I replace my old metal frame basement window with a new glass block masonry window.
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@glassblockinfo13 жыл бұрын
Good straightforward installation instructions. Our crews like to use a pastry bag to install the mortar around the sides (jambs) and bottom (sill) to make the project easier. Adding the vent in the windows is a good idea as well to allow for a more environmentally friendly basement with cross ventilation.
@MichaelHamelPersonal12 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video, as you said there aren't many videos like this out there, so it is very much appreciated. The windows look great.
@Jzs2013 жыл бұрын
I have to install 4 of these and don't have enough confidence to do so ....watching this is giving me hope. Good job bro
@johndsite13 жыл бұрын
Nice video. I just installed a glass block window today and your instructions helped out a lot. I had to use a reciprocating saw with a metal blade to get the old frame out, but everything else was pretty straight forward. One tip I'd like to offer is to use a silicone kitchen spatula to smooth out the mortar around the edges. the rounded part gives a good angle with enough pressure to make a good seal.
@bsbkeller9 жыл бұрын
Jimmy War I'd say that's right, this is a rookie video. As you can see, it's the first and only DIY video I posted. Was doing a lot of diy work in my basement and thought a quick summary might be helpful to those doing the same. Even though it's not perfect, I'm glad the video has been helpful to a lot of people.
@rayd51108 жыл бұрын
+bsbkeller Even if it is a diy rookie video, thanks for posting it!
@bill1611910 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. Finished my first window last night. This was helpful.
@MrBradleyDavid11 жыл бұрын
Nice. I just did this on my own windows without seeing this. I used a grout bag for the mortar to fill in the bottom and sides. It was neater, fast and easy on the clean up. Caulk at the top just like yours. Now we have window in the basement we may open up in the summer.
@dewaba17 жыл бұрын
What type of mortar did you use on your window ? I am planning on installing one also and I think the grout bag would work really well.
@chuckHart704 жыл бұрын
I love it..... my basement is not a walk out, so getting out of it in case of fire is important so block wont work. nice video!
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it helpful, good luck!
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
Nice to hear from a pro but I respectfully disagree! The install instructions for the windows I used state that silicone based caulk should be used where the window comes into contact with wood. The instructions can be viewed at their website at IPSGLASSBLOCK. My windows have been up for a couple of years now and I have no problems or drafts. Also, I didn't use a grout bag, I just stuffed the mortar by hand with rubber gloves on. That worked for me and looks great.
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
@nsmock Thanks for the update and congrats on getting your window done! Cedar and caulk will definitely work. I think it's a matter of taste and durability. I personally like the look of the glassblock mortar. I also like that I don't have to worry about rot. Granted, the fact that you used cedar will help prevent that but it still rots eventually. And if the sun is hitting it on the outside you will have peeling, fading, and cracking. Hopefully that won't happen for a long time though!
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
@artfd Thanks for all the info. The tip about the angle grinder is particularly helpful.
@bsbkeller13 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment Jzs20. This one was pretty easy. On some of the other windows I did the metal frame had been set deeper in the concrete before it was dry. Those were really hard to get out. Masonry chisel and hammer and lots of pounding, chipping, and pulling finally did the trick, but it wasn't easy. Good luck!
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
The first one took me longer than the fifth (I did five total). A lot depended on how difficult it was to get the metal frame out of the concrete opening. I spent a couple hours with a masonry chisel and hammer fighting with a frame that was set deep in the concrete. Someone in a comment below noted that an angle grinder is useful for that and would speed it up. After the opening is cleaned up it's a breeze. Level the window and mortar it.
@bsbkeller11 жыл бұрын
$45 is a good deal. When I mixed the mortar I put a little water in the bucket first so the mortar wouldn't get airborne as much when I started dumping it. Then I slowly added mortar and water until I got the right consistency. Not hard if you take it slow. And stuffing the gaps is really straightforward. I used rubber gloves and stuffed it with my hands. When it was pretty much stuffed I used the edge of my thumb to smooth over the outside. Water and a washcloth will do the trick for clean up.
@davidshowers7508 Жыл бұрын
Excellent! Straight to the point. I'll be doing this too soon.
@msuk812 жыл бұрын
Thank you!! I'm still a little nervous about trying it on our own, but we may just go ahead and do it. Our neighbor hired theirs out for $80/window. Between material and time, it's sounding like that might be a good way to go. Regardless, yours is the best video I have seen on this project! Thanks for posting!
@davidshowers7508 Жыл бұрын
Same here.
@bsbkeller13 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment johndsite, glad you found the video helpful!
@joncooper107 Жыл бұрын
Wow. You were awesome
@bsbkeller13 жыл бұрын
Hi jonschluenz, seems like a backer rod would be a good idea, though I would probably use caulk instead of mortar to finish the seal over the rod. I used regular old glass block mortar for mine which worked just fine... no air leaks.
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I'm glad it was helpful.
@Mrdealornodeal6182 жыл бұрын
Good video
@bsbkeller11 жыл бұрын
JT, when I run a dehumidifier in my basement I close the windows. Otherwise you get moist air coming in simply replacing the dry air your dehumidifier has treated. If you are concerned about fresh air down there maybe you could vent it once in a while like you said. But if you want to dry it out leave the windows shut.
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
$80/window sounds like a really good deal. Retail price for the window itself is sometimes as high as $70. I got two quotes for my windows before starting the project and the cheapest I found was $150/window. That was for them to build the windows though (i.e., not using the pre-made ones). If your neighbors' windows look good I would go for it.
@1GOLFERNUT11 жыл бұрын
nice video bsbkeller...i only wish you showed when u mixed the cement--how you mudded it in the window ....besides that..excellent.....we have a place here in Rochester that sells premade windows for $45/window --u pickup...hell of a deal!..my spring project
@mattmcghee77565 жыл бұрын
bs keller you have a knack for video. clear, calm, concise. and unlike some people i thought the video was informative. It appeared that window was a little off center. left side seemed like more than 3/4 lol could have been the camera angle. What was it you called stuffing. ? was it expanding foam? good luck keep rocking the vids bro!
@wakka9000plustax12 жыл бұрын
I've been installing for about 12 years. And not once have I had a draft above my windows after a complete install. DO NOT CAULK THE TOP OF THE WINDOW use mortar. He should have chipped out the the excess mortar on the wash. laid down the mortar set the window on top for a 100% guaranteed seal, which also makes the leveling and plumbing process easier. Use a grout bag for everything he didn't show, silica sand and type s or n mortar.
@JoseRodriguezFrio5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for teaching me what a grout bag was
@davidpark9053 ай бұрын
Any advice on a window very similar to this video, only the floor joists rest on top of the window frame ?
@bsbkeller13 жыл бұрын
I haven't done any other than the ones in my basement but my guess would be that the only difference would be in removing the metal frame. Once you get it out I'd imagine everything would be the same. Getting it out might be more difficult because it may have more surface area and depth set in the concrete. If hammering at it with tools doesn't work you could always try a metal cutting blade on a sawzall.
@jonschluenz13 жыл бұрын
What type of mortar did you use? I have also been advised to use backer rod to get a better seal between the foundation and the window edge. Any thought? Thanks for the video.
@jkbxpunk113 жыл бұрын
bsbkeller, I recently bought a set of Pitsburgh Corning Glass Block windows for my basement and everything I have been told and read gives no indication of expansion and cracking worry. So I think you will be all set. I am installing these in my duplex up here in NH where temps go far below zero. I am hoping they will do great under these conditions, considering I currently have just a single pane standrad basement window that offers nothing of preventing cold air from entering.
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
@phuubar As you can see in the vid, the window header was made of wood, not concrete, so mortar would not have been appropriate. That's why I shimmed up the window so it was very close to the wood and then used a bead of caulk on inside and outside to seal it up. I cleaned up with a wet rag.
@wakka9000plustax11 жыл бұрын
I have been installing glass block for 12 years now. For the people that plan to do this themselves... If you have wood or steel windows, you will more than likely need a breaker bar, sawzall or circular saw. Caulking on the top of the windows is not necessary because for centuries mortar and wood have got along great as seen in houses standing well over a century. However it will last longer than the mortar around your window, mortar between the blocks in your foundation and etc.
@msuk812 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video! Can you tell me, how long start to finish this project takes (one window)? Thanks!
@arvinl8 жыл бұрын
How long did this take to install one pre-built window? Did you leave shims or removed before chalking?
@Zenleap11 жыл бұрын
Hey Bs. Thx for the vid. Got a really dumb ?. I live in Western Mass. And want to replace basement windows with ones you have in vid. Question is about ventilation. I have a dehumidifier running all the time because I guess bc there is no ventilation in basement. So should i leave windows open to let fresh air in? Or only open window vent once in a while? thx much! JT
@dariosquingle70463 жыл бұрын
Nice vid
@bsbkeller13 жыл бұрын
No problems so far!
@jkbxpunk113 жыл бұрын
How have your windows faired with the cold temps of the winter months?
@AlwaysHopeful8711 жыл бұрын
Thanks.
@bsbkeller13 жыл бұрын
Hi jkbxpunk1. I wasn't aware that expansion could be a big problem. The install instruction for the windows I bought (which you can view at the IPSGLASSBLOCK website) don't mention it so I'm hoping it's not an issue. I'll let you know if all my windows start cracking though!
@scottshawn709 жыл бұрын
I would've liked to seen the outside of the window. I am about to put mine in and I was curious if it's better to put the glassblock flush with the outside brick of my house or inset an inch. I have seen it done both ways many times and curious to know if one way is better than the other?
@2pathways9 жыл бұрын
is there a way to do that over my door for circulation without having to closing the door there's a window in my room
@bsbkeller11 жыл бұрын
Mortar will work too. In my situation, the space at the top was less than a cm. It would have been tough to pack mortar evenly throughout so I used window/door caulk instead.
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
@nsmock Good luck, let me know how it goes!
@mloco47822 ай бұрын
You needed to show your technique for stuffing the mortar
@katesisco9 жыл бұрын
Wish you would talk about how to size the window before hand. I have old metal tilt outs that are a very snug 18 inch tall and 32 and a tad over wide. So since there has to be mortar it sits in where you have shimed for fit, I would buy 16' leaving an inch top and bottom? How about wide? Allow an inch each side? so I would need a 30 by 16 premade glass block set?
@bsbkeller9 жыл бұрын
Kathleen Sisco Sounds about right to me.
@1st1shot9 жыл бұрын
Did you strike the joints? Did you use any waterproofing application on the mortar?
@bsbkeller9 жыл бұрын
1st1shot Nope, neither.
@bsbkeller12 жыл бұрын
coachbill60, I put this video together because back when I started on the first window in my basement there was nothing like it on youtube. I focused on what would have been helpful to me to know as I was just getting started or thinking about getting started (which is where I think most people will be at who are looking this up). Sorry you didn't find the video helpful but saying it is useless is kinda jerky.
@jkbxpunk113 жыл бұрын
I thought you would of used caulking and/or expansion foam to help secure the glass window due to the fact that glass needs room to expand and contract with temperature fluctuations; otherwise your window will crack.
@thedigitalbastard13 жыл бұрын
you don't put mortar on the top??
@louish.94142 жыл бұрын
I seen contractors Mudd top of windows with motor not good for wood.
@Ksmooth5610 жыл бұрын
Where did you order your window from
@bsbkeller9 жыл бұрын
I bought them at a big box home improvement store. They had them in stock (and on sale).
@garypratt19 жыл бұрын
should the vent slant up or slant down on the inside
@bsbkeller9 жыл бұрын
GARY PRATT I can't see why it would matter either way but fwiw the ones I bought had the vent opening from the top (i.e., hinges at the bottom).
@masonarygary9 жыл бұрын
That's a aluminum frame that I can remove with a flat bar lol. For people trying real metal frame it will be whole new world.
@bsbkeller9 жыл бұрын
masonarygary Some of the other frames on the windows in my basement were steel set a quarter inch in concrete. See discussion below about using an angle grinder or sawzall to get at tougher frames... it can be a bear.
@bingobongo44511 жыл бұрын
Ours took about 2 weeks because, there 30x30 windows we had them custom made. But when they installed them it only took a day to do all 5 windows.
@Hahhah913 жыл бұрын
booyah!
@bingobongo44511 жыл бұрын
If you live in Chicago i can give you the name of the company that installed ours, just contact me.
@mattmcghee77565 жыл бұрын
just realized vid is 8 yrs old lol
@bsbkeller11 жыл бұрын
See my last comment.
@stockstnt84 жыл бұрын
Pk you didnt show any putting the motar in so not so helpful at all
@justj5188 жыл бұрын
Too many skipped steps.
@rita7718 Жыл бұрын
You never took us outside to see the outside and you didn’t even say what you stuffed it with for somebody that doesn’t know that None of that was clear at all
@coachbill6012 жыл бұрын
This video is useless. Anything that you might have trouble with is edited out. This is not a hard job to do but I think people want to see the WORK being done.
@cobrajam969 жыл бұрын
Before and after pics are not what I would call an instructional video. Not helpful at all. Thanks for wasting 5:31 of my time.
@Swilliamf9 жыл бұрын
You are an idiot. He went through nearly every step he took.
@glassblockinfo13 жыл бұрын
Good straightforward installation instructions. Our crews like to use a pastry bag to install the mortar around the sides (jambs) and bottom (sill) to make the project easier. Adding the vent in the windows is a good idea as well to allow for a more environmentally friendly basement with cross ventilation.