In recent years, glass blocks have been given new life thanks to innovative technologies and design ideas. The increasing demand for finishing materials pushed well-known manufacturers to improve the quality and 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 manufacturing plants.
Content
- 1 Features of the production of glass blocks: highlights
- 2 Varieties of glass blocks depending on various parameters
- 3 Standard and customized sizes of glass blocks
- 4 From which manufacturer is it better to buy glass blocks
- 4.1 Glass blocks for walls from German manufacturers
- 4.2 Glass blocks from leading Italian brands
- 4.3 Advantages and disadvantages of Russian glass blocks: the price of products
- 4.4 Czech glass blocks: sizes and prices of products
- 4.5 Popular brands of glass blocks from France and Poland
- 4.6 Chinese glass bricks and glass blocks: advantages
Features of the production of glass blocks: highlights
The production of glass blocks is a complex, technological step-by-step process, which is carried out on high-quality modern equipment with the involvement of technically competent personnel.
For the manufacture of products, raw material is used with a low content of iron oxide, which in percentage should not exceed 0.07%. A special glass decolorizing procedure consists of adding chemical reagents such as antimony oxide, cobalt, metallic selenium and cerium to the original batch. Further, to give the product the required shade, a special dye is introduced into the production mixture, which should be environmentally friendly 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 depends on the correct and well-coordinated technological process of manufacturing products.
Glass blocks are produced on automated conveyor-type lines. Liquid glass melt is digested in ovens at a temperature of 1500 ° C. Then the welded glass goes through a pressing stage, as a result of which products of the required size are formed.
Varieties of glass blocks depending on various parameters
Today in the construction market glass blocks are presented in a wide range. All products are conventionally divided into categories depending on certain characteristics.
According to the scope of application, there are decorative and industrial glass blocks. The first option is used for finishing residential and office premises.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 solutions.
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 staircases.
According to the material, plastic blocks and foam glass are distinguished. Products of the first option are built into matrices, frames, PVC modules. The second type is represented by blocks of foamed cellular glass, due to which the material is characterized by increased strength and can be used as non-combustible thermal insulation. Products can be completely transparent or colored in any shade. Colored glass blocks are obtained using special dyes, which are added to the mass before forming the products.
Depending on the type of surface, glass blocks are as follows:
- smooth, transmitting up to 85% of the light, but objects through them are seen blurry;
- opaque, the light transmittance of which reaches 50%;
- glossy with a polished mirror surface;
- embossed transparent light-guiding or light-scattering, which depends on the vector of the corrugation boundaries;
- 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, marine scenes and other compositions.
Depending on the lighting characteristics, glass blocks can be light-guiding, light-scattering and translucent, which is typical for hollow products. In shape, the products are square, triangular, round, wavy, rectangular and multifaceted. Also, exclusive blocks are produced, the shape of which is developed according to an individual order.
Standard and customized sizes of glass blocks
Glass blocks are represented by products with a geometrically closed cavity, which is formed by two pressed glass halves connected to each other. The thickness of 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 product catalogs, you can find the so-called rectangular halves with dimensions of 190x90x80 and 240x115x80 mm. Also, manufacturers produce non-traditional products: round, triangular, angular in various sizes. In this case, the price of glass blocks will be much more expensive than traditional elements.
Useful advice! It is possible to order semicircular blocks, with a recessed large angle, with recessed side edges, made to individual sizes.
The largest glass blocks produced by manufacturers are square products with dimensions of 300x300x100 and 240x240x80 mm, halves with dimensions of 240x115x80 mm. The smallest products have values of 115x115x80 and 60x146x80 mm.
Manufacturers offer models with non-standard sizes. Square glass blocks can have dimensions of 200x200x222, 190x190x70, 190x190x50, 145x145x55 mm. Rectangular bricks are available in sizes 240x115x80 and 190x90x80 mm. Triangular blocks are made in only one size 172x172x236x80 mm. Numerical values stand for height-length-hypotenuse-width.
The weight of the walls and partitions depends on the installation option of the 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 240x240x80 mm will weigh 4.1 kg, a product 190x190x80 mm - 2.5 kg. The weight of their halves will be half the size.
From which manufacturer is it better to buy glass blocks
Today on the construction market you can buy glass blocks from both domestic manufacturers and foreign companies. Due to high competition among manufacturers, 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, one can single out German and Italian manufacturers, which produce high-quality products that are distinguished by austerity of shapes, a perfectly polished surface and a wide color palette of soft shades. However, this material is expensive.
In an effort to compete with world brands in terms of pricing policy, Czech manufacturers mainly specialize in colorless glass blocks with an inner color. Thanks to a special dyeing technology, the products are distinguished by bright saturated colors. However, the process does not affect the rise in the cost of production.
Glass blocks from Russian and Polish manufacturers are characterized by a good price-quality ratio. Here the emphasis is on the creation of multi-colored elements, which can be with a smooth surface or with its textured design. Also, manufacturers produce glass blocks with decorative patterns. In the lowest price segment, there are products from China and Belarus that do not differ in a wide variety of shapes and textures.
Glass blocks for walls from German manufacturers
The main difference between German products is very good quality and high price. You can buy a glass block from 450 rubles. The world famous manufacturer from Germany is the SOLARIS company, which produces products with ideal geometry. Thanks to this, glass blocks can be laid using modern seamless technology.
The blocks are made in a variety of color palettes and textures. The most popular is the unique series with drops ornaments on the surface. In addition to standard shapes and sizes, the company specializes in the production of round and corner glass blocks. A separate place is occupied by collections of glass blocks for floor finishing.
Another equally well-known manufacturer is the German concern Weck. Glass blocks have precise geometry, perfect polished surface and smooth ends, making them 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 on average 250-350 rubles.
Glass blocks from leading Italian brands
The Vetroarredo company is considered one of the world's best brands for the production of glass blocks. Having a long history, using advanced technologies, the manufacturer successfully manufactures quality products with ideal geometry. Glass blocks are characterized by high sound and heat insulation qualities. Due to the fact that the products are dyed in bulk, they show good resistance to external influences without losing their original appearance.
A large number of collections are presented in the catalogs of the company, which are distinguished by a unique design of products. Particularly noteworthy is a series of metallized glass blocks with a special coating that provides a mirror surface.
If the question is where to buy glass blocks exclusive design, you should contact the Italian company COGIR GLASS, which is engaged in the production of unique products, which is reflected in their cost. 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. Whole pictures can be composed of several such blocks. And products with abstract patterns can be safely combined with ordinary glass blocks.
Advantages and disadvantages of Russian glass blocks: the price of products
Domestic glass blocks are distinguished by a wide variety of shapes and decorative ornaments displayed on the surface of products. Here you can also choose strong and durable industrial glass blocks, which can be bought from 190 rubles. a piece.
Related article:
Glass blocks in the interior of premises for various purposes with photo ideas
Features of the material. Variants of using glass blocks in design. Features of laying products.
Products from a Russian manufacturer are made not only of standard thickness, but also with a value equal to 78 mm. Colorless glass blocks, thanks to a special production technology, surpass their foreign counterparts in quality. A significant advantage of domestic products is the acceptable cost of products in the middle and low price categories. You can buy a transparent glass block inexpensively - for only 70 rubles.
Among the disadvantages of Russian-made products, one can single out a low level of heat and noise insulation of the material and an insufficiently smooth surface of polished products.
The only manufacturer of glass blocks in Russia is Star'Glass, which is known to consumers for its high-quality and inexpensive products. It uses modern German equipment and uses the latest technology. Products are presented in a wide range of colors, shapes, sizes and decorative compositions. The surface texture can be made in the form of waves, lattice, drops, crystals and diagonal lines. Products can be painted internally and in bulk. All colors are available in several shades. The cost of glass blocks starts from 90 rubles.
Czech glass blocks: sizes and prices of products
Glass blocks from the Czech Republic are characterized by the following advantages:
- high quality workmanship, which is a manifestation of a centuries-old tradition;
- bright saturated colors and a wide variety of ornaments;
- democratic pricing policy.
Among the shortcomings, one can single out only the possibility of using the material exclusively for interior decoration, since the material is susceptible to temperature changes.
Useful advice! It is recommended to lay such products in a seamless way using crosses for glass blocks.
The most popular Czech manufacturer is VitraBlok, which occupies a leading position in the world market. For the manufacture of products, modern foreign equipment is used. Here, strict quality control of glass blocks is carried out, so the products meet the highest requirements. A wide range of glass blocks is presented in the manufacturer's catalogs, ranging from traditional shapes to non-standard configurations.
You can buy colored glass blocks from 200 rubles. The price of transparent products starts from 170 rubles, and decorative ones - from 1000 rubles. Corner models cost 1100 rubles on average. a piece.
Useful advice! At the VitraBlok factory, you can order products according to an individual sketch, the cost in this case will depend on the complexity of the execution.
Popular brands of glass blocks from France and Poland
The French international company Saint-Gobain covers many factories for the production of mirror and glass manufactories, which are located in 46 countries around the world. Products are characterized by high quality, original design, variety of shapes and colors. It is the only manufacturer to make bulletproof blocks. The products of this brand are not presented in stores in Russia. It can only be ordered by catalog. The cost of products starts from 350 rubles.
The Polish manufacturer Ciech Vitrosilicon has gained worldwide popularity due to its high-quality products, which are manufactured on modern equipment using the ISO 14001 production management system. The company produces refractory industrial glass blocks with reliable anti-burglary protection, which can be purchased from 500 rubles.
Decorative items are presented in 6 collections, differing in color, shape and size of items. Also in the catalogs of the company you can see exclusive items with an unusual design. The price of glass blocks starts at 140 rubles.
Chinese glass bricks and glass blocks: advantages
Glass blocks from China have a number of advantages:
- sufficiently high strength;
- resistance to temperature fluctuations;
- high level of noise insulation;
- good light transmission and simultaneous protection from prying eyes;
- durability, which depends on the correct technology for laying products and further care for them;
- a variety of geometric shapes and colors, ranging from monochromatic to transitional shades;
- low cost.
The significant disadvantages of Chinese glass blocks include the low quality of products of most brands and increased requirements for the installation of glass blocks. You should not do their styling with your own hands. Due to the fact that the products are characterized by a high degree of cracking and destruction at the slightest mechanical impact, the work should be entrusted to an experienced craftsman.
Among the popular Chinese brands are Dezhou and Hebei, which offer products that are balanced in price and quality. The Hebei product range is distinguished by a wide variety of colors and shapes. A unique offer from the manufacturer are tint products with painted ends, while the inner part of the block remains transparent. You can buy inexpensive glass blocks from 170 rubles. for a unit.
The Dezhou company is not so well known in the construction market, however, it is characterized by a very wide range of products with a rather original design. Here you can buy square, rectangular and angular glass blocks for an average of 150 rubles. a piece.
Among the large assortment of glass blocks presented on the construction market, you can pick up products of any shape, color, texture and decorative design that fit perfectly into the design of the room. It is enough to study the features of the products offered by the leading manufacturing plants and select a material that meets the stated requirements.