In a world where high-tech surveillance is on the rise and privacy seems
increasingly difficult, people across the city and suburbs are turning to glass
block windows as a simple solution to low-tech surveillance by burglars and
plain-old snoops.
“My basement is the place where my wife does the laundry
and my
daughters play with their friends,” says Clearing homeowner Dave Bauer, 36. “The last
thing I want is people on the outside snooping in, for whatever reason and
especially if I’m not home. So I had my four windows—the original, single-pane
windows that came with the house in 1955—removed and replaced with glass
blocks. I feel better, my wife feels more secure, and my kids—innocent that
they are--don’t know the difference.”
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| Single-pane windows = lack of privacy |
Empty nester Ted Wesolowski of Garfield Ridge agrees. “My youngest son graduated from
college last year and moved out into an apartment. So with plenty of space and
no more tuition bills, I decided to remodel my basement at long last and make
it into a ‘man cave’ or whatever we’re calling a den these days.”
“Well, I did it up right and added a home theater system, a wet bar and
few other expensive upgrades,” he adds. “Then one night, I’m hosting a Monday
Night Football party for a few buddies; and what do I see but some punk peeking
in, like he’s casing my house for a burglary or something. We ran outside and
chased him away, but that did it for me. Next day I started looking into glass
blocks. In the end, it worked out well. No more uninvited guests.”
While
glass block windows add an important measure of security and privacy to any
home or business, they offer many other benefits.
“The
right glass blocks can add a whole new dimension of beauty on the outside and
soft natural light on the inside,” says Carol Basic, a Clearing resident and
owner of Chicago Glass Blocks, headquartered at 6036 S. Central. “Plus
they add value to your home, and they are generally maintenance free.”
Chicago
Glass Blocks creates and installs custom-made
windows using top-quality
Pittsburgh Corning glass block, the only glass block manufactured in the U.S.
The company is the only Pittsburgh Corning distributor in the Chicago area.
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| Brian and Mike Basic at a home window installation. |
The
company also is known for using superior mortar mixed to manufacturer's specs,
a high-quality blend of Type I Portland cement and lime. This, Basic says, is
unlike the big-box, discount home improvement stores, where the glass blocks
are stuck together with merely a fraction of an inch of caulk.
 |
| Joe Leonard applies mortar, while Brian Basic checks inventory. |
Celebrating
its 26th anniversary this year, Chicago Glass Blocks is locally owned and
managed by a family with decades of experience in masonry and masonry
restoration for homes and businesses. Well known and highly respected in the
Chicago-area construction industry, the Basic Family has a deep understanding
of local construction methods and materials, enabling them to quickly and
accurately assess your home or business needs. The highly trained
technicians--mostly family members and all area residents--who will come to
your home are fully insured and leave your home in better shape than they found
it.
To
learn more about Chicago Glass Blocks, go online to chicagoglassblocks.com or
call (773) 581-5081 for a free energy consultation from a friendly, experienced
expert.
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