Modern designers are increasingly using glass blocks in apartment interiors. This material has good operational characteristics and aesthetic qualities. You can use them to decorate walls or build partitions, decorate doorways, even windows. Your interior will become refined and original.
Glass blocks were used as a building material back in the last century, but having passed through the decades, they have undergone significant changes and returned in a new way to perform decorative functions.
Features of using glass blocks in the interior of an apartment
A block of glass can be different: matte or completely transparent, mirrored, multi-colored. The texture is embossed or smooth, with different effects: dimming the light and scattering it. The color range is wide: from neutral to bright, saturated shades. Externally, it looks like a rectangle hollow from the inside, with walls up to 1 cm thick. The brick is characterized by good sound insulation, but has a cold surface - thermal conductivity is low.
A glass block is two glass half-blocks welded together with a void inside.
Products are available in a variety of designs, you can even find them with stained glass
What is glass block and how does it work?
Glass blocks are two square glass boxes welded together with sides. Inside there is emptiness, or rather highly rarefied dry air. Dust and condensation cannot fall into the interior of the block, so the glass walls of the block always remain transparent from the inside.
Glass blocks are well suited for walls loaded only with their own weight
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 also prevents the transfer of heat, giving the glass block thermal insulation properties no worse than even double-glazed windows.
True, it would not be entirely correct to say that glass blocks are transparent; their walls transmit about 70% of the light flux. But, now, it will no longer be possible to see anything behind their thick corrugated surface, except for blurred silhouettes.
Glass blocks are suitable where you need to provide good natural light, while at the same time hiding what is happening behind the wall.
Another advantage of glass blocks is their high fire resistance. Thick glass can burst only from a sharp and strong temperature change, but is practically invulnerable to relatively uniform heating even from a strong fire.
Openings filled with glass blocks sometimes resemble exquisite stained glass windows
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 designs. Various decorations and unusual objects are placed in the internal voids of the blocks. There are a great variety of design options for both the glass blocks themselves and the design using them.
Advantages and disadvantages of using glass blocks
Good light transmission qualities can be highlighted - this is one of the favorite materials of modern designers. They do not burden the overall interior; a wide range of colors is provided for interior decoration.
You can decorate an entire wall with glass blocks or diversify the partition with separate colored inserts
Let's look at the main advantages:
- the material is considered universal, suitable for any style: minimalism, high-tech, urban, loft and others;
- practicality in care, just wipe the wall with detergents and wipe dry;
- the product does not burn.
The surface texture of glass blocks can be transparent, scattering or light-directing
We especially note the ease of installation. There are also disadvantages: if you cover the entire wall with it, you need to think through a plan for installing utility lines in advance - it is impossible to install anything through the glass.
Laying in the frame
Installation with glue Installation with mortar
Frame technology
In addition to traditional technology, there is another way to install glass blocks. It involves using a frame. It can be made of wood or purchased ready-made from metal-plastic. The sections are assembled like a construction set and glass blocks are tightly inserted into them. This method of laying blocks allows you to get a more aesthetic and neat partition. But the cost of its installation is quite high, and the process requires a certain skill. In addition, such a partition has poor soundproofing properties.
Each glass block has its own cell, into which it is then inserted. The elements of one section are fastened together with transparent silicone sealant and wire. To erect such a partition, 8-10 hours are enough, which cannot be said about the traditional method, which takes up to 3-4 days.
And in addition to the article on how to lay glass blocks with your own hands, the video will be an excellent addition.
Rules for decorating a room with glass blocks
Previously, this material was used for office premises. It is now popular to use partitions made of glass blocks in an apartment; photos can be viewed on design websites.
Glass block inserts can be used as stylish and expressive accents
There are many design variations even for a small apartment:
- Separating a small hallway from the main corridor or a shower from the bathroom. In such cases, a pallet and a partition made of blocks are simply mounted. High-quality sealing of joints is necessary.
- For the kitchen - studio. The partition is beautifully laid out with multi-colored blocks.
- Installation under the kitchen surface of glass blocks with lighting.
- Decorating a window or doorway using matte or colored blocks.
- Highlighting a wall or partition with corrugated products, with shells or flowers inside, a transparent surface and a glossy sheen.
A stand made of multi-colored glass for an aquarium looks very creative; as an option, a table top with inserts of different textures. This is a durable and practical material, so use your imagination and your home will sparkle with new colors!
Furniture made from glass blocks looks interesting in the interior of the apartment.
You can use glass blocks to make a coffee table or decorate the façade of a kitchen island.
Main advantages
The most important advantage is their unusual design. However, the advantages of this type of partition do not end there.
For example, it is important that they tend to transmit sunlight. Of course, the amount of light they transmit directly depends on the material from which the glass block is made
However, in any case, a room isolated from windows will no longer always be illuminated only with the help of artificial sources.
The appearance of modern glass blocks is fundamentally different from those we saw during the times of the former USSR. The thing is that since that moment technology has stepped far forward and production conditions have technically changed. You can get acquainted with some of them by looking at the photo.
Durability can also be considered an advantage of this type of partition. The thing is that glass material is resistant to the negative influence of many factors, such as moisture. That is why in bathrooms such partitions usually last a very long time and fit perfectly into the interior.
And the speed of construction of such partitions is one of the highest in construction. This is also the reason that many decide to refuse the services of a master and install glass blocks with their own hands. Let's look at this process in more detail.
Installation procedure
Most glass block kits on the market today are installed using the BlockLock system. The composition includes, in fact, the blocks themselves, as well as the bases for installation and special glue.
Before installing the blocks, you must first “prepare the ground”. Apply markings to the floor and walls, and also determine whether we are really working with right angles, or whether they need to be trimmed.
The next step is to apply glue to the marked area. It is necessary to apply a generous amount of glue, since the bottom layer of glue will provide some support. The recommended thickness of the bottom layer is at least 1 cm. The glue in this case should be of sufficient thickness. The bottom row of glass blocks must be “pressed” into the glue with great force.
Next, we apply glue to the side of the first block, and in the same way install the second, third, and so on blocks until we install the entire bottom row. After installing it, you need to check whether the blocks are aligned evenly. This is done using a simple level. After this, we apply special glue to the top of the bottom row, and install the second row in the same way.
It is important to separate the rows included in the kit with profiles
Everything must be measured to the nearest millimeter. Fortunately, glass blocks come in different sizes, and these sizes can be selected according to the required width and height.
After we have installed the first 5 rows, we need to let the entire structure dry. Usually, complete drying occurs in one day, so all work is usually divided into two stages.
Design
Do not forget that a glass block partition is a decorative structure. Therefore, it will look very creative if we use blocks of different colors when installing it. We get creative, use our imagination, in general, we do everything to highlight our partition and give it the necessary appearance. Take a look at the photo to see what options there are.
If you have any difficulties installing a glass block partition, you can watch a video that will help you navigate this matter.
To summarize, we note that the installation of glass blocks can be done with your own hands. The main thing is to have a desire.
Using glass blocks when decorating walls
High-quality materials are used for wall cladding with glass blocks.
You should not buy analogues made of plastic - they are fragile and will not last long.
The wall can be supplemented with lighting, the surface can be tinted, or left completely transparent. This is the best option for dividing the kitchen from the room in the studios or beautifully decorating the bathroom. If there is little light in the apartment, installing a glass partition would be the right choice. The sun's rays are refracted in the faces of the cube and conduct light into the room.
A glass block partition is an excellent solution for separating a room and at the same time filling the space with additional light.
Glass blocks for delimiting space in the interior of any apartment can be selected in any shape; look at photos for inspiration on design websites. You can beautifully decorate niches and ledges on the surface of the walls, or build a fake fireplace in the hall.
If you want to create a wall to zone a living space, dilute the materials: also use chipboard and drywall.
Each element is selected taking into account the concept of the overall style. To decorate the wall surface, you can place the products pointwise. In the living room it would be appropriate to create a picture or panel from multi-colored bricks.
Transparent, matte or colored - you can choose the most suitable product option to realize your design idea
Always reinforce glass block construction.
Especially if the structure is supposed to be massive. For example, a wall. The best solution is special metal rods, which can be purchased at almost any construction supermarket. The rods must be selected with a cross-section of five millimeters. And they are installed both horizontally and vertically.
Phased construction
Any massive glass block structure should be built in stages. It is recommended to lay no more than three rows per day. Otherwise, if this rule is not followed, the wall may turn out to be uneven, and in some cases, the lower blocks may even crack under the weight of the upper rows.
The fact is that, unlike, for example, brick, glass blocks adhere less well to cement mortar. Therefore, the structure can “move” under its own weight.
Spacer crosses when laying glass blocks
Mounting crosses significantly speed up the laying of glass blocks
and ensure strictly the same distance between the blocks - a wall made of glass blocks will turn out perfectly smooth and neat. They are made of plastic, are inexpensive, and can be purchased at any hardware store.
Seams in glass block construction
Grouts are sold in the form of dry mixtures. You just need to add a certain amount of water to the mixture (see instructions on the package) and mix the contents thoroughly.
But it’s even better to lay glass blocks on colored cement. It can be purchased at the same construction supermarkets. Such cement will cost a little more than ordinary cement, but the result is worth it. Or you can simply purchase special pigments that can be used to easily color a regular gray solution.
Wooden modules for glass blocks
Sometimes, in order not to bother with the solution and, in principle, the rather labor-intensive process of laying glass blocks, you can use special modules. They are something like a wooden lattice, each of the cells of which is designed for a glass block.
The process of “constructing” the structure is very simple. You need to insert glass blocks into the cells and secure everything with a gasket. The benefits are obvious - simplicity, convenience, perfect appearance. In addition, such a structure can be moved from place to place if the need arises.
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Almost all commercially available glass blocks are coated. This film is necessary to protect the front surface of glass blocks in order to prevent possible damage during transportation and installation. Protective film is especially relevant for frosted glass blocks, on the surface of which any scratch or chip will be noticeable.
Sometimes, inexperienced craftsmen or home craftsmen who expect to lay the blocks on their own remove the protective film during installation. Under no circumstances should this be done, since it is during operation that glass blocks are most often damaged. Usually these are small scratches, but over time, even the smallest of them will become clogged with dirt and ruin all the beauty for which everything was started.
It happens that glass blocks are not initially covered with such a protective film. In this case, experienced experts advise simply covering the front part of the glass blocks with ordinary tape.
Partitions made of glass blocks in the interior of an apartment
Partitions made of transparent glass blocks of different colors are widely used in apartments. The main goal is to zone the room and highlight the area.
Glass blocks are used to create lightweight partitions for zoning a room
Thanks to the transparency of the material, the space is perceived more integral
There are many ideas for partitions:
- oval;
- circle;
- trapezoid;
- arch;
- pyramid.
With the help of glass bricks you can implement many original interior design ideas
The optimal width and height are selected, depending on the ceilings. It is ideal to create a clear, limited space: dressing room, hallway, shower stall. This is a good choice for creating a dining area.
If the room is small, glass blocks will fit perfectly into the overall concept - they visually expand the room.
To enclose the bed and sitting area, frosted or multi-colored glass is used.
An example of separating a sleeping area from the rest of the apartment using a partition made of frosted glass blocks
Brick
Brick is familiar to everyone as a material for construction. It can also be used for internal partitions. Brick can be solid (4 kg) or hollow (about 3 kg). Despite the fact that a partition made of hollow bricks will be lighter, it has a significant disadvantage: it will be difficult to hang objects on such a wall.
Cost: 12-13 rubles for 1 brick. There are cheaper ones, but these are low quality markers.
Pros:
- durable material;
- provides good sound insulation (it is worse for hollow ones);
- can be used in damp areas.
Minuses:
- do not make a brick partition less than 14-15 cm thick (together with a layer of plaster);
- high cost of material;
- a qualified worker is needed for installation, otherwise the wall will turn out crooked - the payment for such labor will also cost a pretty penny;
- leveling will require a lot of plaster - additional costs for material and labor;
- even hollow bricks place a large load on the floors.
Options for using glass blocks with lighting in the interior of an apartment
This is a great option for living rooms, kitchen surfaces and even the bathroom. It's creative, beautiful, and creates comfort. You can add LEDs to the hallway partition - you can turn it on when entering the apartment, which will demonstrate to your guests your sophisticated taste.
Stylish partition with lighting in a small hallway
Glass blocks with lighting in the kitchen interior
Aerated concrete blocks
The blocks are made from quartz sand, cement, water and an additive in the form of aluminum powder. During hardening, air is passed through the material and bubbles remain inside, making the structure easier. Each block has a size of 600x250 and a width from 50 to 500 mm. Usually they use blocks 100 mm thick, they weigh 11 kg each.
Cost: 65-75 rub. per block
Pros:
- It is enough just to putty, which will add only 5 mm to the wall thickness;
- installing such blocks is easier than bricks, but more difficult than tongue-and-groove slabs;
- Moisture-resistant boards are also sold;
- easy to groove;
- not very heavy;
- strong enough to attach hanging items.
Cons: poor sound insulation.
Stylistic compatibility of glass blocks with different styles in the interior of an apartment
Transparent cubes will perfectly highlight and complement any style. Goes well with neoclassical and urban styles, art deco, loft, oriental and modern. You should not perform such finishing for Rococo or Baroque, country, Provence, classical design.
Glass blocks in a loft style kitchen
Glass blocks in the interior of a modern kitchen-living room
There are many interesting options for using glass products: focus on your taste and budget, room size and layout. It is important not to forget about the “coldness” of the material - you need to complement it with “warm” textile decor or living plants.
What types of glass blocks are there?
With increasing demand for the material, manufacturers began to introduce new shapes, colors and textures of glass blocks. Square and rectangular shapes are more popular compared to round and triangular ones. Strong and durable material can also be in the form of diamond, wave, hexagon.
Colored glass blocks in the interior Source topdom.ru
Depending on the scope of use, they distinguish: construction and decorative glass blocks.
Glass blocks made in Germany and Italy are considered the most expensive and high quality. They are distinguished by their strict shapes and sizes, a wide palette of shades, and a well-polished surface.
Manufacturers from the Czech Republic make bright glass blocks by painting them from the inside. This method makes it possible to reduce the cost of production while maintaining the quality properties of the product.
The budget option includes materials produced in Russia and Poland. Manufacturers are expanding their range with a variety of shades and textures of blocks.
The lower price segment is occupied by glass blocks from Belarus and China.
Depending on the material from which glass blocks are made, there are:
- plastic - glass blocks inside special structures;
- glass blocks made of cellular glass.
Manufacturers make 2 main types of glass blocks: transparent and colored. When producing colored glass blocks, dyes are added to the mass before molding.
Depending on the surface, there are 4 types of glass blocks:
- Sanded, smooth, throughput is 85%.
- Matte, transmits 50% of light.
- Glossy, obtained by polishing.
- Embossed, can diffuse or direct light.
- Glass blocks with a pattern or pattern have a high cost due to the complexity of production.
- Glass blocks with inserts are usually created for a specific design project.
Interior design with glass blocks Source roomester.ru
Depending on the lighting qualities, the material is divided into: light-directing, light-diffusing and translucent glass blocks.
It is necessary to choose glass blocks for the interior design of a living space based on the chosen stylistic direction and color design.
Photo: Glass blocks in the interior of the apartment
Foam concrete blocks
The composition of foam concrete blocks is similar to that of aerated concrete, but instead of aluminum powder, additives of biological origin are used, which makes these blocks even stronger. For example, eggs can be used in the form of additives, but do not worry about the smell: it will be completely chemically neutralized. The only peculiarity associated with this: use foam blocks with a density of 600-800 kg per cubic meter, especially in private houses and cottages, since with a lower density the partitions can be very popular with rodents. And at a density above 800, not only will rodents’ teeth fail, but it will also be difficult for tools for chiselling walls.
Cost: 65-75 rub. per block
This material has many advantages :
- It is enough just to putty, which will add only 5 mm to the wall thickness;
- installing such blocks is easier than bricks, but more difficult than tongue-and-groove slabs;
- Moisture-resistant boards are also sold;
- easy to groove;
- not very heavy, 11 kg block;
- strong enough for attaching hanging objects, even stronger than foam concrete;
- good sound insulation.
