Glass blocks in the bathroom. DIY glass block partition Wall made of glass blocks

At the word “glass block”, most of us picture in our imagination the dull green walls of massive glass cubes that “decorated” many public buildings, hospitals and baths in Soviet times. It was no coincidence that we took the word “decorated” in quotation marks, since then no one thought to use glass blocks in the interior for a decorative purpose. This building material was popular because it is quite cheap, yet durable, soundproof and heat-saving. And in our time, thanks to these advantages, the glass block is experiencing a rebirth.

Types and specifications

A glass block is a fairly simple product - it is a “brick” hollow inside, the walls of which are formed by glass plates with a thickness of 6 to 8 mm. It is the rarefied air inside that ensures the low thermal conductivity of this material, and good soundproofing qualities. Industrial glass blocks are used for the construction of non-load-bearing walls inside the building, as well as for finishing exterior walls. Contrary to their airy and "light" appearance, they have amazing strength, as well as fire and moisture resistance. Interior or decorative glass blocks dimensions have standard:

• 19x19x8 cm;
• 24x24x8 cm.

Thickness varies from 7.5 to 10 cm, and glass block weight usually ranges from 2.5 to 4 kg. We have described the usual square-shaped hollow wall glass blocks, and they are also rectangular, corner (end), in the form of halves, and even round, used to erect columns. With the help of this material, you can create a unique design of walls and partitions, because there are many varieties of them on the modern market. There are glass blocks colored and colorless, transparent and opaque, large and small, as well as especially beautiful - LED. By the way, illuminated glass blocks with decorative elements inside in the form of pebbles, shells and other things are often called the abbreviation "3d", because they really look voluminous and very realistic. See how beautiful glass blocks look in the interior (photo below).

Glass blocks in the interior of the apartment

Glass blocks for walls and partitions inside residential premises have been used by designers and architects for a long time. But over the past ten years, the popularity of this material has grown significantly. An unprecedented variety of shapes, colors and textures appeared, and mass production of blocks with decorative fillers and lighting began. The ability of this material to effectively resist moisture encourages the use of glass blocks in the bathroom. Perhaps this is the most popular place to use them, and there are several important reasons for that.

A translucent wall made of glass blocks can be used for the purpose of zoning a room. This is an excellent technique that allows you to divide the room into zones, and at the same time give the interior lightness and airiness, because interior partitions of this type let in up to 85% of the sunlight, but at the same time do not allow you to clearly see what is happening behind them. They can be installed in the kitchen, thereby separating it from the dining room or living room, and in the bedroom, and even in the hallway. You can use them instead of a window, or build a decorative insert in a brick wall or plasterboard partition. In a word, you can use glass blocks in the interior of the apartment in any way, the photo below is a vivid proof of this.

We build walls and decorative partitions

The most widespread way to use glass blocks in the interior (photo above) is the construction of walls between rooms or the design of original and functional partitions. A striking example of a successful solution is the construction of a bar counter, which both decorates the room and performs a useful function. It is worth remembering that any bold design idea must be implemented with a sense of proportion. Including glass block partitions, photo examples of which you see here, only then harmoniously fit into the interior when their design is well thought out.

Shower cabins and windows

Let's return to the glass blocks in the interior of the bathroom, you have already seen photos of several interesting examples in our first photo gallery. In most of the pictures we see the same spectacular technique - the use of glass blocks in the shower instead of standard partitions. Having built a shower cabin from glass blocks, you can cope with several tasks at once: to fence off the space, protect the rest of the room from splashes of water, provide privacy and decorate the interior of the bathroom. And windows made of such material allow you to create an atmosphere of privacy, and at the same time fill the room with sunlight. Below you see beautiful shower cabins made of glass blocks, the photos prove that such a design can look very stylish with all its simplicity.

Do-it-yourself glass block laying

Now let's discuss how to install glass blocks, and dismantle them if necessary. There are only three mounting methods:

• "Dry", using special frames, profiles or wooden modules;
• On cement-sand mortar;
• On adhesive.

Using the first method, even a beginner can easily figure out how to lay glass blocks. The module consists of cells in which blocks must be placed and fixed with rubber gaskets. In a very short time, you can build a solid, and absolutely even wall or partition, you don’t even need a building level and a plumb line. Another indisputable plus is that such a structure can be subsequently dismantled and moved to another place, while maintaining the integrity of the glass blocks. Mounting on mortar or glue leaves no such freedom. However, no matter which installation method you choose, there is one general recommendation.

Glue, crosses and modules for installation

Special glue for glass blocks, sold in hardware stores along with them, allows you to work quickly and efficiently, in addition, it has a transparent structure and does not spoil the appearance of the finished partition. The mounting modules that we mentioned above have an even longer list of advantages, but many craftsmen still prefer to use a cement-sand mortar and spacer crosses, simply because it is cheaper and more familiar. Let's take a closer look at how to mount glass blocks using mortar:

• For kneading, use sand of a very fine fraction, since large grains of sand can easily scratch the surface of the glass;
• Do not rush to finish the work, it is recommended to lay no more than three rows of glass blocks in one day, since the setting of the mortar with glass is much slower than, for example, with a brick;
• Do not build too high walls with mortar. Numerous reviews of masters indicate that the lower layers can crack under the weight of the upper ones. Knowing how heavy a glass block is, imagine how much a floor-to-ceiling structure weighs;
• Before putting the next row of glass blocks, insert metal rods with a section of 4-6 mm into the seams, this will significantly strengthen the structure;
• Be sure to treat the seams with colored grout, because the gray cement stripes will obviously not decorate the partition. You can immediately use colored cement instead of regular cement, this will save you time.

Masonry technology on video

To understand in detail how to fix glass blocks, it is best to familiarize yourself with a visual video tutorial. From it you will learn about all the intricacies of laying, and you can easily repeat the whole process with your own hands.

Today, few people can say for sure what glass blocks are, but the situation has recently been going to change and at the moment glass blocks are essentially experiencing their second birth. Glass blocks are a rather original building material, which differs not only in modern design, but also in quite good soundproofing properties. So it makes sense to take a closer look at this building material.

According to GOST 9272-81 glass blocks- these are "products with a hermetically sealed cavity formed as a result of the connection of two pressed glass plates (halves-semi-blocks)". Each half is made of thick glass (6-7 mm). The shape of a glass block really looks like a brick, with the only difference being that inside this “brick” is hollow and even resembles double-glazed windows that are installed in modern windows. The air inside the glass block gives this building material excellent heat-saving and, of course, sound-proof properties.

The surface of such a "brick" can be both smooth and corrugated, transparent, matte and even colored. Now on sale most often there are glass blocks with a thickness of 7.5 to 10 cm. The weight of one such glass "brick" is from 2.5 to 4.3 kg. Typically, glass blocks are either square or rectangular in shape. The standard dimensions of modern glass blocks are 19 x 19 x 8 cm or 24 x 24 x 8 cm. But it should be borne in mind that in their price lists, firms, as a rule, indicate dimensions in millimeters. On sale you can also find the so-called halves (19 x 9 x 8 cm or 24 x 11.5x8 cm). In addition, glass blocks are also triangular, angular (for finishing corners, columns, etc.) and even round.

As you know, walls and partitions are built from glass bricks; this is a good heat-saving material. Glass does not burn, it transmits light well - and it is precisely these useful qualities that glass blocks have.

It can even be said that glass bricks to some extent went further than their “ancestors”. On the one hand, glass blocks (primarily colorless ones) transmit light as well as glass, which means that there is no need to install windows in a wall made of glass blocks. On the other hand, glass blocks are not as fragile as glass. So it is quite possible to build graceful internal partitions and even building facades from them. True, in this case, you will need to take translucent glass blocks.

It is especially valuable that such a wall, unlike brick or plasterboard, does not need to be plastered, painted or wallpapered. It is easy to care for it: just wash it.

Advantages

Of the key advantages of glass blocks, first of all, it is worth noting their high strength. Walls made of glass blocks are able to withstand significant temperature fluctuations (from -40 to + 50 ° C). They are very strong - able to withstand a slight earthquake. It will be possible to break the glass block only with a sledgehammer.

In the event that several glass blocks break for some reason, it is enough just to have a few spare pieces in reserve. If necessary, carefully knock out the damaged glass blocks and insert whole ones in their place.

Another major advantage of this building material is good thermal and sound insulation.

tion. The air space inside the glass block perfectly retains heat. In the West, attention has long been paid to the fact that glass blocks are an excellent energy-saving building material, and they are actively using it. Plus, glass blocks are a good sound insulator. By the way, their sound-absorbing properties are approximately the same as a brick wall of the appropriate thickness. That is, if you build two identical walls - one of bricks, the other of glass blocks, then they "extinguish" street noise in approximately the same way.

Another remarkable property of glass blocks is their incombustibility. They, as the firefighters say, do not support combustion. Moreover, the wall of glass blocks in the event of a fire remains intact - does not crack or melt for more than one hour. That is why this material is quite actively used.

They are used for the construction of walls in rooms that are subject to serious requirements regarding fire safety, for example, in the shops of the chemical industry.

And the last important advantage of this material is its lighting properties. According to experts, glass blocks are translucent (with a smooth surface of the front walls), light-scattering and light-guiding (glass blocks with corrugated surfaces, as a rule, have such effects). So, when choosing the color, texture and pattern of glass blocks, you first need to clearly understand where and for what they will serve you.

Glass blocks are mainly used for the construction of non-load-bearing walls (both external and internal). External walls made of glass "bricks" are usually erected in factories, factories and other enterprises where a lot of light is required, but it is not possible to put ordinary framed windows. Glass blocks lay out openings on the landings - which, admittedly, is also convenient and practical. On the one hand, it is more difficult to break, and on the other hand, they give light. In sports complexes, dressing rooms are trimmed with glass blocks - walls and windows are erected from them in sports halls, as well as pools, baths and other wet rooms.

If we talk about residential premises, then recently glass blocks have become quite popular (and even fashionable) material that allows you to find the most unexpected solutions in interior design. Today, they are used to make walls in toilets and bathrooms, internal partitions, or simply insert glass blocks into walls as a decorative element.

Still, glass blocks are suitable not only for walls. They can also be used to decorate ceilings, roofs in private houses, make arches and canopies, winter gardens and attics out of them.

Which glass blocks to choose

Today on the construction market you can find glass blocks made in Russia, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy.

The glass "bricks" of domestic manufacturers actually resemble real bricks in some way - they are just as uneven and poorly processed. They are either transparent or dirty green, but they are cheap.

The most nondescript glass blocks are made in Belarus, at a factory in Grodno. These "bricks" of "bottle" color are familiar to many from the buildings of the Soviet era. Their size is 194 x 194 x 98 mm, there are only two types of ornaments - diamonds and small flowers with arcs.

Things are somewhat better with Russian glass blocks produced in the Bryansk region at the Starsteklo plant. These "bricks" are colorless and transparent. The range of patterns is somewhat wider. In addition to the standard size (194 x 194 x 98 mm), glass blocks 78 mm thick are made in Bryansk. The latter are only slightly inferior in their noise and heat insulation properties to the thicker "brothers", but they allow you to save a little space inside the room.

Imported glass blocks compare favorably with domestic products, which is quite natural. First of all - the richest choice of colors and shades (blue, blue, red, brown, pink, etc.), a variety of textures and patterns (diamonds, squares, with a wave, polo-juice, flower, marbled, transparent, matte, etc.), sizes and shapes (square, rectangular, triangular, angular, round, etc.).

For example, glass blocks from VitraBlok (Czech Republic). Here you will find a wide selection of ornaments and colors: from colorless and pale to saturated - green, red, blue, yellow. By the way, bright colors, which are not very popular abroad, are very popular with our customers.

Glass blocks of the Italian company Vetroarredo are generally a real work of art. One gets the impression that this is not glass at all, but crystal. And yet, according to professionals, one of the most solid and high-quality ones is German glass blocks. In addition to the fact that they are also famous for their beauty, their dimensions do not “jump” yet, which is extremely important during installation. The products of the Week and Solaris firms are presented on the Russian market.

Articles similar to Glass blocks: dimensions, GOST, description:

X fragile glass is not the material from which walls are made. But, here, a translucent partition made of glass blocks (glass blocks), made by hand from elements sparkling with rich colors, will decorate any interior and make it possible to zone the space.

A general idea of ​​​​glass blocks can be drawn from the name itself: translucent square "bricks" were massively used in buildings of the times of the USSR, and more and more often their modern counterparts can be seen today.

How to make a partition from glass blocks, where, unlike ordinary masonry, cement mortar does not stick at all. What are the types of glass blocks, how it is arranged, and what tools will be required for work, we will tell in this article.

Glass blocks are well suited for walls loaded only by their own weight.

What is and how glass block works

Glass blocks are two square glass boxes soldered together by sides. Inside - emptiness, or rather highly rarefied dry air. Dust and condensate cannot get into the internal space of the block, therefore the glass walls of the block from the inside always remain transparent.

As we know, sound waves, as well as a significant proportion of heat, are transmitted by vibrations of air molecules. Accordingly, the discharged space inside the block does not transmit sound well. The absence of air prevents the transfer of heat, giving the glass block thermal insulation properties that are not worse even than those of double-glazed windows.

True, it would not be entirely correct to say that glass blocks are transparent, their walls let in about 70% of the light flux. But, now, to see anything behind their thick corrugated surface, except for blurry silhouettes, it will no longer work.

Glass blocks are suitable where you need to provide good natural light, while hiding what is happening behind the wall.

Another advantage of glass blocks is their high resistance to fire. Thick glass can burst only from a sharp and strong temperature drop, but is practically invulnerable to relatively uniform heating of even a strong fire.

The aesthetic qualities of modern blocks are noticeably superior to their Soviet predecessors. Today they are produced in a variety of colors and shades, decorated with various patterns. Various decorations and unusual objects are placed in the internal voids of the blocks. Design options for both the glass blocks themselves and the design with their use.

General principles of working with glass blocks

The main difficulty in installing a glass block partition is the need for accurate preliminary calculation and marking.

Installation of glass blocks using masonry mixture

Laying blocks on the frame, for all its simplicity, noticeably increases the cost of the structure. In addition, the installation of vertical bearing racks requires high marking accuracy. Therefore, the most popular is the bonding of blocks with the help of masonry mixture.

This method requires accuracy, certain skills, and the technology is similar to the usual one.

Since glass blocks cannot be cut and sharpened, as is the case with bricks, we accurately calculate the entire structure in advance in size, taking into account the width of the seams. If an even number of blocks cannot be installed, you can use an insert made of ordinary brick, wood or other material.

We start laying from the bottom row. The rows of blocks must lie horizontally, so the base must first be leveled. At a minimum, a strip with a width equal to the width of the block.

We select the amount of mounting mixture in such a way that it, if possible, completely fills the gap between the blocks. To do this, you need to put it so much that it squeezes out a little from the seams between the blocks.

To fill a vertical seam, apply the mixture to an already installed block or to the one that is being laid, and preferably both. If, nevertheless, voids have formed in the vertical seam, we fill them when laying the next row.

To increase the strength of the masonry between the rows, we lay reinforcement made of galvanized wire or perforated tape.

Until you gain experience, check the level of each installed block, as well as the entire row.

The work will be simplified by special masonry "crosses". They are placed between the corners of the block, and after the masonry is completed, they are removed or sealed with mortar, filling the seam.

If the frame is made of wood, a hacksaw with a fine tooth and a screwdriver will be added to the above.

For laying on an adhesive mixture, you need the usual tool kit for masonry: trowel - trowel, lace. The only mason's hammer - we will replace the pick with a rubber mallet. She can tap and upset the glass block without fear of breaking the fragile glass.

And of course, in both cases, for marking you will need a building level, tape measure, marker, square.

The masonry mix is ​​sold ready-made. But if you wish, it is easy to cook it yourself. An ordinary cement mortar on grade 400 cement with a ratio of 1: 3 is quite suitable. But there are a couple of nuances:

• Be sure to add a PVA emulsion to the cement mixture, approximately a glass, to a bucket of mortar.

PVA will give plasticity, as well as some "stickiness", without which it will be inconvenient to work.

• To get a good quality partition, as a rule, it is better to take white cement. The usual grayish seam will be visible through the transparent body of the glass block, which is not always desirable.

If the laying is carried out from blocks, the glass of which has a color of a certain tone, the masonry mixture can be given the necessary color by adding a coloring pigment to the mixture.

A little security

Modern glass blocks are of good quality. But they also have flaws. There are sharp burrs, sharp edges, so immediately get used to working with gloves.

Ordinary cloth ones are uncomfortable, even those covered with “pimples”. The glass block tends to slip out, hands get tired quickly.

It is best to use glaziers' gloves. From the side of the palm, they are covered with latex, which does not slip so much on the glass and better protects the fingers from cuts.

When working as a grinder, especially if you have to grind the edges of the block, be sure to use goggles and a respirator. Glass dust is an extremely harmful and insidious thing.

Allow me to bow out on this. We hope that beautiful and practical partitions made of glass blocks will make your home more comfortable, more environmentally friendly, and give it a unique charm.

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Glass blocks as a building and finishing material were used back in Soviet times, but after passing through decades and having undergone significant changes, glass bricks returned in a new way to perform decorative functions. In modern construction, this material has found wide application due to its unique properties and bright variety.

Classification of glass blocks

Glass blocks are two glass half-blocks soldered together. Hollow inside. They differ in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, which can be found in the catalog with a photo. New production technologies make it possible to produce matte and colored glass blocks, corrugated and with inserts, which will transform the interior of any room.

• Forms. Available in the form of a brick, rectangular, half, hexagonal and angular. The last two are original, the first are the most popular.
• Color spectrum glass blocks in the interior:

1. colorless (from 70% to 90% transparency), colored (from 50% to 70% transparency);
2. matte (transparency less than 50%), transparent (transparent, light-guiding, light-scattering);
3. relief surface (drop, wave, cubes) and smooth;
4. with internal inserts and decorated in style stained glass(after viewing the photo, you can choose options with various decorative fillings);

• Coloring technique performed using two different technologies. They paint the inner surface before soldering the halves or give color when melting glass. This indicator affects the ability to transmit light.
• Application area. The three main types are decorative, interior and industrial. A shower room with elements of any kind will be original and unique.

Due to their technical characteristics, glass bricks have a number of advantages that allow them to be used in a variety of directions, and a do-it-yourself wall made of glass blocks as a structural element will delight not only with beauty, but also with practicality.

Advantages

• Differ in the increased fire resistance. Withstand high temperatures.
• They are durable, have excellent heat-saving, energy-saving and sound-proof qualities.

• Moisture resistant, therefore suitable for showers and pools.
• Glass blocks in the interior do not require plastering, painting, cladding with other materials.
• They have no contraindications for use in residential areas and comply with all hygiene standards.
• Installation of glass blocks is easy to do with your own hands.

Glass blocks and interior

For a long time there was an unambiguous attitude towards them - boring, unremarkable material, it breathes a chill, its place is in clinics and catering establishments. And then completely oblivious. Now they seem to burst into our house as something new, original. Glass blocks in the interior make the room bright and spacious. In construction, they are widely used as a finishing material for the design of individual elements, kitchens, bathrooms, partitions in residential premises. Glass blocks in the interior of the apartment create a unique atmosphere of comfort, as evidenced by numerous photos.

AT one-room apartment the original solution is partition for space zoning from glass blocks. If we assume that the sleeping area remains at the window, then the living room has lost natural light, but thanks to the partition made of glass blocks, there is enough light in the apartment, and the bedroom is hidden from prying eyes.

Glass blocks in bathroom and shower is a sought-after decorative material. On the one hand, they are opaque and at the same time let through part of the scattering light. Thanks to glass blocks as a partition, the shower room will visually increase in size, and by closing the toilet area with such material, you will add originality to the overall style with your own hands.

Advice! Before buying blocks, check out the options for decorating rooms in the photo and choose the most suitable one so as not to bring dissonance into the overall picture with a bright element.