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Glass block window?

| Posted in General Discussion on May 11, 2003 04:31am

  I found a couple of really elegent windows. They are stained glass, with double gothic arches.   Just the window not a frame etc.   However they are not double insulated or anything and I feel that here in the nothern climates it’s important to give windows as much help possible..

  While I don’t think I’d have any trouble making a frame and buying insulated glass however My first thought was to put insulated glass block in place if window pane. 

       Yet every one Poo Poo’s it. 

  why wouldn’t it work?

  use the glass block and but put the stained glass on the inside..

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  1. FastEddie1 | May 11, 2003 04:39am | #1

    I think you wouyld not like the mortar grid casting shadows on the stained glass.

    Do it right, or do it twice.

    1. fdampier5 | May 11, 2003 04:43am | #2

      first,

            I was thinking of using silicone instead of motor and thus the lines would be fairly narrow.

        second,

            The pattern of the stained glass would prevent  showing much of a shadow line..

      1. FastEddie1 | May 11, 2003 06:59am | #3

        Anderson makes a window designed for an insert on the room side.  maybe you could get a size to fit your stained glass.  You asked my opinion, and I don't think you'll like the effect.  But, it should be fairly easy to construct.

        Do it right, or do it twice.

      2. joeh | May 11, 2003 07:09am | #4

        Frenchy, go find a block window and see what the shadows inside look like.

        There's more shadow than clear light coming through.

        Advice from the Right.....

        Joe H

        Edited 5/11/2003 1:02:40 AM ET by JoeH

        1. DaveRicheson | May 11, 2003 08:57pm | #5

          Don't know if it would work for you, but we took a couple of stained glass panels w/o frames to a local store front mfg. and had them make insert frames for them. They were made to replace the screen inserts on the inside of Pella casement windows, and a couple of fixed lite windows. We got the insulating value of a standard unit and the stunning effect of the stain glass with undiluted natural light behind it. Gothic arches would be tougher, but I agree with others, the glass block would dilute the effect you are trying to get.

          Dave

          1. User avater
            BillHartmann | May 11, 2003 10:11pm | #6

            "They were made to replace the screen inserts on the inside of Pella casement windows,"

            Could you give me few more details. My Pella casement screens are an aluminum frame, much like "std" screens, that are held in place with a couple of aluminum "dog ear" tabs. Don't know how you coul use that to hold much weight.

          2. FastEddie1 | May 11, 2003 10:24pm | #7

            Isn't there a small rabbet that the frames actually site on...and the dog ears just keep it from falling out?  Could you replace the dog ears with something a ltiile heavier?

            ltiile...now there's an interesting word...obviously should have been little

            Do it right, or do it twice.

            Edited 5/11/2003 3:36:47 PM ET by ELCID72

          3. DaveRicheson | May 12, 2003 04:20pm | #9

            I am not sure how they were held in place, only that they replaced the screen insert. They did fit in the rabbet that screen came out of. We did not do the install. These were antique lights that had been reworked by a local art glass studio to stabilize them before placing them in the frames. Two of them were English lions, in the classical upright pose, that came from a pub in London, circa 1600. Others came from the Studibaker mansion. I can't remember the cost, but do remember, not wanting to touch those things. The art glass studio did the install and we got as far away as possible so it would be 100% thier liability if things went south on them.

            On another job the home owner had a large panel framed and we hung it in front of a large fixed lite window in a stairwell. We backlighted the panel from outside with small flood lights under the soffit. It was striking both day and night.

            A third installation of an arched stained glass pannel above an interior closet was backlit with lights in the attic space behind it. In that case we had to add a piece of 1/8" white lucite to cut down the glare from the lights. Without the lucite the clear pieces inthe panel were pretty harsh looking.

            If Frenchy's panels have many clear or granular/ clear pieces, the glass block may actually soften the overall appearance, but still be quite effective.

            Dave

          4. User avater
            BillHartmann | May 12, 2003 05:43pm | #10

            Mine have want is best described as a ledge with the screen having a snug fit all around, but the tabs holding it in place. I think that either a screw through the side would work or a clip that would attach to the face of the sash frane and hold it in place.

            I have seen similar version (don't remember if they where different brands or maybe older versions) that used had a daddo at the top and bottom of the window. The the top one was deeper so that use pushed the screen up and then you could swing the bottom of the unit out.

          5. User avater
            SteveInCleveland | May 14, 2003 01:51pm | #14

            Perhaps you are already aware of this.  In Pella's Designer Series of windows, the interior glass panel is removable.  If there is a size that is close to the size of your stained glass windows, perhaps you could just place your stained glass panels in-between the two panes of Pella's glass.  As an added bonus, they would never need dusting!

            Glass block would obviously be much less expensive.

            -Steve

          6. fdampier5 | May 18, 2003 08:35am | #16

            In case you weren't aware,   I"M CHEAP! Buying windows and then covering them up with other windows seems very expensive to me..   glass block would be cheaper and more important, much higher  thermo efficent.

              If I just wanted to spend money,  Anderson has the designer series that offer a stained glass as an option..

              Two of the windows I have came from England and have a heraldic crest on them.. Kinda neat!  Plus since they are an odd size,  not very expensive.

              Cheap "ol me will cut them down a bit and then they fit nicely inside of glass block frame.

  2. User avater
    SamT | May 12, 2003 02:22am | #8

    Frenchy, I agree with you, go for it.

    Glass block does not stop a significant amount of light, it distorts the light that does come thru and I don't think the shadows from clear PamelaAndersone will be at all noticeble because of the distortion. The distortion will make the stained glass more "active" than normal, but nothing else about your house is "normal" anyhoo. How thick areyour walls? Can you place some reflective material around the sills between the block and the SG? Or paint the sills flat black? or paisley...OK, OK, I get a little nuts now and then (:P

    An artist friend took glass block, laid 'em on the sides, poured clear silicone into one side and filled them with colored marbles and bits of glass. After the silicone set he dumped out the loose pieces and set the blocks with the marbled side to the outside. Man-oh-man-oh-man did that look good!

    SamT

  3. PhillGiles | May 12, 2003 06:10pm | #11

    A couple of our newer churches have a frame-in-frame set-up for their stain-glass windows. A big window with a plastic pane (Perspex ?) is installed and then the stained window slips into what looks like an extension jam in the window frame from the inside of the building. I was told the clear pane has to be optical plastic because if they went with glass, the weight and price would be unacceptable.

    .

    Phill Giles

    The Unionville Woodwright

    Unionville, Ontario

  4. User avater
    BossHog | May 12, 2003 06:51pm | #12

    My first thought was that the glass block shadows would show through, as several others mentioned. But if you have some depth to work with, maybe they wouldn't? By that I mean if you can build the wall out to 16" thick (or something like that) maybe you're just get diffused light.

    My second thought was that maybe a picture window on the outside would be better. Then it could be the same type of window as the others on the house, and would appear to be the same from the outside. (except for being able to see the stained glass) And a picture window would let in a lot more light. You may want more or less light depending on which way the stained glass winder is facing.

    One other advantage to having some depth to work with - You could add some lights in the space so the window would look good at night.

    Just a coupla thought to hopefully give you some ideas........

    A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -- George Bernard Shaw

  5. dualpurpose | May 14, 2003 09:48am | #13

    glass block's u-value last  I checked was about 1.15-1.4 verses insulated glass unit of .30 to .48.  My understanding is the glass block not having any thermal break is the problem. I have used picture windows and insulated glass units in a site built wood frame then installed the stain glass in a frame so it can be removed for window cleaning, spiders and insects have a tendency to find a way between the stain glass and the thermal window.  Good luck

    1. fdampier5 | May 18, 2003 08:19am | #15

      Thank-you.. It's nice to see that someone besides myself considers R values as important..   I mean I"m going to great lengths to super insulate this house but then use regular windows , seems to me like leaving a window open in January..

        I can't imagine there is any real R value in the stained glass.

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