In recent years, glass blocks, thanks to innovative technologies and design ideas, have gained a new life. Increased demand for finishing material pushed well-known manufacturers to improve the quality and improve the aesthetic characteristics of products, which contributed to the expansion of the range. From this article, you can learn about glass blocks: sizes and prices for products from global manufacturers.
Features of the production of glass blocks: the main points
Production of glass blocks is a complex, technological step-by-step process, which is carried out on high-quality modern equipment with the assistance of technically competent personnel.
For the manufacture of products used raw material with a low content of iron oxide, which in percentage should not exceed 0.07%. A special procedure for bleaching glass is to add chemicals, such as antimony oxide, cobalt, metallic selenium and cerium, to the initial charge. Further, in order to give the product the necessary shade, a special dye is introduced into the production charge, which must be environmentally safe and at the same time as efficient as possible.
Important! The strength of glass blocks and the degree of their resistance to aggressive environmental influences directly depend on a correct and well-coordinated technological process of manufacturing products.
Glass blocks are produced on automated conveyor-type lines. Liquid glass melt is digested in furnaces at a temperature of 1500 ° C. Then the welded glass passes through the pressing stage, as a result of which products of the required size are formed.
Today in the construction market glass blocks are presented in a wide range. Depending on certain characteristics, all products are conventionally divided into categories.
According to the field of application, there are decorative and industrial glass blocks. The first option is used for decoration of residential and office space. The material is used to create partitions, windows, furniture elements, wall cladding and doorways. Due to the fact that the products are available in various shapes, sizes, colors and textures, they can be used to embody the most daring and unexpected design decisions.
Industrial glass blocks are characterized by increased strength, moisture resistance, fire resistance, which makes it possible to use this material in production workshops, laboratories, canteens and on stairwells.
According to the material distinguish plastic blocks and foam glass. Products of the first option are mounted in matrices, frames, modules made of PVC. The second type is represented by blocks of foamed cellular glass, so that the material is characterized by increased strength and can be used as non-combustible insulation. Products can be completely transparent or painted in any shade. Colored glass blocks are obtained using special dyes that are added to the mass before molding products.
Depending on the type of surface, the glass blocks are as follows:
- smooth, allowing up to 85% of the light, but the objects through them are blurred;
- opaque, light transmission ability of which reaches 50%;
- glossy mirror polished surface;
- relief transparent light guide or light scattering, which depends on the vector of the edges of the corrugation;
- stained glass with a pattern applied to the surface;
- with holes that can be used as decorative niches when creating partitions;
- with color inserts in the form of images of fruits, vegetables, sea scenes and other compositions.
Depending on the lighting characteristics, glass blocks can be light directing, light scattering and translucent, which is typical of hollow products. In the form of products are square, triangular, round, wavy, rectangular and multi-faceted. Also produced exclusive blocks, the shape of which is designed for individual order.
Glass blocks are represented by products with a geometrically closed cavity, which is formed by two molded glass halves interconnected. The thickness of the standard glass blocks is 75-100 mm.
According to GOST 9272-81, modern glass blocks have a square shape and are characterized by standard dimensions of 190x190x80 and 240x240x80 mm. In the product catalogs you can find the so-called rectangular halves with dimensions of 190x90x80 and 240x115x80 mm. Manufacturers also produce non-traditional products: round, triangular, angular, of various sizes. In this case, the price of glass blocks will be much more expensive than traditional elements.
Helpful advice! You can order the semicircular blocks, with a recessed large angle, with recessed side faces, made to individual sizes.
The biggest glass blocks, which are produced by manufacturers, are square products with dimensions of 300x300x100 and 240x240x80 mm, half with dimensions of 240x115x80 mm. The smallest products have values of 115x115x80 and 60x146x80 mm.
Manufacturers offer models with custom sizes. Square glass blocks can have dimensions of 200x200x222, 190x190x70, 190x190x50, 145x145x55 mm. Rectangular bricks are produced in the size of 240x115x80 and 190x90x80 mm. Triangular blocks are made in only one size 172x172x236x80 mm. Numeric values are interpreted as height-length-hypotenuse-width.
The weight of the walls and partitions depends on the installation of glass blocks. If it is carried out using an adhesive mixture, only the weight of the products is taken into account, which depends on their dimensions. For example, a standard block of 240x240x80 mm will weigh 4.1 kg, the product of 190x190x80 mm will weigh 2.5 kg. The weight of their halves will be two times less.
Today, in the construction market, you can buy glass blocks from both domestic manufacturers and foreign companies. Due to the high competition among manufacturers, the products are in a wide price range. Finishing materials from brands from Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Italy, China and Belarus are in great demand.
Among Western companies, there are German and Italian manufacturers who produce high-quality products, distinguished by the severity of forms, perfectly polished surface and a wide color palette of soft shades. However, this material has a high cost.
Czech producers, in their striving to compete with global brands in price policy, specialize mainly in colorless glass blocks with internal coloring. Due to the special technology of dyeing, the products are distinguished by bright saturated shades. However, the process does not affect the appreciation of products.
Glass blocks from Russian and Polish manufacturers are characterized by a good ratio of price and quality. Here the emphasis is placed on the creation of multi-colored elements, which can be with a smooth surface or with its textured design. Manufacturers also produce glass blocks with a decorative pattern. In the lowest price segment there are products from China and Belarus, which are not characterized by a large variety of shapes and textures.
The main difference of German products is very good quality and high price. You can buy glass blocks from 450 rubles. The world famous manufacturer from Germany is the company SOLARIS, which manufactures products with perfect geometry. Due to this, the installation of glass blocks can be performed on modern seamless technology.
The blocks are made in a variety of color palettes and textures. Especially popular is the unique series with an ornament on the surface in the form of drops. In addition to standard shapes and sizes, the company specializes in the manufacture of round and corner glass blocks. A special place is occupied by collections of glass blocks for finishing the floor.
Another no less famous manufacturer is the German concern Weck. Glass blocks have precise geometry, a perfectly ground surface and smooth ends, making it easy to work with; This allows you to save on installation, since the price of laying glass blocks will depend on the complexity of the process. The cost of products is an average of 250-350 rubles.
Vetroarredo company is considered one of the best global brands for the production of glass blocks. Having a long history, using advanced technology, the manufacturer quite successfully manufactures high-quality products with perfect geometry. Glass blocks are characterized by high sound and heat insulation qualities. Due to the fact that the products are painted in mass, they show good resistance to external influences without losing the original appearance.
The catalogs of the company feature a large number of collections that are distinguished by their unique design of products. Particularly noteworthy is the series of metallized glass blocks with a special coating that provides a mirror surface.
If there is a question, where to buy glass blocks of exclusive design, you should contact the Italian company COGIR GLASS, which produces unique products of its kind, which affects their value. You can buy such a glass block from $ 17. The manufacturer uses a unique manufacturing technique, as a result of which small glass colored balls are applied to the glass. Using these elements, a pattern is created on the surface of the product. You can make whole pictures from several such blocks. And products with abstract patterns can be easily combined with ordinary glass blocks.
Glass blocks of domestic production are distinguished by a wide variety of forms and decorative ornaments displayed on the surface of products. Also here you can choose strong and durable industrial glass blocks, which you can buy from 190 rubles. a piece.
Dezhou company is not so well known in the construction market, however, it is characterized by a very wide range of products, which has a rather original design. Here you can buy square, rectangular and angular glass blocks with an average of 150 rubles. a piece.
Among the large range of glass blocks on the construction market, you can pick up products of any shape, color, texture and decorative design that will fit perfectly into the design of the room. It is enough to study the features of the products offered by leading manufacturers, and choose a material that meets the stated requirements.
