| A prospective customer recently asked, "How can I | | | | very difficult installation for a novice block layer). |
| get a cool looking glass block shower without | | | | Spacers and prefabricated wall sections can make |
| breaking the bank?" Fortunately, doing a glass shower | | | | the project easier as well. |
| project doesn't have to be a magical mystery tour | | | | Cost Saving Idea 4 - Get Skinny - Glass block |
| that drains your wallet. It's all about finding the right | | | | shower walls are built in either 3 1/8" or 3 7/8" |
| people to take you through the right processes and | | | | thicknesses. Most block walls are built with 3 7/8" |
| design, while not forgetting to give you style and | | | | blocks due to the product range (the full range of |
| value for your money. Here's 6 1/2 cost saving ideas | | | | shaped corners, ends, angles, radius and double |
| to get you going and keep your budget in tact. | | | | ended blocks come in this thickness) and it is easier |
| The Right People | | | | to install thicker blocks than thinner blocks. For some |
| Cost Saving Idea 1 - Go Skilled - A project in | | | | straight walls using the 3 1/8" block can be a nice |
| Columbus Ohio looked terrible. The joints were | | | | cost savings. One manufacturer (Mulia Inc.) even |
| uneven, metal reinforcing had rusted on the inside of | | | | makes a 3 1/8" finished end block to complete the |
| the shower, and the wall was not level. The | | | | end of your block wall. The thinner materials are |
| customer wanted the wall down NOW! When asked | | | | priced less and can sometimes be exactly what's |
| who installed the shower the homeowner said, "It | | | | needed if you want to put a block wall on an existing |
| was our tile guy - he said doing a block shower was | | | | base that is not wide enough to for the thicker |
| no problem, but after 4 weeks of delays and poor | | | | blocks. |
| quality you can see we found out otherwise!" | | | | Cost Saving Idea 5 - Stack it Up - Why do a project |
| The reality is many tile contractors and even skilled | | | | block by block when you can often save time, |
| masons install block showers on a limited basis. Since | | | | money, and improve quality with pre-fabricated glass |
| glass blocks take longer to lay than brick, block, or | | | | block wall panels? An installation system called Vinyl |
| tile there can be a tendency to rush and sacrifice | | | | Stack can be used to join the blocks to make |
| quality. If possible find out a skilled glass block | | | | stacking pre-made sections easier than a unit by unit |
| specialty contractor. Ask about their experience with | | | | installation. These wall sections are shipped nationwide |
| shower walls (some block companies focus on | | | | - from as far away places as Oregon to Florida to |
| windows only and don't have the higher skills for | | | | Maine to Iowa. Panels are designed in sections that |
| shower walls) and ask for references. If you can't | | | | aren't too large to be handled and are simply |
| find a skilled block contractor go to Cost Saving Idea | | | | stacked, anchored, and finished grouted at the |
| 5 and consider buying glass block panels you can | | | | project site. |
| stack up. | | | | Cost Saving Idea 6 - Go Doorless - The glass block |
| The Right Process | | | | walk in shower without a door is becoming one of |
| Cost Saving Idea 2 - Get Coordinated - There is a | | | | the hottest design trends for two reasons (1) it |
| famous saying - measure twice, cut once. In a glass | | | | saves on maintenance and aggravation of cleaning |
| block shower project you can't even cut once | | | | around the door frames and (2) it cuts out the cost |
| because the blocks cannot be cut like tile or flat | | | | of the shower door. Hot style and lower prices, a |
| glass. The key is to get coordinated first to save | | | | good combination. |
| money, time and aggravation later. Get the right | | | | The Right Products for Your Style |
| people to the site in the beginning (your tile or | | | | Cost Saving Idea 6 1/2 - Use Colors and Shapes - |
| shower base contractor, the block contractor, and | | | | Why is this called cost saving idea 6 1/2 vs. idea 7? |
| the person who will be using the new shower). At | | | | This tip might not save you money but it will provide |
| this meeting determine the size, shape, and height of | | | | the style, interest, and cool factor homeowners |
| the shower walls before the base is created (note: | | | | usually want when they're installing a block shower. |
| ask your block contractor if they have layout cards | | | | Shaped blocks are used to turn corners, step down a |
| to assist in this design and construction planning | | | | wall in 8" increments, create rounded corners, and |
| process). | | | | finish the end of a wall. They add an upscale look and |
| The Right Design and Wall Fabrication Approach | | | | in many cases save money from having to use a |
| Keeping your prices and costs down is often a | | | | dissimilar material (like tile or granite or wood) to finish |
| matter of pre-planning the design and fabricating the | | | | off the end of a wall. Colored glass blocks can be |
| walls in the most cost effective manner. The design | | | | made in either vibrant reds, oranges, purples, blues, |
| and fabrication approached below will help. | | | | yellows (or any custom color you can think of) or |
| Cost Saving Idea 3 - Go Straight - A block wall can | | | | muted satin color finishes for a more understated hint |
| be built in either radius design or straight wall. Straight | | | | of color. Custom artistically designed block murals are |
| walls are easier and less costly to build because the | | | | also available if you want a one of a kind look. |
| skill level of the contractor does not need to be as | | | | Now that you're equipped with these 6 1/2 price and |
| high (radius walls are often set block by block with | | | | cost saving shower ideas you should be ready to |
| different inside mortar joints vs. outside joints - a | | | | start your project. |