Any info, experiences, or sources out there for those glass block floor insert panels? I have a lower level hall below a large window … perfect for shedding some light via glass block.
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The library in Winona Minnesota has glass block floor panels. What a great idea! Too cool for words, you should see it at night! It was done sometime in the 30's and thousands of patrons have walked on it giving it a lovely patina. Acccording to the librarain I spoke with there hasn't been any maintinance done other than painting the grid that holds the block.
I've seen them in the sidewalk in front of commercial buildings, to light the part of the basement that sticks out under the sidewalk. 1930's sounds about right for the neighborhood where I saw them.
A google search for "glass floor" in quotes turned up some likely sites.
I'm no help, but I have seen an application recently in a new house. Not block, but a glass panel. Done for the same reason. Loft area with lots of light and a dark hall below.
Maybe a speciality glass place? Or one of the industrial suppliers???? The kind of place that sells metal stairways, handrails and the like?
Shelley
I installed some glass block panels in a new house a couple of years ago. They were well built, easy to install and , in my view, looked nicer than grouted block. They were available with extruded aluminum frames or wood with a selection of glass patterns and tints.
I can't remember the name of the manufacturer, but their location was Bend, Oregon. I'll inquire at my supplier tomorrow and repost if I find out anything.
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a piece of chalk and cut it with an axe.
Notchman,
I've also used the premade ones....both as windows and interior dividers. I agree. They're great.
The ones that you used.....were they floor panels as the original poster is talking about? If yes, then I know where to get them. Been thinking about this myself.
Shelley
The ones I used were wall panels, between a shower and master suite in an upscale house. I guess I'm drawing a blank on the "floor-panel" term as opposed to wall panels. (My brain is fried from a dodotetrahedan slab layout today). All I remember is that the brochure we ordered from had a wide range of sizes (W X H) and the accent options I described before. At the time, I remember talking to the owner of the company and, at the time, it was just a Mom and Pop operation, but growing.
We figured the cost was just about a wash between buying and installing the panels to grouting in a glass block wall of the same size.Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a piece of chalk and cut it with an axe.
Well, I'm assuming that they have to be built differently if they're lying flat and are walked on, suspended in mid-air.
I've used the windows, used them as non-bearing dividers as you have done, and seen them used as all kinds of things. The ones I've used have nothing to support them as a horizontal surface. Have never seen blocks in a floor application except in sidewalks in old cities...and never have seen anything like I saw in this house a few months ago. It was a flat glass panel, <1" thick, in a metal frame. Big. About 2x6. Nothing embedded in the glass that I could see.
Didn't ask and don't know the new owners. I'm a dope. Been thinking about that glass.
Shelley
A guy who I just finished a remodel for has a brother in New Hampshire who is a builder and converted an old barn into a residence. As I understand it, it has one of those old drum-type windlasses above the loft where he created a studio. In the floor, he mounted a large sheet of tinted, heavy, bulletproof-type glass in the floor that allows you to see up or down. Sounded like a nice touch.Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a piece of chalk and cut it with an axe.
Bullet-proof! That could be it. Gives me a place to start.
Thanks,
Shelley
Care to divulge that source?
Sorry, didn't exactly mean it in that way. The ones I've used....that sound similar to what Notchman has used.....come to me through a window supplier here...don't know the mfg. But, as I said b4 they have no horizontal strength.
Sounds like the other suggestions that you have are more what you're looking for. However, I'm exploring the bullet-proof.
Shelley
BEMW,
Those glass block floor panels are great. They are made by Circle Redmont out of Florida. Try them at http://www.circleredmont.com Typically they are precast concrete with solid glass blocks (round or square) set in place- but they do all kinds of stuff. These guys are totally flexible and will work with anything you throw at them- even curved or bowed panels. Very cool!
hope this helps- Jim
Thanks for that reference. I have an immediate use for it!
Ballroom floor in the Hotel Baker in St Charles IL. Building is a Moorish revival. The glass blocks have colored light bulbs behind them. When the lights are on, the effect is like you are dancing about 2-3ft above the floor(when you look down). Very scifi-ish.
By-the-way, this hotel is on the Fox River and part of the river was diverted thru the basement and ran a generator. Hotel was able to manufactor its own electricity. Owners are trying to restore that part. Very, very nice old building.Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good w/ketchup.
Thanks for that link. I'll check them out. I know someone makes them with a structural aluminum grid. You just lag them into your headered opening , drop in the blocks, and grout it. Does this outfit do those?
BEMW,
We've also used that system in some of the projects we designed. The compnay is IBP Glass block "something".... However the glass block is set in an alumnium grid system and it squeaks! We used it three times, squirted graphite powder under the aluminum pieces, had the manuf. rep out to the job site etc.... They said the key to not sqeaking is to isolate the alum. pieces from supports. Well according to the rep., we did everything as recommended and it still squeaked! I suggest you find an installation and walk on it. Hope this helps
Jim Stock
Not exactly glass block, but when I was in Korea, I went to a seafood restaurant with glass floor over an aquarium, with another aquarium tank surrounding the entire eating area. You'd step in, then step down the stairs to a sunken (hmm, no pun intended) dining area suspended over a large aquarium. The dining area was ring shaped so occasionally diners would throw a bit of bread to feed the fish. It was a bit overwhelming, actually. I know it's a seafood restaurant already. I think I orderd a hamburger.