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I have a glass block wall in a shower that has to be taken down. I am trying to find the best method of removal. Any help is appreciated. I am NOT trying to preserve the wall.
When I worked at a glass block company, we used sludge hammers to take down a glass block wall. We never reused the blocks, so damage to the block wasn't a concern. Considering this is IN your home, and you will want to minimize damage and debris, you could use a chisel and hammer instead. Lay out tarps and start chiseling the mortar that is in between the blocks. Start at the top in one of the corners and work your way down one row at a time. Once you get going, the blocks at some point should start falling on their own, or you could push it over at some point, depending on how old the wall is. If it was recently installed it is probably going to be harder to remove. The blocks are manufactured with air on the inside of the block so there is pressure inside. Should one be punctured or broken, they can and do explode. They kind of sound like a small 22 caliber gun going off. Sometimes they don't make any sound at all. Just make sure you wear eye protection and have yourself a little fun. I always liked glass block removal, it was a good way to get out some aggression. I'm not sure if you are male or female, but I'm female, and I have taken down several glass block walls. It shouldn't be too hard. Good luck.
Once you get the first few block free the wall will become almost flexible in a manner of speaking. Do not hit the blocks directly with a hammer or sledge. I use a short piece of 2x4 hitting on the end grain of the lumber. Goggles, mask, gloves and long sleeves are pretty much standard attire for all demo. I cover the floors with cardboard and a trap to cushion the floor and to catch the small debris, makes clean up a bit easier.
When I worked at a glass block company, we used sludge hammers to take down a glass block wall. We never reused the blocks, so damage to the block wasn't a concern. Considering this is IN your home, and you will want to minimize damage and debris, you could use a chisel and hammer instead. Lay out tarps and start chiseling the mortar that is in between the blocks. Start at the top in one of the corners and work your way down one row at a time. Once you get going, the blocks at some point should start falling on their own, or you could push it over at some point, depending on how old the wall is. If it was recently installed it is probably going to be harder to remove. The blocks are manufactured with air on the inside of the block so there is pressure inside. Should one be punctured or broken, they can and do explode. They kind of sound like a small 22 caliber gun going off. Sometimes they don't make any sound at all. Just make sure you wear eye protection and have yourself a little fun. I always liked glass block removal, it was a good way to get out some aggression. I'm not sure if you are male or female, but I'm female, and I have taken down several glass block walls. It shouldn't be too hard. Good luck.
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