall on a shower I'm building so both sides need to be finished. Thanks for posting this!
Is there still a demand for installation of glass block windows? I’ve done glass block windows inside my home in two places to reflect light throughout home. Thinking of doing it as business startup. I did a glass block window in our master bath interior closet wall so closet doesn’t feel so dark. Did another in bathroom interior wall to reflect light from a nearby window. Look cool during sunrise. Reflects throughout upstairs room. Wish I could show pictures. I did both over ten years ago. Still love glass block! How does one charge for glass block installation?
I have 1 basement window I need to glass block in. I was going to use modified thinset for the simple reason that I have nearly a full bag of thinset and no glass mortar and I'd rather have no mortar at all than 2 nearly full bags I'd never use. Any opinions? I am in southern Ohio.
Hypothetically if someone wanted to reduce the amount of space for the blocks, you could replace two rolls of the glass block with brick or cinder blocks and then add the window blocks ?
Hey, can you advise on the premade glassblock windows? I have the basic, 2 layer, with the small pullout window, but I am noticing that the bottom of the glass blocks are not siliconed in, like the top part. Is that a mistake on manufacturing? I bought from Home Depot. I am gonna call them, but wondered if you ever saw this on the prebuilt windows. I'm thinking that I could just silicone in between each one. I bought these 4 years ago, just now doing my project. Thanks for your video.
@@jeffdeshong I spoke with representative at H.D. He said it is purposefully made that way, so that if moisture gets into the glass, the water will have an escape route, and the mortar will wick it away. Here's what I think, they shouldn't count on the product failing, and build in 3 huge gaps between the bottom row of the 4 glass blocks. I'm putting silicone in those, plus placing a rubber wall track thingy around the entire thing, and putting an extra bead along where the plastic meets at the corners of the small pullout window, and removed the screen, siliconed those 4 edges, too. My window frame is solid steel, and I wasn't going to mortar, but just silicone it into place. The framing already had the metal edge around the top and sides, so it keeps the window from slipping forward. Well, cheers to DYI's, and thank you for responding. There was no way that I was tearing out that perfectly good, solid, metal framing. Thanks, again!
@@raymarshall2995 there is moisture in the air that will condense in there when it gets cold, and covering those gaps prevents it from escaping properly. Every window of all kinds has small gaps like that to let moisture out of the bottom.Dont cover manufacturer designed gaps.
@@ReticulatingSplines_ Does the moisture get into the blocks via the gaps between the blocks? The reason I ask is because if I were stacking and mortaring each block, row after row, , where would the water have room to escape? I had the preset made windows in the box for 4 years before I got around to getting them out. In a moisture secure environment, the thin, small bead of glue that was barely holding the outer, narrow edges together was already turning a yellowish brown, and it was pulling away from the corners of where it was barely secure. There are more gaps in between those blocks than a double-punched piece of swiss cheese! The ONLY places that there were any silicone of substance was in between the top 4 blocks (3 spaces), about 2 inches deep, and the blocks are 6" deep! There are 2 rows, and in between the 1-2 row, there was less than 2 inches between those, making the horizontal lines, before it met with the top of the window void 😳! With the amout of gaps in those suckers, and the deteriorating, dime width space of inferior silicone, that whole DANG thing is basically a strainer. Hell, no wonder they say it will collect water, and will need somewhere for it to run off to. That cheap screen insert they have screwed in over the window would hold out more water than those blocks. It's sorry manufacturing job, and there should be no reason for than silicone to be deteriorating inside of a box, that's inside of my house. Two rows of blocks ☆'☆'☆'☆: 4 same size ☆'*[ ]*'☆: 2 outside are like top, the inner blocks are smaller, where it meets up around/sandwiches in window. If I turn window upside down, looking between those bottom 4 windows, I can drop a paint stirrer stick all the way thru the bottom blocks, and into the gaps of the top blocks, total 8-9"! The silcone that holds the two rows together, 2" on the end of a 6" wide window. 12"×31" blocks with pullout window: The 3 vertical lines holding together 4, Double stacked, 12" vertical---has 2 inches of silcone, leaving 8 inches between top/bottom. The horizontal 4 blocks, including pullout window, is 31 across, and there's 2 inces on each end of that horizontal line, leaving 29" of open space between bottom 4 windows and the pullout window. That's just crap! The only thing that has a dime thick bead of silicone is on the front and back side laying on tops of windows. Those things are manufactured for failure from the get-go, so when they fail, sooner than later, it's another set of windows sold. Again, if I were laying each block, I would not be incorporating 80% of gaps, only mortaring the top/side edges 20%. I appreciate your response. I've made video of all the gaps, and what I've done to fix things. Build a product that doesn't contain 80% gaps, and you won't need to leave the holes for all the water to escape the doorways they left open.
Love this video!! Never laid block or brick, but mama wants a glass block bathroom window. What is the name of the long metal thing you put over the 3rd row? I caught the Brick ties. And, can you ley these glass blocks on wood? Or nail something on top of the wood? Thanks, Terry
I recently had a brick layer block up a window in my kitchen. Anderson refused to install a new window because they could not guarantee it would be sturdy. I hired someone to block it up. They used cinderblock. Bad choice for a kitchen window. Not to mention it the mortor looks like it was done by a 3 yr old. I like it knocked out and replaced with a glass block window. I am in Philly. So, do I hire a window instalker or a brick layer? Your video is very well done. Great job on the window install.
I was thinking of installing a section of glass block into an exterior wall. The section would be about 15 feet tall (floor to near roof) and maybe five feet wide. Is there any reason that is a bad idea?
Hard to say without actually seeing it but sounds like there shouldn’t be any problems. I would definitely add a lot of brick ties to keep it from moving while building.
You said the block was 8”. You laid the block on the outside of the block and i wanted to see what you did about the gap on the inside of the block since block is alot thicker. I have only saw a block 4 inch thick which means on the inside there is two inches exposed. What do you do to finish the block inside.
You can do whatever you like. If you’re finishing the inside of the room then you could add some type of trim. Since mine will be block when finished,the window will have a 4 inch shelf. The blocks are filled with concrete.
I have 2 acrylic(I think feels like plastic)clear wavy block bathroom windows. One window-middle bottom 4 cubes have cracks that I can feel inside and out that needs to repair. One suggested GE Premium window caulk another said they don’t think it would hold up but to use solar shield sealant to repair to cover it. Would appreciate your thoughts and thank you. Cold weather coming. No budget or time to anything major.
@@jeffdeshong Hey thanks for responding! My room's window is facing our neighbor's house and they are loud AF. I've been thinking of placing glass blocks instead though my only air ventilation is my AC.
Здравствуйте, Джефф. Вы приложили много усилий, похвально, но из-за того, что вы ,наверное, не знали как правильно укладывать блоки, вы нарушили технологию, как мне кажется. Например, у вас нет армирования и нет фиксации стеклоблоков к стене. Поэтому, мне конечный результат не нравится, Jeff. Удачи.
Great video Jeff. Many, if not all, other glass block videos left out useful information. In particular the metal supports at every third course, brick ties, and using glass block mortar between glass blocks, and the type S mortar for contact with rough opening. The spacers do come up in other videos, though, none showed, let alone mention, the twist removal of them.
I decided to install glass blocks instead of glass block windows because of the weight differences. Handling each block installation is much less weight then dealing with the weight of an entire window at once. Thanks so much Jeff
Thanks for watching. Happy to help!
nice job very well explained
Your video work is as good as the installation! You nailed all the proper way to do this. Thanks for sharing, keep up the great work!
Thank you 👍🏻
Nice work, Jeff! I did this at a doctor's office to comply with HIPPA rules for separation of the waiting area to the check in area.
It's a time-consuming job and takes some time.
Yours looks great!
Thanks Mike! Definitely time consuming
What type of person/company would you hire to install this type of window? I recently had an old window blocked up with cinderblock. I am very unhappy with it. I would like to replace it with glass blocking. It is in my kitchen. It's too heavy of a job for me .
Nice job! I heard you say you got the products locally at HD in your area (I figure you're near Pittsburgh, PA). For anyone watching, glass blocks are one of those things that are very area-specific. In the Wash DC area up to Northeast PA I couldn't find anyone who stocks the white mortar for glass blocks. In fact, neither HD nor Lowe's allows me to order it. One of the builder supply places I talked with said I could make the mortar from silica sand, white mortar and some liquid bonding polymer -- but that would have cost me about $60 bucks for my one-window project and I would have a bunch leftover. Soooo, I actually ordered a 50lb bag of glass block mortar from Menards, for $40 shipped to my home.
Well that's interesting. I've never seen this done before and don't really have brick laying experience. I'd like to get a side window of the house done with something like this in Florida, i assume it helps reduce heat.
Good job❤
Thanks for posting. Got a great deal on on around 100 of these. Gonna go to town like I know what I'm doing!
-youtube Certified Mason.
IM AN ARCHITECT AND I AM AMAZED!!
Good job bro a rubber float would be easy next time for filling in the joints them use the sponge to clean up
Whats a rubber float? Layman here. Thanks
Nice job! Looks great!
Thank You. Very informative. 👍
, im going to try this . thank you
Thank you, this is super helpful and it gives me hope to get it done one day
Good job
Nice clean work brother
Thank you
good job
Are we to assume that you came back and pointed and finished the blocks in the same way on the interior? I want to do this on a partition wall on a shower I'm building so both sides need to be finished. Thanks for posting this!
Yup finished the same way on both sides. Thanks for watching!
Is there still a demand for installation of glass block windows? I’ve done glass block windows inside my home in two places to reflect light throughout home. Thinking of doing it as business startup. I did a glass block window in our master bath interior closet wall so closet doesn’t feel so dark. Did another in bathroom interior wall to reflect light from a nearby window. Look cool during sunrise. Reflects throughout upstairs room. Wish I could show pictures. I did both over ten years ago. Still love glass block!
How does one charge for glass block installation?
I only install pre made glass block windows for customers. I charge a flat rate
I have 1 basement window I need to glass block in. I was going to use modified thinset for the simple reason that I have nearly a full bag of thinset and no glass mortar and I'd rather have no mortar at all than 2 nearly full bags I'd never use. Any opinions? I am in southern Ohio.
It should be fine.
Hypothetically if someone wanted to reduce the amount of space for the blocks, you could replace two rolls of the glass block with brick or cinder blocks and then add the window blocks ?
Depends on how many brick or block you use, they weigh a lot more than glass block.
Hey, can you advise on the premade glassblock windows? I have the basic, 2 layer, with the small pullout window, but I am noticing that the bottom of the glass blocks are not siliconed in, like the top part. Is that a mistake on manufacturing? I bought from Home Depot. I am gonna call them, but wondered if you ever saw this on the prebuilt windows. I'm thinking that I could just silicone in between each one. I bought these 4 years ago, just now doing my project. Thanks for your video.
Hard to say without seeing for myself. But yeah I would just add some silicone
@@jeffdeshong I spoke with representative at H.D. He said it is purposefully made that way, so that if moisture gets into the glass, the water will have an escape route, and the mortar will wick it away. Here's what I think, they shouldn't count on the product failing, and build in 3 huge gaps between the bottom row of the 4 glass blocks. I'm putting silicone in those, plus placing a rubber wall track thingy around the entire thing, and putting an extra bead along where the plastic meets at the corners of the small pullout window, and removed the screen, siliconed those 4 edges, too. My window frame is solid steel, and I wasn't going to mortar, but just silicone it into place. The framing already had the metal edge around the top and sides, so it keeps the window from slipping forward.
Well, cheers to DYI's, and thank you for responding. There was no way that I was tearing out that perfectly good, solid, metal framing. Thanks, again!
@@raymarshall2995 there is moisture in the air that will condense in there when it gets cold, and covering those gaps prevents it from escaping properly. Every window of all kinds has small gaps like that to let moisture out of the bottom.Dont cover manufacturer designed gaps.
@@ReticulatingSplines_ Does the moisture get into the blocks via the gaps between the blocks? The reason I ask is because if I were stacking and mortaring each block, row after row, , where would the water have room to escape? I had the preset made windows in the box for 4 years before I got around to getting them out. In a moisture secure environment, the thin, small bead of glue that was barely holding the outer, narrow edges together was already turning a yellowish brown, and it was pulling away from the corners of where it was barely secure. There are more gaps in between those blocks than a double-punched piece of swiss cheese! The ONLY places that there were any silicone of substance was in between the top 4 blocks (3 spaces), about 2 inches deep, and the blocks are 6" deep! There are 2 rows, and in between the 1-2 row, there was less than 2 inches between those, making the horizontal lines, before it met with the top of the window void 😳! With the amout of gaps in those suckers, and the deteriorating, dime width space of inferior silicone, that whole DANG thing is basically a strainer. Hell, no wonder they say it will collect water, and will need somewhere for it to run off to. That cheap screen insert they have screwed in over the window would hold out more water than those blocks. It's sorry manufacturing job, and there should be no reason for than silicone to be deteriorating inside of a box, that's inside of my house.
Two rows of blocks
☆'☆'☆'☆: 4 same size
☆'*[ ]*'☆: 2 outside are like top, the inner blocks are smaller, where it meets up around/sandwiches in window.
If I turn window upside down, looking between those bottom 4 windows, I can drop a paint stirrer stick all the way thru the bottom blocks, and into the gaps of the top blocks, total 8-9"! The silcone that holds the two rows together, 2" on the end of a 6" wide window.
12"×31" blocks with pullout window:
The 3 vertical lines holding together 4,
Double stacked, 12" vertical---has 2 inches of silcone, leaving 8 inches between top/bottom. The horizontal 4 blocks, including pullout window, is 31 across, and there's 2 inces on each end of that horizontal line, leaving 29" of open space between bottom 4 windows and the pullout window. That's just crap! The only thing that has a dime thick bead of silicone is on the front and back side laying on tops of windows.
Those things are manufactured for failure from the get-go, so when they fail, sooner than later, it's another set of windows sold.
Again, if I were laying each block, I would not be incorporating 80% of gaps, only mortaring the top/side edges 20%.
I appreciate your response. I've made video of all the gaps, and what I've done to fix things. Build a product that doesn't contain 80% gaps, and you won't need to leave the holes for all the water to escape the doorways they left open.
Love this video!! Never laid block or brick, but mama wants a glass block bathroom window.
What is the name of the long metal thing you put over the 3rd row? I caught the Brick ties.
And, can you ley these glass blocks on wood? Or nail something on top of the wood?
Thanks,
Terry
That metal thing is just a glass block reinforcer. I wouldn’t lay them on wood.
I recently had a brick layer block up a window in my kitchen. Anderson refused to install a new window because they could not guarantee it would be sturdy. I hired someone to block it up. They used cinderblock. Bad choice for a kitchen window. Not to mention it the mortor looks like it was done by a 3 yr old. I like it knocked out and replaced with a glass block window. I am in Philly. So, do I hire a window instalker or a brick layer?
Your video is very well done. Great job on the window install.
I was thinking of installing a section of glass block into an exterior wall. The section would be about 15 feet tall (floor to near roof) and maybe five feet wide. Is there any reason that is a bad idea?
Hard to say without actually seeing it but sounds like there shouldn’t be any problems. I would definitely add a lot of brick ties to keep it from moving while building.
GD look
You said the block was 8”. You laid the block on the outside of the block and i wanted to see what you did about the gap on the inside of the block since block is alot thicker. I have only saw a block 4 inch thick which means on the inside there is two inches exposed. What do you do to finish the block inside.
You can do whatever you like. If you’re finishing the inside of the room then you could add some type of trim. Since mine will be block when finished,the window will have a 4 inch shelf. The blocks are filled with concrete.
I have 2 acrylic(I think feels like plastic)clear wavy block bathroom windows. One window-middle bottom 4 cubes have cracks that I can feel inside and out that needs to repair. One suggested GE Premium window caulk another said they don’t think it would hold up but to use solar shield sealant to repair to cover it. Would appreciate your thoughts and thank you. Cold weather coming. No budget or time to anything major.
If it’s only temporary, some clear caulk should hold up for the winter.
Any issue regarding water leak due to heavy rain from outside?
No
Not setting 1st layer on a track system? Why not?
How did you handle the space above the window?
Lintel with 4 inch block
th-cam.com/video/pTLNodkyCKE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=DUPoXMG-GB1MbOMi
@@jeffdeshong Ok. Thank you. You did a wonderful job on that window.
@@juanitawatson596 appreciate it 👍🏻
Do glass blocks really help with soundproofing?
Compared to regular windows? I would say yes
@@jeffdeshong Hey thanks for responding! My room's window is facing our neighbor's house and they are loud AF. I've been thinking of placing glass blocks instead though my only air ventilation is my AC.
@@libbyrose8541 you could always add a glass block vent. They have a couple different sizes. Should still help with the noise.
Thank you! @@jeffdeshong
Add sand to the type S?
Yes ratio is 2:1. 2 sand to 1 mortar
Здравствуйте, Джефф.
Вы приложили много усилий, похвально, но из-за того, что вы ,наверное, не знали как правильно укладывать блоки, вы нарушили технологию, как мне кажется. Например, у вас нет армирования и нет фиксации стеклоблоков к стене. Поэтому, мне конечный результат не нравится, Jeff. Удачи.
As a tile guy, that mortar was consecutively mixed wrong.... lol😅
Looks good though. What are you doing to cap it off?
I think glass blocks are sexy
Thing is with these is someone can kick there way into the garage, there not very strong.
Kinda like any window?