I had been planning on putting glass-block windows in my new home (narrow 16″ floor-to-ceiling windows), when my builder suggested I consider acrylic block.
Looked up info. on Hy-lite, etc. Unfortunately, all the info. I can find is marketing and spin. What’s the straight dope on acrylic windows? Some points:
1. Cost– some sites claim they’re cheaper than glass, others that “they’re about the same”, esp. when you factor in delivery problems, etc. (which sounds like marketing BS to me); what’s the story?
2. Durability– they’re allegedly colorfast for 25+ years … but it’s still plastic. I worry it’ll seem very crappy compared to glass in 25 years, glass block having long since proved its timelessness, IMO. Also, there’s the danger of accidentally scratching or dissolving the plastic with a harsh cleanser! Oy.
3. Insulation–How does the U-value of acrylic compare to glass (hollow glass, not solid)?
Any help is appreciated.
-matt
Replies
We used a 4'x4' Hy-lite window in our bath over the tub. I like it a lot. It has nice 1/4" white grout lines which are easy to clean. I think it about has to insulate better than glass, but that would be because the glass is more conductive than acrylic. But for the same thickness (i.e., air gap within) I'd think the R-factor would still be pretty close.
That said, if I were doing a wall, I'd use the glass. The acrylic is going to have very little structural strength, and that much in one place is just going to look like, well, like plastic.