Wednesday, May 1, 2002

Cheer up any room with glass block windows

Nothing can cheer up a room and add visual appeal more than the shine and sparkle of natural sunlight streaming through a glass block window. In fact, according to Pittsburgh Corning, windows have become the most popular application of glass block today.

Although it has been around for generations, glass block has become one of the trendiest building products in homes today because of its long-lasting beauty, light transmission and durability throughout the home. To add privacy to bathrooms and close proximity housing locations or to add beauty and aesthetic appeal to any room of the house, glass block windows are the answer.

When choosing a glass block window, there are several features to look for:

Get real. When choosing glass block windows, donít be fooled by alternatives, such as plastic or acrylic block. These materials will yellow, scratch and crack especially if any common household cleaners are used on them. Only real glass block offers a large selection of patterns, sizes and shapes, and most importantly, will look as good in 20 years as it does today.

No-sweat installation. No need to look for a glass block mason to install today's glass block windows. Look for new easy-to-install, pre-assembled glass block windows, such as LightWise Windows from Pittsburgh Corning. LightWise Windows make it easy and cost-effective to incorporate glass block windows into your home since they are ready-to-install, just like traditional windows. These pre-assembled windows use silicone bonding to provide a dramatic "all glass" look. In addition, they feature 2-inch glass blocks to make the windows lighter weight and easier to handle, while still providing the same insulation as a double pane window.

Patterns that marry beauty with function. Glass block windows are available in distinctive patterns to enhance the decor of any room. Yet, beauty is not the only value these glass block patterns can provide. Each glass block pattern offers varying degrees of privacy and light transmission to suit the needs of the homeowner in every window application. So whether you want more light or more privacy, simple design or plain, glass block windows are the answer.

For more information on LightWise Windows and other Pittsburgh Corning products, or to find the name of your local distributor or retail outlet, call (800) 624-2120; or visit www.pittsburghcorning.com. In addition, Pittsburgh Corning publishes "A Touch of Glass" idea booklet with more than 50 photos and ideas for decorating with glass block ($3.95), along with a complete installation video ($10.95), both available by calling or visiting the Web site.

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