A prospective buyer recently asked, "How can I get a cool looking glass block shower without breaking the bank?" Fortunately, doing a glass shower project doesn't have to be a magical strangeness tour that drains your wallet. It's all about looking the right people to take you through the right processes and design, while not forgetting to give you style and value for your money. Here's 6 1/2 cost salvage ideas to get you going and keep your funds in tact.
The Right People
Shower Panel
Cost salvage Idea 1 - Go Skilled - A project in Columbus Ohio looked terrible. The joints were uneven, metal reinforcing had rusted on the inside of the shower, and the wall was not level. The buyer wanted the wall down Now! When asked who installed the shower the homeowner said, "It was our tile guy - he said doing a block shower was no problem, but after 4 weeks of delays and poor ability you can see we found out otherwise!"
The reality is many tile contractors and even skilled masons setup block showers on a petite basis. Since glass blocks take longer to lay than brick, block, or tile there can be a tendency to rush and sacrifice quality. If potential find out a skilled glass block specialty contractor. Ask about their feel with shower walls (some block companies focus on windows only and don't have the higher skills for shower walls) and ask for references. If you can't find a skilled block contractor go to Cost salvage Idea 5 and consider buying glass block panels you can stack up.
The Right Process
Cost salvage Idea 2 - Get Coordinated - There is a preponderant saying - part twice, cut once. In a glass block shower project you can't even cut once because the blocks cannot be cut like tile or flat glass. The key is to get coordinated first to save money, time and aggravation later. Get the right people to the site in the starting (your tile or shower base contractor, the block contractor, and the someone who will be using the new shower). At this meeting conclude the size, shape, and height of the shower walls before the base is created (note: ask your block contractor if they have layout cards to aid in this make and construction planning process).
The Right make and Wall Fabrication Approach
Keeping your prices and costs down is often a matter of pre-planning the make and fabricating the walls in the most cost productive manner. The make and fabrication approached below will help.
Cost salvage Idea 3 - Go right - A block wall can be built in either radius make or right wall. right walls are easier and less costly to build because the skill level of the contractor does not need to be as high (radius walls are often set block by block with dissimilar inside mortar joints vs. Exterior joints - a very difficult installation for a novice block layer). Spacers and prefabricated wall sections can make the project easier as well.
Cost salvage Idea 4 - Get Skinny - Glass block shower walls are built in either 3 1/8" or 3 7/8" thicknesses. Most block walls are built with 3 7/8" blocks due to the stock range (the full range of shaped corners, ends, angles, radius and duplicate ended blocks come in this thickness) and it is easier to setup thicker blocks than thinner blocks. For some right walls using the 3 1/8" block can be a nice cost savings. One constructor (Mulia Inc.) even makes a 3 1/8" terminated end block to faultless the end of your block wall. The thinner materials are priced less and can sometimes be exactly what's needed if you want to put a block wall on an existing base that is not wide enough to for the thicker blocks.
Cost salvage Idea 5 - Stack it Up - Why do a project block by block when you can often save time, money, and improve ability with pre-fabricated glass block wall panels? An installation theory called Vinyl Stack can be used to join the blocks to make stacking pre-made sections easier than a unit by unit installation. These wall sections are shipped nationwide - from as far away places as Oregon to Florida to Maine to Iowa. Panels are designed in sections that aren't too large to be handled and are naturally stacked, anchored, and terminated grouted at the project site.
Cost salvage Idea 6 - Go Doorless - The glass block walk in shower without a door is becoming one of the hottest make trends for two reasons (1) it saves on maintenance and aggravation of cleaning nearby the door frames and (2) it cuts out the cost of the shower door. Hot style and lower prices, a good combination.
The Right Products for Your Style
Cost salvage Idea 6 1/2 - Use Colors and Shapes - Why is this called cost salvage idea 6 1/2 vs. Idea 7? This tip might not save you money but it will contribute the style, interest, and cool factor homeowners regularly want when they're installing a block shower. Shaped blocks are used to turn corners, step down a wall in 8" increments, generate rounded corners, and halt the end of a wall. They add an upscale look and in many cases save money from having to use a dissimilar material (like tile or granite or wood) to halt off the end of a wall. Colored glass blocks can be made in either vibrant reds, oranges, purples, blues, yellows (or any custom color you can think of) or muted satin color finishes for a more understated hint of color. custom artistically designed block murals are also available if you want a one of a kind look.
Now that you're qualified with these 6 1/2 price and cost salvage shower ideas you should be ready to start your project.
Glass Block Shower Prices - 6 1/2 Cost saving Ideas to Get a Cool Glass Block ShowerSee Also : rockwellrk 9000 jawhorse
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