A glass block shower provides a contemporary look and cleaning a breeze. Learn how Innovate Building Solutions offers a one-stop solution with a broad line of prefabricated glass block shower kits. These kits include premade glass block shower panels (using the Protect All Prefabricated Wall Panel System), solid surface and ready for tile shower pans, and grout free shower wall panels.
With Innovate’s glass block shower kits you’ll take your bathroom remodel to the next level – and simplify your installation and design details. You (or your contractor) won’t be forced to ‘figure this project out on the fly’ and hope you got it right. If you’re looking for glass block walk in shower kits and ideas – you’ve come to the right place.
The ultimate DIY guide for your next glass block shower remodeling project!
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Glass block showers have been described as cool, clean, and contemporary.
Multiple patterns make it hard to see spotting on the glass block’s surface. These shower blocks can be cleaned with soap and water or window cleaners.
This will save you money for a shower door.
Glass block prefabricated shower panels are put together with a horizontal and vertical vinyl stacking system and then field grouted with a small 1/8″ grout joint. They have excellent durability and are a sustainable product.
Obscure wave and iceberg patterns allow light transmission and obscure views. With the ‘wave’ pattern you have a wide range of design options including corners for an ‘L-Shaped’ glass block walls or a curved blocks for a walk in shower
Check out the many decorative glass block designs, colors, and frosted glass blocks. Also combine different sized glass blocks to create a ‘stained glass’ style look with your durable glass block wall.
And saving you aggravation through a comprehensive glass block shower wall fabrication, design, supply (and installation in selective markets). Starting with your design ideas and the size of your bathroom and shower Innovate can help reduce your costs in these 5 ways.
Add a solid surface shower pan, stylish shower wall panels or shower accessories. With our glass block shower kits you can not only get a custom stone shower pan (or ready for tile base) with your prefabricated glass block wall sections, but also soap and shampoo niches, bench or corner seats and shower wall panels which get rid of tile joints once and forever.
Innovate Building Solutions is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has won Consumers’ Choice Award and Angie’s List Awards for service. Check out our reviews in Google. See how Innovate is rated by your friends and neighbors.
Most people are installing their first glass block shower. They don’t know how to use the curved blocks, or how large to make the shower opening or the height of a step up shower curb for the block wall. Let an Innovate Design Specialist help you through the details (and the frustrations) of doing this project for the first time.
We provide nationwide shipping for glass block shower kits and pre-fabricated wall sections. We ship anywhere in the United States, from Washington to Texas to New York to Florida.
You need a logical process for a successful glass block shower design and kit to work. Follow these 5 steps:
Creating a glass block shower begins with a design which will work for you and your family – now and into the future. Innovate can design it for you – without any cost to you. Here’s some key glass block shower design considerations:
If you need design help (and almost everyone does) send your sketch (and yes, hand drawn and scribbled on notebook paper is fine). An Innovate Glass Block Shower Specialist is trained to guide you through the process. We can do the glass block layout for you, or send you layout templates (like you see below) so you can do your own.
Layout cards for a glass block wall and shower pan design
Setting up a curved glass block shower layout
There are 3 series of glass blocks available:
Consider using 3 1/8″ thickness blocks to reduce costs and add design options not available in the 4″ thick units. Some of the advantages of these blocks include:
These international metric series glass blocks offer the widest range of patterns and colors. While they will be more expensive than the American series, they offer exciting design possibilities.
Make your shower unique with frosted or a one of a kind laser etched glass block mural. Innovate Building Solutions can customize with you. Why not make a design as distinctive as you?
Since the shower pan is the foundation of your glass block shower – the selection of the right system is critical. Learn below advantages and disadvantages of solid surface and ready for tile shower bases (the 2 preferred shower pan options for a glass block wall project).
Solid surface glass block shower bases (which are also called cultured granite shower pans) are made by combining aluminum trihydrate crystals with specially formulated resins which add flexibility and strength. The result is a durable, grout free shower base with a wide variety of color, shape and finish options.
Custom solid surface glass block bases can be built around any design – curved, straight, 90 degree ‘L-shaped’ or even serpentine. Whether you want to create a walk in shower or design with a curve – a solid surface base can be created for you.
Different curb options are available including low profile (1 1/2″ high), a built in ramp for an accessible handicap shower design or mid-height (2 3/4″ high) or a full height curb (4 1/4″ high)
All bases are presloped towards the drain and are a single unit for a worry free easy installation.
100% waterproof design eliminates the worry of water leaks or mold or mildew.
Lifetime guarantee for your peace of mind.
Grout free solid surface shower wall panels, accessories and trim moldings are available to compliment your base and prefabricated glass block wall.
Ready to install, no finishing material is needed at the top of the base. This saves money and the cleaning aggravation of a tile surface.
Non-slip top surface is safe for grandkids or grandparents.
No curb caps are needed for serpentine or curved glass block wall designs.
Solid surface bases are heavier than ready for tile shower pans.
They’re more expensive than ‘site-built’ tile shower floors.
The ready-for-tile shower base is available in standard and custom sizes and is made of 100% waterproof expanded polystyrene. It has no seams. It’s light and quick to install.
100% waterproof polystyrene walk-in shower base eliminates the potential for water leaks and growth of mold and mildew.
Light, yet sturdy construction – This ‘closed cell’ shower pan isn’t heavy, yet can withstand the weight of a truck rolling over it!
Reduced installation time and lower labor costs. Here’s how the installation process works:
Your choice of drain location saves you from reworking your plumbing to accommodate a pre-determined drain hole.
Customize the base for walk-in and roll-in showers. Design to suit your needs. Custom bases can be manufactured to any shower size or shape (with straight, rounded, or 90 degree ‘L-shaped’ walls). Choose a design with a curb or a barrier free roll in entry.
Seamless construction enhances waterproofing. Install your wall board inside the flange of the base to eliminate leakage.
Accessory System – Recessed soap dishes, shampoo caddies, shower and bench seats available.
Use a standard square, round or linear drain in your best location.
You’ll have the cost (and labor) to add tile to the top of the shower pan.
Curved glass block designs require an additional ‘curb cap’ made of solid surface before the glass block is placed on the shower curb.
Whether you’re a professional contractor or DIY’er Innovate’s “Protect All” vinyl stacking prefabricated glass block shower wall sections provides these benefits:
Included below you’ll find images of key steps in the installation process. The best way to learn about this installation is to watch the shower wall and base installation videos near the bottom of this page.
Glass block showers with doors work better in smaller areas or where you want to create a closed space, such as in a steam room. Walk-in glass block showers are chosen because they’re simpler to clean (there’s no door), have a contemporary look and work well for barrier free or roll in designs.
The two best shower pans for glass block walls are solid surface and ready for tile options. Their flexibility allows them to be made any size, or shaped for curved or right-angle walls. You can choose your drain location to eliminate the expense of moving your drain – which is especially important to save cost when you have a concrete floor.
Innovate offers various American and Metric sized glass blocks. They come in shapes (to make curves and angles and finished rounded edges). They’re available in multiple patterns. Frosted and colored glass blocks can personalize your design.
First measure your ceiling height. Assuming you’ve got a standard 8′ (96″) ceiling the recommended glass block wall height is 80″ high (or 10 blocks high). Since this wall will be installed on the curb of your shower pan (and this curb is between 1 1/2″ to 4″ high), the finished height of your wall will be 82″ to 84″ (equal to where the shower head is generally set). Note – it is not recommended (or required to go to the ceiling). Leaving open space will allow humidity to escape from the shower.
The prefabricated glass block shower kit system is preferred in the majority of the installations. It’ll save you money vs. site built. It will create a better quality finished look. It can be done by a DIY’er or contractor who hasn’t installed a glass block shower before. The time to use a mason contractor (assuming you can find one who is willing – and experienced in – glass block installations) is when you have a graceful radius wall which can’t be done using the prefabricated wall method.
The common choices of shower wall surrounds are tile, marble and grout free walls like laminate wall panels and solid surface shower surrounds. The best of these materials depends on your budget and desire (or lack of desire) to maintain grout joints. In all cases it’s best to install the shower surround walls BEFORE the glass block wall. You’ll get a more waterproof installation.
Using color glass blocks, glass block etched designs or ‘frosting’ the outside of the wall (the bathroom side) is the best way to add style.
The end can be finished with 8″ tall “finished-end” blocks (which are rounded – or bullnosed on one end), double-end blocks (which are finished on two ends with in an 8″ x 8″ size), or glass style caps (which can be used on various sized blocks).
The curb for a ready for tile shower pan is finished with cultured marble, ceramic tile, real marble or granite. A solid surface shower pan is fully ready to install and does not need a curb cap.
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