Today, the market of sanitary products presents a huge number of types of showers. They are made of different materials, differ in size, color and texture characteristics. But for those who want to organize a truly original shower, it is worth using the combined technology. In particular, showers made of glass blocks are in high demand, which are quite amenable to installation without the involvement of specialists.
What is a good glass block?
The shower concept itself is in demand due to its practicality, technical optimization and design advantages. In other words, it is a compact and ergonomic design that does not spoil the overall design of the bathroom and fully fulfills its key tasks. At the same time, the glass block slightly corrects the idea of an optimized shower, making the frame and design more solid, impressive and noble in terms of aesthetic value. In addition, this material is natural and environmentally friendly - a significant advantage over thin-walled plastic panels and PVC. As for the designer value, the photo above shows a shower cabin made of glass blocks of different formats, which create an original and at the same time organic composition. Experimenting with colors, shapes and light transmittance, you can create completely unique design booths only at the expense of one glass block.
Preparing a place for the cabin
At this stage, installation work is not performed. The contractor only needs to adapt the target surface area in the bathroom to work activities, having previously calculated its area. But that is not all. At the time of repair, it is advisable to remove all furniture, mobile structures from the premises and, if possible, free it from plumbing devices. Decorative surfaces with which the shower enclosure from glass blocks will come into contact with will also be useful to protect with a special film from mechanical damage for the duration of the work. All communications drains are closed with rubber caps or wrapped with plumbing tape.
Organization of discharge and installation of the pallet
The first step is to install a drain ladder and a shower tray. Taking into account the parameters of the glass block and, as a whole, the configuration of the arrangement of the structure, the technological zone should be marked. Next, the old flooring is dismantled and the exposed rough surface of the concrete screed is polished. If there are cracks and other defects, then it will be necessary to restore it with priming solutions. Then waterproofing the floor using bitumen mastic. After drying the laid materials, formwork is organized around the perimeter of the cabin and a pallet is arranged.
It is recommended to arrange the bottom with a polystyrene foam panel about 5 cm thick. Along with the structural tasks, it will also perform the functions of sound and heat insulation. In order for the cabin from glass blocks with a tray based on polystyrene foam itself to last longer, it is advisable to re-treat the base with a waterproofing agent (from bitumen) and a primer that is resistant to water. A cut is made for the ladder, through which a connection with the sewer pipe will be made. This stage ends with the laying of a sand-cement screed, in which a drain funnel is formed.
Installing tiles on a pallet
To decorate the area of the pallet, you can use small tiles or mosaics. In both cases, the main selection criterion, in addition to stylistic nuances, should be moisture resistance. Preference should be given to products labeled “I” or “AI”. The moisture absorption of this material is not higher than 3%, which is enough for this design. Before laying, the working area is covered with a primer with an antiseptic effect. Tiles should be installed on special adhesives with increased adhesion and resistance to the aquatic environment. In order to comply with the conceived design of the shower cabin from glass blocks and mosaics, it is necessary to properly grout. This operation is the filling of tile joints with special compounds. For the time of further installation, they should be masked with a film so that the putty structure does not erode and does not deform from accidental ingress of water.
Glass block installation
Initially, the outlines along which the masonry will be made are marked. The working surfaces are again cleaned of dust and dirt, after which a wooden frame with guide elements is mounted. Plastic crosses during the work will help to maintain a uniform thickness of the seam between the elements. The supporting profiles for the shower cabin made of glass blocks are mounted using dowels. On this, the installation of the power bearing base for the walls is completed and you can proceed to the direct laying of blocks.
For installation, use either a cement-sand mortar with the addition of PVA construction glue, or a specialized moisture-resistant mixture for glass structures. By the way, the color of the solution will also matter, this nuance should also be taken into account. Do-it-yourself styling - a photo of the shower cubicle from the glass blocks, which is presented above, illustrates the installation process of the elements. It is necessary to properly maintain the geometry of the wall vertically and horizontally, apply a solution about 1 cm thick. For a tighter fixation, you can use a mallet. With careful blows, the block is pressed against the solution and adjusted in its position relative to the guides. On average, it takes about a week to completely dry out the structure.
Glass block frame assembly method
The fundamental difference between this technology of glass block masonry is the use of a model design, in which each element is literally integrated individually. That is, the guide profiles pass not only along the edges, but also in a continuous manner along each row. It is especially advantageous to mount a modular shower cabin from glass blocks in a wooden house, since the design allows you to organically integrate the bearing parts of the box into the walls. Moreover, the profile frame itself can be wooden, which will provide even more harmonious fusion of the cabin with the structure of the house itself.
As for the differences in the technology of frame mounting, the presence of the module simplifies the laying. Additional operations include only extended installation of module profiles to base surfaces. It should be done with dowels or anchor elements. After that, all joints of the supporting structure with the floor and walls are sealed and processed with silicone.
Reinforced glass block masonry technology
Another variation of the installation technique of the shower structure, a feature of which will be the inclusion of reinforcing rods in the masonry. In this case, two wooden slats are used to arrange the guides - they will outline the contours of the passage of the shower box partition. Next, the first row of glass blocks is formed by a standard technique. In the middle of the received seam between the laid and second rows, reinforcement is inserted. It is advisable to use fiberglass rods, since they, with a minimum thickness of 6 mm, provide the same power effect as metal rods at 10-12 mm.
Also, do not forget about the cross-tiles, which will allow you to correctly stack the glass blocks of the shower cabin. With their own hands, in the course of work, the general geometry of the partitions is checked with the help of a level or a laser level. The subsequent rows of walls are laid out in the same way. The ends of the reinforcing elements can be fixed in the wall of the house or connected with guide profiles. In the case of using metal rods, it is important to prevent their direct contact with glass.
Door installation
The design can be designed with or without a door, which looks more aesthetically pleasing. In the first case, the main task will be to fasten the bearing loops. To do this, we use suitable hardware like a dowel in the format, and it is better to use the walls of the house as the basis for fastening. Only a modular design allows the installation of platbands to partitions. The opening of a shower cabin from glass blocks with a door itself should be made out with profile frames - it is best to use wood for the box.
Conclusion
Installation of a glass block structure is more complicated than standard plastic and metal boxes. Masonry will require a more serious organization of work with the use of building mixtures, the creation of a capital pallet, etc. And yet, in its finished form, a shower unit made of glass blocks is valued higher - as a more attractive, functional and reliable design. To ensure that its surfaces always maintain an aesthetic appearance, plumbers recommend periodically washing partitions with warm water and soap or with special cleaners for glass surfaces. Restrictions on care relate to the use of any abrasives, as well as metal brushes, which can leave scratches on the surface of the glass block. But, since it is still impossible to insure against minor physical injuries, it will sometimes be useful to update the condition of the shower walls with polishing materials.