Pavel314 wrote:
We have four very old basement windows which are slowly falling apart. I stapled plastic sheeting over them to keep the wind from coming through the gaps in the frame a couple of years ago but want to replace them in 2014. I was thinking of glass blocks; does anyone have any experience with them or opinions about them?

Paul

I'm happy with our glass block windows. They are strong enough that the
occasional misfired hockey puck won't break them. We had fairly large
wood frames around the old windows; the class blocks were installed
without frames. It was surprising how much ambient lighting we gained
with the larger glass area. And the basement is warmer because there
are no leaks; I doubt the glass has much R value, but perhaps the air in
the blocks does. I had them install a hole for the dryer venting, and
one for the bathroom venting.

Around here the code requires ventilation on two opposing walls, so we
have the vents, but don't use them. Our code doesn't require a second
exit from the basement; I'm not sure a window at the top of a basement
wall would be very effective as an exit.