The tradition of using glass blocks dates back to Soviet times - then they were used in schools, hospitals, gyms and bathhouses. In those years, this material looked like a series of rather rough bricks made of dull, uneven glass. Today, taking this idea as a basis, manufacturing companies offer a huge assortment of glass blocks in many colors and shapes. At the same time, the scope of application of this finishing material has greatly expanded. Glass blocks in the interior of the apartment provide an opportunity not only to create a unique design - they help solve the functional problems of the room.
Types of glass blocks
Glass blocks are products designed specifically for construction purposes. They consist of two pressed glass half-plates, which create an airtight cavity. With a similar structure, the insulation is comparable to the laying of 2 bricks. The following types of glass blocks can be distinguished, depending on their visual characteristics:
- Corrugated - they are mainly light-guiding, colorless or light-scattering, which depends on the vector of their faces; despite their transparency, it’s hard to make out objects behind them.
- Transparent can transmit up to 85% of the light flux, while objects look fuzzy through them, their contours are slightly blurred and distorted.
- Partitions from glass blocks with a matte surface have this feature either on one or both sides, while transmitting about 50% of the light.
- Colored ones have a relatively small spectrum, including yellow, green, red, blue, while the range of their shades is huge. It should be noted that in this case the glass is painted even at the time of cooking, therefore, the products do not fade and do not change their color in the future.
- Glass blocks with inserts are mainly made for a specific interior. Here, the diversity of themes is striking - from dummies of fruits, vegetables, sea animals and shells to real portraits and plot paintings.
- Stained-glass windows are quite difficult to manufacture and expensive - for their manufacture, separate composite elements are cut out from sheet colored glass, which are then sintered in the oven. Due to this, despite its stunning aesthetic characteristics, a window from glass blocks can be seen not so often.
Color spectrum
Their color depends directly on the scope, as well as the functions assigned to it. If we talk exclusively about the design of the room, then the color can be anything, the main thing is that it fits into the general palette. It should be borne in mind that saturated colors look more advantageous against the background of pastel walls. In the same case, you can use glass blocks, decorated with additional drawings and elements.
In children's rooms and bedrooms, you can choose glasses of bright colors - the light playing in them will add a good mood, activity and optimism. Dark shades are ideal for places that are designed to relieve tension and relaxation.
Quality
Modern glass blocks are made from a special prefabricated material, they are glued from two equal parts. Inside - glass blocks, but the stability and strength gives them a corrugated shape, which is located at the edges.
From the very beginning, this finishing material was used for building windows in non-residential buildings and for constructing curtain walls. But in the current version, the wall of glass blocks may well be a bearing, for example, in suburban cottages to highlight a personal plot or a winter garden.
Decorative glass blocks are characterized by special strength, heat and noise insulation, resistance to frost and moisture, in addition, fire safety. Although their most basic quality feature is, of course, the opportunity to get interesting lighting effects. Their smooth or corrugated surface perfectly transmits light. Once inside this structure, it breaks, due to which the room visually seems lighter and more spacious. Also, unlike plain glass, their surface can be matte, and this, in turn, allows the use of glass blocks in the interior of the bathroom or bathrooms.
But, deciding to use them in the interior of their housing, it should be borne in mind that it is impossible to conduct sewer systems or wiring inside this material. Also, if the blocks are used to bookmark windows in a humid and small room, this can cause some difficulties with airing the room.
Advantages and disadvantages
This material is characterized by a high degree of reliability, resistance to low temperatures, moisture and fire. Among the advantages can be distinguished high sound, heat and sound insulation. Due to the ability to transmit light, while remaining completely opaque, they are considered an excellent material for various finishing works. A huge range of species, sizes and colors allows their unlimited use. They do not need any special care, it is enough to periodically wipe them with a damp sponge. There is also no need to paste, paint, clean them. Due to the light transmission they give the opportunity to save electricity.
Among the minuses of the glass blocks, it is impossible to lay sewer and electrical systems in them, they cannot be cut, you can’t hang anything on a similar partition or wall. After replacing the window with such a unit, difficulties may arise with airing the room.
Room style and glass blocks
Glass blocks in the interior of the apartment of which design is better to use? This material fits perfectly into rooms decorated in modern styles, as they can emphasize the beauty of each other. In the classic interior, it will already be superfluous, since it simply cannot be squeezed into the rigid framework of the style.
Interior use
Using these matte or transparent materials in the interiors of cottages and houses, you can realize a variety of creative solutions and design ideas. Modern glass blocks in the interior of the apartment, photos of which can be seen in this article, can emphasize the individuality and good taste of their owners. Today, designers use these materials to decorate the offices of large corporations, companies and firms, in addition, in the decoration of living rooms.
Bedroom
This material can also perform the function of zoning. The glass blocks in the interior of this room create an excellent mood: the soft shades highlighted by the backlight adjust for rest, relaxation, while the bright ones energize, fill the whole space with light, and also have a beneficial effect on the condition of the residents. A curved screen made of this material in the corresponding color will look nontrivial. It will be an intriguing detail of the entire interior. The blocks in the walls will flicker a bit, resembling small glowing windows. All this will enable the bedroom to acquire a new sound and color.
Glass blocks in the bathroom interior
One of the features of this material lies in its moisture resistance, therefore, it is actively used in the repair of bathrooms. There are a lot of application options.
The partition of glass blocks in the bathroom can have a rectilinear or radius shape. You need to understand that by experimenting with blocks, you can achieve various effects. In any case, it looks very attractive, and the room makes it more interesting and brighter.
Shower stall
Of course, you can purchase a collapsible or monoblock cab. But in case you want your bathroom to look unusual, a glass block shower is suitable for you. Such a solution will help you significantly save finances, room space, as well as time spent on repairs.
The glass block shower room should be semi-matt or matte. This material can be laid on ordinary cement mortar or tile adhesive. Interblock spaces after a certain period of time after mounting the walls are masked using ordinary grout for joints; the joints between the wall of the bathroom and the partition are treated with sealant.
Glass blocks in the hallway
Partitions of glass blocks in this part of the apartment can separate the living room from this room. Such a wall looks interspersed with interspersing small empty niches - they can be adapted to various souvenirs. The use of this material in the interior of the hallway makes it possible to fill it with light, as well as give it nontriviality and lightness.
The entrance to the cottage decorated with glass blocks looks very original. To create it, use opaque colored or corrugated glass that transmits light, while reliably protecting the interior from prying eyes. Arches with rare impregnations of this material are distinguished by airiness, visual lightness and grace of forms.
Glass blocks in the kitchen
The use of this material for the design of the kitchen space has no restrictions. Glass blocks in the interior of the kitchen are used to create a spectacular panel, while taking into account the variety of motives, and it will be very simple to select fragments that correspond to the overall design of the room.
Bar counter
This bar counter will appeal to lovers of experiments. She will be able to emphasize the taste of her owner, hide shelves for dishes, as well as give an interesting play of light. One of the advantages is also that the cost of such a rack will be much less than the option of wood.
Floors
Glass blocks in the interior of the apartment, photos of which are presented in this article, are also used to create the floor. By purchasing several tiles that are designed for mounting lights, the floor can be made airy, even sunny. At the same time, the multi-color backlight will also make it rainbow. You can choose special glass blocks designed for installation in stairs. This material is thinner than the wall, while it has a rough surface so that it cannot slip on it.
Decorative elements
Windows from glass blocks are a fresh look at the design of the room. They replace ordinary glasses in those places where the use of blocks seems much more appropriate, since they are very durable and at the same time create a pleasant, soft lighting. In addition, various ways of laying them allow you to create windows of completely unexpected shapes. At the same time, refracting the light, they will sparkle like real diamonds.
The design of the walls with glass blocks makes it possible to simultaneously design two rooms, when it comes to partitions between rooms, as well as the exterior and interior, when they are laid out external walls.
There is also furniture from such blocks. It simply amazes with its attractive properties, it can not be denied elegance and originality. Although during the rearrangement it will not be possible to change and move it, it will serve for many years.
Installation of glass blocks
Their installation is quite simple. There are two main methods. At the first, special plastic modular systems are used that allow you to quickly build walls from glass blocks. Even without using a plumb line, they turn out to be completely even. Such glass blocks in the interior (photos are given in the article) look extremely neat due to the fact that the modular system hides all joints and seams.
Laying using a solution is the 2nd option. Installation involves the use of special plastic spacers. This method is resorted to when it comes to blocks of an unusual shape, for example, half, angular and so on.
As you already understood from the article, glass blocks can be used everywhere - in every room, for all surfaces. You can also create panels from them - it can be a landscape, a still life, an abstract picture.
But they play not only decorative roles, there are also practical ones. In today's market, the choice of glass blocks will simply amaze you with its wealth of shapes, textures, sizes, colors. They are great for both large rooms and very small ones, which they visually make wider, airier, more spacious, lighter.