Double glazing with glass block
For insulation, sound deadening, and aesthetic reasons, I’m using two layers of glass block in the exterior openings on our house. I’m concerned over time that crud will get between the layers and be impossible to clean out so I’m proposing to seal the individual pairs (inside and outside blocks) together, face to face, before the mason grouts them in.
The best idea I’ve come up with for this is to use clear silicone on the rim between the blocks and then wrap the seam with foil tape and set each fused pair as if they were a single block.
Does that sound like it will fly or are there better ways to do this?
Replies
Sounds good to me. Sounds like something I would come up with. Only question I'd worry about... Does the silicone ever discolor or break down in anyway with all the UV light coming in. I would think not from my past experience but Murphy's Law an all.
Good question - I've got several tubes of clear, silicone modified, acrylic caulk that would probably be more durable. I've just always heard that silicone was the go to caulk for glass to glass sealing.
I think I would be tempted to by the "special" caulk that is branded and sold by the glass block mfgr. May just be regular silicone, but then again ...
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Hey, now there's an idea!
I didn't even know they had a special formula until I was at the brick yard yesterday. I picked up two tubes of it while I was there. The general manager is a friend of mine and he told me the glass block silicone had additives similar to the glue they use to put fish tanks and structural glass together that helps it bond to the glass a little better.
It wasn't any more expensive than a standard old quality silicone. Seemed like a no brainer - thanks for the tip.
Golden-
We going to get some pics of this?
Sounds interesting.
Kev--Might that foil tape create some adhesion problems with the mortar? What thickness block are you using?
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
Golden,
Won't you see the bottom of the foil tape when you look into the block? RZ
No more than you see the egde of a single-layer block.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
We're onto something here.
Glaziers use a propietary silicone caulk for glass.
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Ed
I just went and looked at the glass block i put in my entry, and i can see the white mud up against the side of the glass block. The blocks i installed are all clear, but i have seen some that are painted on the sides. If your blocks are all clear, i think you will see the tape. Good luck with your project Golden, and let us know how it goes. RZ
Edited 11/8/2004 2:41 am ET by robzan
These are three inch blocks with painted sides. The blocks will be a total of 6 inches thick so the 1 1/2" seam tape shouldn't be a problem.
However, after discussing this with the mason again, we've decided to eliminate the tape so he can set the inside and outside layers individually. He will lay the outer course, clean it thouroughly, and then seal between the faces of inner and outer block as he lays up the inner course.
I'll post a few pics when it's done.