Anyone have any experience with buying/contracting/installing glass block cellar windows? Our existing wooden windows (ca. 100 yrs old) are rotted and we have had a break-in. I’ve called a couple of places in the yellow pages and didn’t get a good vibe. Some bait and switch – say they encourage DIYers in the ad, but discourage it on the phone, etc. If I can do it myself I will, but I’m perfectly willing to pay the going contractor installation rate if that seems the way to go. I have absolutely no idea what this should cost, either way.
The project: about a dozen 34X34 square windows. Cellar wall is stone and the RO is mortared out to engage the old wooden frames.
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Sadly, I'm going to guess the best answer for you is "it depends."
Those are pretty good-sized windows, so one thought I had is about egress. Very tough to get a permit-able glass block egress window. That might or might not be a concern for your location (see, it depends--story of my day, today).
Also, your life will be much better if the cellar walls are "bucked" out to fit the wooden window frames, as, oh, 36x36 openings are going to much better fit stock glass block sizes (which is an issue, as you can't just "nibble" a half or whole block the way you can with a brick to make it fit).
Mechanically, glass block is not that complicated. You need the block, a prepared opening, a mortar compatible with the selected block and use, and the time and patience to make a good job of it. After that, it's butter a side and bottom of a block, then set it in the opening, and repeat.
You might google installing glass block, I'm certain I've seen links to some good DIY info. Such sites will also have the correct term for the reinforcing mesh that goes between every second or third course (which I cannot recall right now for love nor money).
Oh, and if "depends" is not bad enough, you also get to decide between clear, obscure, rippled, and the plethora of styles and shapes of glass block out there. Hmm, since this is a cellar wal, maybe not--you probably need the 4" thick for the insulation value.
Why don't you replace the wooded windows with new operable windows and install burglar bars? Those old stone basements had operable vent windows for a reason: to vent the basement.
I bring this up because I too considered replacing my old basement windows with glass block, it's what everybody in midtown Kansas City has or is doing. Home depot sells glass block here and there's no doubt that I could just do it myself.
But I got to thinking, "Why did they have operable windows in the first place?" Then I began to notice the holes in the stair risers up to the main level and then up to the second floor. And then after sealing up the windows one winter to reduce drafts into the basement and forgetting about it, and then the wifey and I getting terrible resperatory problems the next spring during rainy season, which was soon resolved with a dehumidifier in the basement, I started to realize... If I could open the basement windows, then I could vent all of the moisture thats encouraging the mold down here.
Sure enough, opening up the basement windows fixed the mold problem. I suspect that if I had a whole-house fan on the second floor, with all the windows closed but the basement windows, then I could pull a lot of cooling air up from the basement and delay firing up the air conditioner a few more weeks in the summer...
Anyone else have any experience?
By the way, the glass-block contractors I had out to my house were all just about as shady as I've ever dealt with. That was one project I realized I was going to have to do myself, like it or not.
In Canada the HD stores sell the Pittsburgh Corning product (as do several other building supply stores). They also offer any number of how to brochures with specific instructions. General suggestions, faqs, etc are here:
http://www.pittsburghcorning.com/homeowners/ownerindex.asp
This link deals specifically with basement windows
http://www.pittsburghcorning.com/literature/GB165_Eng_0103.pdf
Have done one myself and about to embark on another - all inside, tho; not exposed to the elements or water (light passthru in an interior wall.)
Good luck.
Penobscotman.
I did that myself this summer!
I went to Home Depot bought the stuff went home and cut an opening in the cement block and made it the right size for the block I bought. (A diamond blade on a gas saw made quick work less than an hour later it was back at the rental house and only cost me $45.00 By the evening it was finished. So slick I put them in my shower and am trying to talk my youngest daughter into letting me do the same for her shower!
Don't rush, mix small batches at a time, read the instructions and it should be fun!
Thanks, sounds good -- but I have a cut-stone foundation, not block (it's an old house). I've seen on line how you can put in ready-made glass block windows, and it seems pretty straighforward, but I expect that the windows would have to be fabricated with some cut (not full size) blocks. Right now I'm pulling a blank on the DIY vs contractor cost.
I'm not trying to cheat or bargain down a contractor, I'm just trying to find out what the difference in expenditure would be. It may well be worth it to contract out this job. (I mention this because BTers are always complaining about shifty, lying homeowners!)
It's easy enough to make your own glass block windows. The "trick" is to build them on the bench using spacers to maintain a consistent mortart joint, then install the unit when it is cured. That's how the local pro glass block window installation places make them. It's a lot cheaper to make them this way - a standard 24x36 window costs $25 vs $75 premade. In addition, you get full mortar joints instead of silicone. You can also adjust the size a bit by varying the mortar joint size, but not more than an inch or two per window.
34" does not require cutting glass block - it's just made from two 8" and three 6" block.
I suggest that you have the glass block panels pre-made and install them yourself. They will be heavy for your window size, so you'll need an extra hand or two (and heavy lifters to go with the hands).
I've bought pre-made glass block panels from these folks:
http://www.e-glassblock.com/id10.htm
Lots of options:
http://www.e-glassblock.com/id59.htm
They put steel rods in the joints and a band around the perimter of the glass block panel. The panels are available in 2" increments.
Install them with the foam expansion strips and white polyurethane caulk/adhesive. Geocell probably works well too.
Maybe you can find a place near you who can make the panels -- these guys are set up to make them inside in their special jigs and I bet they can do it much more quickly and less expensive than you can.
Billy
Edited 12/6/2006 7:46 pm ET by Billy
I have a glass block sub. I cant come close to competing with him time or pricewise.
Around here (detroit) I can get a standard size basement window installed for about $50/unit. These guys can get through 4 or five windows in about 1.5hrs.
You'll pay more for 34x34 windows but I would probably just hire it out.