Glass Block Windows

[spike]

Has anyone any experience of replacing existing windows with glass blocks?
It looks as if the external wall in our dining room (c1900 semi) originally had two small windows (approx 3ftx4ft) which have been bricked up & plastered over. We would like to open these up again and glaze them with glass blocks, but wondered how difficult this would be?
The wall is rendered on the outside, so it is difficult to see exactly how the original windows were bricked up & whether the lintels etc were retained. If they were not, does anyone know whether we need to fit new lintels, or are glass glazing blocks sufficiently load bearing to maintain the structure of the wall?
Any advice would be welcome!

 

[masona]

The only way to see if the lintel is there ,is to chip away top of left/right ex-window and should have minimum 150mm overhang on each side of the ex-window.Having said that there are many different type of lintels,in the 1900c some builders use wooden lintels with bent nails to pick up the plastering ! If you did have wooden lintel then some builders would take out the lintel and brick it up,so none the wiser.You will need lintel as the glass block are normally half the size of your wall.If you do go ahead make sure you use Glass Block Mortar and yes its can be fiddly unless you're experience bricklayer.If you don't want to do bricklaying,you can use Framelight Glass Block System which use timber frame instead of mortar which can be use for external but special precautions must be taken.More details on this can be found at www.shackerley.com/glassblocks
Helpline no: 01257 230130.I also remember seeing them in Homebase or B&Q. Good luck

 

[Newez]

Also try glassblocks.co.uk where there s an extensive fitting information section. Have fun