Posted by: glassblockblogger | April 7, 2011

Adding Security and Beauty to Your Home with Glass Block

The entrance way to our home is special for us. It is the first impression that our guests have of our home. All too often we risk security for beauty byGlass Block providing Security and Beauty to Front Door installing pane glass windows around the frame of our front door. We will do the same with easy access openings such as basement windows. Eastern Glass Block Basement WindowAlthough the look of glass is surely desirable, regular glass can be an invitation to a burglar. Pane glass can easily be compromised providing ready access to the inside.

In a document produced by the Fairfield, New Jersey police department addressing Burglary Prevention, it states that we need to understand the way a burglar thinks. The document provides tips saying that oftentimes “They are opportunists who look for easy targets.”. We do not want to show our home as being worth the effort.

I believe no occupation is more calculating of Risk Versus Reward as the criminal occupation. They will always take the easiest and safest route to their goals.

In Practical Tips to Secure Your Home by Wayne McGruff, he says that we should walk around our home with a friend and evaluate areas of weakness. We need to look at our home and ask ourselves, “how would I break in if I were a burglar?”.

Wayne provides many very useful tips in his Home Security and Safety Checklist. As an example, number 12 states that “If doors have glass panels, can someone break through and defeat the locking mechanism?”. Another key point is number 22, which states “Are basement windows glass block or protected by grates or security devices?”.

Glass Block provides an excellent solution to demonstrating that our home is not an easy target for the criminal, while still maintaining beauty and elegance in the home. Glass provides an elegant look allowing light to bathe the rooms. Glass Block provides the security that we need without sacrificing the beauty that glass provides.

If you are considering remodeling or building a new home and want to better understand what Glass Block can offer, please call us. We have been designing and installing Glass Block for over 20 years. We are a national distributer of Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block. We are passionate about the benefits of Glass Block and love to share our experience and knowledge.

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Posted by: glassblockblogger | March 30, 2011

Environment Friendly Glass Block Vinyl Framed Windows

We pay attention to thinking and acting “green” these days more than ever before. This is especially evident when building a new home or remodeling. One reason is rising energy costs and another reason is our responsibility to protect our environment. Windows are one of those decisions that affect energy usage the most.

Up until recently, we may have thought twice before selecting Glass Block and, consequently, lost out on the beauty, security, and privacy Glass Block provides. But, that is now no longer the case, since Pittsburgh Corning’s recent announcement of the immediate availability of their new LightWise Low E Energy Efficient Glass Block vinyl window.

LightWise® still installs like a traditional window as we describe in our previous post Installing the New LightWise from Pittsburgh Corning. However, the new LightWise® Low E window is now ENERGY STARLightWise Vinyl Glass Block Window approved in all regions of the country including the eastern region such as New York and New Jersey. With a U-value of 0.30 and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.25, LightWise® Low E Energy Efficient Windows are on par with traditional flat glass windows.

LightWise® Low E vinyl windows are the most energy efficient glass block windows on the market today. The patented design uses SOLARBAN® 70 to reduce the flow of radiant energy through the block. And since it meets ENERGY STAR requirements, you can be assured that your interior will be more comfortable and will require less energy to heat and cool your home.

Now, you can protect the environment as well as your wallet without compromising on the beauty, safety and privacy of Glass Block.

For more detail information on the installation and design considerations of LightWise®, contact Eastern Glass Block, a specialist in Pittsburgh Corning Glass Block. Eastern Glass Block is a nationwide distributor of the new Lightwise Low E Glass Block window.

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Posted by: glassblockblogger | March 22, 2011

The Role Glass Block Plays Concerning Climate Change

We sometimes come in conflict with our fundamental needs. We are driven to create things that are beautiful, while at the same time maintaining safety and security.

This challenge is amplified when we hear the debate on climate change and the weather patterns that may be intensified. Mark Twain commented during a speech on the weather in the Northeast in 1876 saying that “One of the brightest gems in the New England weather is the dazzling uncertainty of it.”.

Uncertainty continues to play out in the climate debate today. In the paper Indicators of Climate Change in the Northeast, it states that over the past 100 years, and especially 1970 through 2000, climate change indicators for the region reveal a warming trend.

A Post from August of 2010 in the Northeast Weather Blog states that as the El Nino diminished, so did Earth’s temperatures resulting in  a decade of slightly cooler temperatures since 2000. In addition, the Northeast Quadrant adds that although the La Niña, which causes more hurricanes, will be turning to a more neutral phase for this Summer (2011) does not necessarily mean there is less of a threat of a major hurricane season. “During a La Niña phase there was an average of about 4 major storms formed during those seasons. Now here comes the shocker, there were actually more storms formed during a Neutral phase (which we are heading into this Summer), then were formed during the dreaded La Niña years…So although it is fun to read the preseason predictions when it comes to each Hurricane Season. Always remember that it is not an exact science.”

As the years go on, Mark Twain’s words become more poetic, and prophetic.

For peace of mind, we must plan our living spaces with security and safety at the forefront. Then comes the task of incorporating beauty with safety and security.

Glass Block from Eastern Glass BlockGlass Block has become an excellent solution by its ability to provide an aesthetically pleasing space with the security we demand. As an example, LightWise Hurricane Resistant glass block windows from Eastern Glass Block meet the large missile impact tests referenced in the International Building Code and Dade County Approval Protocols. Plus, they are attractive and easy to install. You get privacy and light aesthetics that you can only get with Glass Block.

Some of the features of LightWise Hurricane Resistant glass block windows are:

  • Visually stunning, pre-fabricated panels that are easy to install
  • No need for shutters
  • Protects against flying debris and hurricane force winds
  • Available with a range of visibility and privacy options
  • Greater security than conventional windows
  • Possibilities are limited only by your imagination

Anyone who’s ever experienced a hurricane knows that hurricane force winds are powerful, but the real danger comes in the form of flying debris. That means, if you’re designing a building to withstand a hurricane, it needs to be able to stand up to flying debris as well. Glass Block, such as LightWise Hurricane Resistant glass block windows are an excellent choice.

For more information on hurricane resistant Glass Block, contact us. We can go over the specifications and answer any questions you have. Planning for uncertainty is as important today as it was in the day of Mark Twain.

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