Glass bricks or glass blocks are blocks that are made of glass and have different designs, colors and dimensions. These pieces are mostly decorative and are used with a special design among the walls made of various types of bricks or clay blocks and cement blocks, so that the properties of glass and transparency are used to bring natural light into the environment. Glue is usually used instead of mortar to connect glass bricks, but it is often tied with plaster or white cement. Usually, the dimensions of glass blocks are 20 x 20 x 5, but different colors and sizes can be found in the designs.
The production of this type of blocks or bricks existed in Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand, China, and the United States, and for a long time it was not mass produced in Iran. Due to the efforts of capable specialists and managers, its mass production began in 2008 and gradually new color variations and sizes were added to it. Glass bricks have many advantages and specific uses compared to traditional bricks, and for this reason, they have gained a very good global market and their consumption will increase over time. This product has opened a place in the Iranian market in recent years, so that currently most of the domestic products have stolen the superiority of the imported ones.
How to make glass blocks:
The hollow glass blocks that are produced for the walls are produced from the combination of four materials: recycled glass, sand, soda ash and limestone. These heated materials are combined and then poured into molds with different patterns and each mold forms a half block. After the blocks are cooled, the two separate halves are heated again and the two pieces are pressed together. In this way, a vacuum is created in the space inside this product. Due to the fact that these blocks are hollow, they do not have the load-bearing capacity of traditional bricks and are used in curtain walls. Walls made of this product create limitations in construction due to its framing.
Advantages of using glass blocks:
✅ We will be able to use natural light in all spaces.
✅ Lighter compared to traditional brick walls by more than 25%. Traditional brick (at least 15 cm) which leads to increase the useful space of the room.
✅ It has the possibility of variety and change and creating different designs in the interior decoration.
It is sound insulation and thermal insulation.
✅ It has an easy and convenient implementation with a high execution speed compared to wall covering and construction. Because the various and numerous stages of traditional wall covering include bricklaying, plastering and soil, whitewashing and painting in glass bricks only include bricklaying and in special cases plastering.
✅ It has a long life and durability. It is affordable compared to a brick wall. It is possible to use different designs and colors on one or more walls, according to any type of taste. Glass walls can be cleaned easily with just one Napkin can be done and has the least disturbance for the residents. While traditional walls need to be painted at least every four years.