If you are building your own home for the first time, the early surprise you will get is the need for you to deal with a lot of details.
As Suzanne Tennant states in her blog post on Building a New Home, “Yes, get ready to make decisions on thousands and thousands of small and large details, from where your electrical outlets are placed to the exact backsplash you want in your kitchen to the size and placement of windows!”
One of those important details you will be attending to will be the windows. Not just windows that are in the front room and bedrooms. But, the windows that are placed by doors, in basements, and in the bathrooms. There is also the option of using glass in open floor plans for kitchen islands and glass walls.
A glass material to consider for your new home is Glass Block. Glass Block is a versatile material that can be used in a variety of ways to brighten your home while providing security and light.
When planning a remodel or new construction project, compare Glass Pane windows to Glass Block windows. As stated in the Do It Yourself article discussing basement windows, “Glass block basement windows not only discourage burglars from entering your house but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your basement. Glass block windows are also famous for their good insulation capabilities.”
These are some additional comparisons followed by a chart for easy viewing.
BEAUTY AND VERSATILITY
Glass Block offers virtually limitless design possibilities. Glass block walls, partitions and windows combine the delicate beauty and light transmission of glass with the strength of glass block.
VISIBILITY/LIGHT TRANSMISSION
Crystal clear Glass Block provides exceptional visibility in compliance with ADA guidelines for enclosed areas. It is also scratch-resistant and transmits up to 80% of available light in both directions without any yellowing, clouding or weathering.
SECURITY
When added security is needed in their projects — architects, designers and home builders have chosen Glass Block which offers enhanced resistance to impact, fire, sound transmission and weather.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Glass Block can provide more than double the thermal resistance (R-Value) of single-glaze 1/8″ thick plate glass. The differences between the shading coefficient of glass block and flat sheet glass is also significant.
Chart from Pittsburgh Corning brochure
If you are considering remodeling or building a new home and want to better understand what Glass Block can offer, please call us at 800-635-1226. We
have been designing and installing Glass Block for over 20 years in the New York and New Jersey area. We love to share our experience.
Glass Block Blogger 
Let us know what you think.