I love the idea of glass blocks because I am a light hound. It cannot be light enough for me while I’m inside my house. And the benefits of passive solar heating from the sunlight coming through your windows and warming your home in the winter cannot be beat.
But I also love my privacy. Those are two reasons many people and businesses install glass blocks in their bathrooms and basement windows. The glass blocks let the light in but are not see through. My father was an architect/builder/developer, and he used glass blocks in his office as well as other commercial and residential properties.
Everyone’s pretty familiar with how glass blocks can be used in windows, doors and showers. You can lazer etch the glass blocks for a personal touch. There’s even a new German shower system made of inorganic material that makes it 100% mold proof, 100% mildew proof and 100% waterproof. It’s just not possible for mold or mildew to stick to it. WHERE DO I SIGN UP FOR THIS??? I would love to throw away my shower scrubbers!
But the hottest new glass application is the IBP Glass Floor systems. Forget about walking on water. Now you can walk on glass! Imagine the first impression a bottom-lit glass floor would make in your entry foyer. Stunning. And in a two-story application, these glass floor systems allow light to pour down to the lower level.
Fred Daues, of Masonry and Glass Systems, is one of the nation’s leading glass block distributors and fabricators, and Fred is a 4th-generation mason. The folks at Masonry and Glass Systems do it all…design, installation and service. Over his many years in the business, Fred has also expanded his offerings to Integra brand thermal replacement windows, as well as Precision Entry Replacement Doors.
I don’t know if you are familiar with Angie’s List, but it’s a resource to help you find high-quality, reputable glass block and glass flooring system contractors. Their site has unbiased ratings and reviews posted by consumers who used these contractors in our area. The idea is to consolidate real-life experiences of homeowners who have worked with and paid for the services of different contractors and are happy enough to refer their best resources (or let everyone know if they need to beware of one.) Well, Masonry & Glass Systems is on the 2009 Angie’s Honor Roll. That’s quite an accomplishment, Fred! Congratulations.
If you’d like to see a sampling of Fred’s innovative ideas for decorating your home with glass blocks and glass flooring systems, check out his booth at the upcoming St. Louis Builders Home and Garden Show.
Originally posted 2009-01-06 08:24:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
