I’m remodeling a bathroom in a 100 year old house. The shower will be expanded into a closet where there is a window (window was partially covered by old fiberglass shower stall). Owners want to keep the window. My plan was to seal it well inside and out, except for some weepholes at the bottom. A 1/4″ thick piece of laminated glass will be siliconed into a rabet around the frame. Whole shower will be covered in kerdi membrane, tile going over the edge of the glass then siliconed again, so leaking is not really a concern.
My concern is temperature swings causing too much expansion or contraction around the laminated glass/tile connection, since the original window is single paned. Would it be prudent to sandwich a third pane of glass between the two, or would that cause the window to get too hot- it does get morning sun for a few hours. Any thoughts?
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Have you thought about replacing the existing window with glass block?
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"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Glass block was my first thought, but the neighborhood historic preservation comittee would nix it... BTW, there will be no exposed wood on the inside of the shower, the stool will be trimmed flush, covered by the safetyglass, so there is no (well, very, very little) chance of the window getting wet from the inside.
I didn't realize it was an old house, and in an historic district. I think glass block windows look pretty crappy (from the outside) on an old house, and I wouldn't put one in unless the bathroom is located so the window is not very visable from the main vantage points.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Why not put in a new vinyl replacement window? sounds like a lot of labor fixing a window that should be thrown away anyway.
its nice to be able to open it, you probably have a vent, so its not a code concern.
My only concern is that you might end up with condensation between the existing window and your new sheet of glass. I guess only time will tell on that one, however.
Since you described this bathroom project as an "expansion", I'm assuming that there is already at least one window in the bathroom. Unless this closet window looks particularly attractive from the exterior, my leaning would be to just eliminate it.
The interior treatment you're describing sounds like it will be functional, but a window without any trim will hardly look appropriate in an historic house. Then again, preserving a historic feel in the bathroom may not be on the owners' priority list.
Edited 10/26/2006 1:44 am ET by Ragnar17
My thinking was that the old window would become a "storm" window with a few weep holes drilled in the bottom; the outside sealed with poly caulk and the inside caulked as well. My concern was that becasue sheet of safety glass is 32x50 and the old window glass is pretty thin, there would be some contraction in the winter (or expansion in the summer due to greenhouse effect). Not much, but just enough to loosen up a sealed tile edge and start letting water in... I supposed I should just expect it to happen and build from that standpoint. Wrap the kerdi around the window frame?Asthetically (and becasue the neighborhood association says so), the window has to stay. A previous remodel cut off half the trim, coated the panes with some kind of frosting and cut the weight lines, so the window is non functioning. The safety glass will be frosted so a bit of condensation won't be apparent. From the oustide of the house it will look the same; from inside the shower you will see a 32x50 opaque sheet of glass, edges lipped with the tile.
HMJ,
Well, for various reasons, it sounds like you're stuck with the old window.
I'm still not sure whether you'll get any condensation within this unit. I just have a subjective concern that due to the proximity of the shower (high humidity area), some moisture might get through the wall and into the volume between the safety glass and the old window sash.
If you're providing weep holes (I assume in the bottom rail), then there will be a path for water to exit -- if it ever gets in there in the first place.
I would probably sand down the existing window sill and then prime and paint it so that you know it's secure. Then just proceed with the rest of your plans and keep an eye on things. In the off chance that condensation DOES occur, you could try modifying your design.
My concern was that becasue sheet of safety glass is 32x50 and the old window glass is pretty thin, there would be some contraction in the winter..
As a side note, you needn't worry about the thickness of the old glass. Going from 3/32" to 1/8" thickness will contribute very little to the thermal performance of the window unit. It's the air volume in a double-pane or storm sash system that dramatically increases insulative value.
As far as the thermal expansion/contraction goes, I think that as long as you use a flexible sealant between the glass and the tile you'll be fine.