I just purchased an older home. Inside of the shower is a window going from about waist high to the top of the average persons head. The glass isn't (supposed to be) foggy or anything (the house is a fixer upper and is very dirty). I am having all the windows in the house replaced but am torn between having a new window put in there or to put in glass bricks. (The new window would intentionally be foggy glass.) any thoughts?

 

If you plan on changing the window to glass blocks, I'd suggest getting them up and out of the way of water from the shower. Perhaps refinishing the wall with cement board (durock) and tile would be a good way to finish off a glass block window by eliminating any wood trim that would be getting wet and would need to be painted constantly.

 

You may have seen the plastic strips used on glass block to connect the blocks together, and the strips are easy to do, but I believe those strips are only for interior applications. I suspect you will have to mortar the blocks in. The first time I did that, I found it difficult to keep a level bed of mortar, even with proper spacers and such. In a bathroom, you might find yourself looking for a professional brick layer to get those straight lines and give that great even finish look.

I like the idea, but glass blocks windows are also costly. The completed window is extremely heavy so you might want to insure the window rough opening is supported with cripple studs.

Other than that, I have no suggestions want you might want to do. Some people remove the window, fill in the wall, then put in a full enclosure shower surround and then build a mock window design with shutters for the exterior of the house so they don't have to match siding.