How To Install Glass Block Window

Tom Lohr is an avid home improvement enthusiast. He prefers to spend the money he saves on new tools and gardening supplies.

Yeah, my windows were that bad.

Tom Lohr

Time for an Upgrade

If you alive in an older firm due east of the Mississippi, you probably have a basement. Basements are cracking for lots of domestic-related activities. They are usually the laundry room or workshop and crafts center. It's a not bad place to store your lawnmower for the winter and seasonal clothing. Unfortunately, basements are usually dark, dank, and a source of cold air leaks during the wintertime.

While keeping your basement dry can involve a considerable amount of time, effort, and expense, there is one upgrade you tin do yourself that volition help insulate your basement and allow for some ventilation to assist with the dankness.

Many basements accept drinking glass block windows with smaller casement windows embedded. They provide expert window insulation when it is cold and some airflow when it is wet or hot out. Just not all basements enjoy the benefits of glass cake windows.

Just as many have pane windows, well-nigh of those are unmarried pane, and many of those are in rough shape. Non only exercise they let in cold air and offer no ventilation, simply they are easily broken and allow an easy access signal into your habitation for burglars.

If you have paned windows in your basement, you will do good from replacing them with drinking glass block units. It'due south not as hard every bit you might imagine and tin easily exist achieved in an afternoon. If your basement is ready for a window upgrade, it'due south a perfect DIY projection.

Let'due south Become to It

You lot tin build your own glass block window, block by block, purchasing the blocks separately, simply that requires advanced skills and is non an afternoon DIY project. These instructions are for installing the pre-fabricated drinking glass cake windows that you can get at the big box home improvement shop for merely over $100 each.

Also note that while you can absolutely accomplish this project by yourself, it is much easier and efficient if you have someone to assist you. Your helper doesn't need to be Bob Villa, simply someone to hold the window when needed and aid yous place information technology. The window units are non super heavy, but they're not light either; a person of average size and force tin can handle one.

Materials Needed

• Pre-assembled drinking glass block window
• Structural repair mortar
• Mixing bucket or tray
• Mixing tool (a trowel is fine)
• Putty pocketknife
• Hammer
• Pry confined
• Utility knife
• Nitrile gloves
• Work gloves
• Pocket-size level
• Wood shims
• Tin can of expanding insulation foam
• All-purpose sealant

Step 1: Measure Your Window Opening

For this measurement, you want to measure out the accented opening. Forget adding in frames or other things in your window; they will all be removed. That means you are probable measuring from block to block or brick to brick in each opening.

Once you take your numbers, cheque what they have at your local hardware store. At that place is a lot of jerk room for glass block windows, so it doesn't have to be a perfect fit, but as close as possible. Most hardware stores conduct two or three of the most popular sizes.

Virtually also come with the same type of screened casement window embedded, only you can get a glass block window without any openings if desired. But remember you won't get the benefit of natural ventilation if y'all cull i.

Step 2: Select Your Window

With measurements in manus, head to the hardware store and come across what they accept or bank check their website. In that location are only a few standard sizes, but at that place are several styles of obscured glass blocks used. Pick one that fits your needs and taste and lug it home. If semi-heavy objects are an issue for you, bring a helper.

Wooden frame that has to be removed.

Tom Lohr

Stride 3: Prepare the Opening

Pick a 24-hour interval when no pelting is predicted. There is zilch worse than to get your former window out and then a downpour starts. Commencement by removing the old window glass. This may exist easy if you have newer style windows, or hard if yous have the older way with individual panes. In either case, the employ of piece of work gloves is a prudent precaution. In extreme cases, yous may have to bosom the glass out.

Coil to Go on

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Using an assortment of pry confined, hammers, and chisels, remove the window frame. Again, this can be relative easy or a imperial hurting. You lot won't be saving whatever parts, so go at it with hammer and chisel and pry bars until all you lot have all effectually the opening is what ever your home is made of.

Stride 4: Examination Place Your Window

This is where a helper is really handy. Elevator your new glass block unit of measurement and identify it in the opening. Ideally, you should take virtually an inch or so all around (ii inches on top equally your new window will be resting flush against the lesser while test plumbing equipment).

Important: Take note of which way the casement window open up. Many older types open outward while most newer types open inward. Ensure that the latches or crank to open your new window are facing within. Once your window is in, information technology'due south in.

Window with frame removed.

Tom Lohr

Pace 5: Mix Up the Mortar

Tip: Do Non use quick setting mortar. You want as much time a possible to get this right, and quick setting mortar is unforgiving.

Mix the mortar according to the manufacturer's instructions. While a bucket will work, I find it easier to utilise something like a cat's (clean) litter box. After the mortar is the correct consistency, lay a two-inch thick bead of mortar forth the bottom. Put two shims on the bead and push them down into the mortar most an inch. Put the shims in and then the thin end is just extended on the other side of the bead.

Footstep vi: Place the Window

Tip: Nearly basement windows are most level with the ground, but some accept a bit of a driblet. Use your helper or place something on the other side to ensure your window does not fall out when placing it.

Set the new window on elevation of the bead of mortar. Check for level and tap the shims with a hammer to level the window. Apply your trowel or putty knife to trim away the backlog mortar that has squished out at the bottom, leaving enough to make a overnice foundation. Use your towel or putty knife to shine the mortar at the bottom. Do this on both sides.

I congenital a unproblematic brace to proceed window in place while calculation mortar.

Tom Lohr

Step 7: Fill in the Gaps

Using the leftover mortar, and wearing nitrile gloves, utilise your putty knife and fingers to button in mortar on the sides and summit. Don't forget to do this on both sides. Information technology is improve to have to mix two batches of mortar than to have what you mixed up begin to harden midway through the project.

Once the gaps are filled, smooth out the exposed mortar using the tool of your choice (virtually likely your fingers). Cheque for level again and arrange if necessary past tapping on the shims. After almost 45 minutes, yous can snap off the exposed portion of the shims. Mix a very small batch of mortar and cover the shim surface area.

Employ the rest to fill in whatever gaps yous missed. Also check the camber of whatever exposed window sill on the outside. Ensure that it slants away from the house, if non, mix up some mortar and use a thin glaze and shape it so that it will camber towards the exterior.

Level and set window.

Tom Lohr

Step 8: Fill up in the Voids

Depending on how your home is congenital, there may be some large voids around where you placed your window. Put on a new pair of nitrile gloves and apply the expanding spray foam to make full them in. Afterward the foam has stale, trim with a utility knife for a not bad presentation.

Stride nine: Seal the Seal

Give the mortar a week to completely cure. Then castor on a liquid sealant. Whatever type that is rated for cement will work. While not necessary, you can also put a bead of outdoor rated acrylic sealant where the glass meets the mortar.

Perfect? No. Functional and satisfying? Yep.

Tom Lohr

Step 10: Enjoy the Light and Air

You new glass block windows will let in a ton of natural light, keep the basement warmer in winter, and help go on the dried are moving during warmer temperatures. And enjoy the extra security that the thick glass and solid mortar provides. Take pictures and send to your friends, proclaiming yourself to be king/queen of DIY.

This content is accurate and truthful to the all-time of the author'due south knowledge and is non meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Source: https://dengarden.com/home-improvement/How-to-Install-Glass-Block-Windows-in-Your-Basement

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