Comparing Kalev and Rehau windows

PVC windows manufactured by Kaleva and REHAU are among the top 10 most demanded on the market. Note that Kaleva is a European manufacturer, and REHAU is a brand of a German company, part of whose production facilities are also located in EU. Our experts have made an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the products of these companies, which will help you make an informed choice.

First, we give a comparative table of the characteristics of the Kalev and Rehau windows

As can be seen from the table, the characteristics of the products of both manufacturers are almost the same, however, the Rehau company produces several models that are superior in performance to the Kalev systems.

Consider the importance of each of the characteristics listed in the table for specific operating conditions of windows.

Profile class

This characteristic depends on the thickness of the profile and is classified into two types — A and B. Class B products have a wall thickness of less than 3 mm, class A products — with a wall thickness of 3 mm or more. The wall thickness affects the strength of the entire structure and the thermal insulation qualities. Therefore, the class B profile is used mainly for the manufacture of small-sized windows in the budget version, used for glazing utility rooms. For glazing residential and working premises, it is necessary to use windows made of class A profile.

Kaleva and Rehau produce window systems of both profile classes.

Number of cameras

Window frames are made of PVC profiles that have a complex shape and form several closed volumes in the section — chambers. The air enclosed in the chambers is a natural heat and sound insulator, so the more chambers in the profile, the better the window system will protect against external noise and heat loss from the premises.

The number of cameras in the samples of the main model range of Kalev and Rehau varies from 3 to 5. However, the German company produces one model with 6 cameras.

Products are selected according to the number of chambers, depending on the purpose of the room, the importance of maintaining the desired temperature in it, as well as on the climatic conditions of the region in which the construction is carried out. For example, windows with 3-chamber profiles are suitable for glazing loggias or balconies, 5-chamber structures should be installed for residential premises, for glazing rooms in a building built in the Far North, you can use the 6-chamber Rehau system.

However, it must be borne in mind that the ability of a particular model to protect against noise and heat loss depends not only on the number of chambers, but also on other characteristics — the width of the profile, the thickness of the double-glazed window and the number of sealing contours, which is generally estimated using the heat transfer resistance coefficient (KRT) . That is, it is possible to choose a model with a smaller number of chambers, but with a large number of sealing circuits, which, according to the CST, will be superior to a model with a large number of chambers and a smaller number of sealing circuits.

Number of sealing circuits

Sealing contours or in other words — sealing inserts, which serve to tightly fit the sashes to the frame, are made of high quality rubber. The quality of the rubber and the shape of the liner affect the life of the seals and the overall ability of the window to protect against noise, moisture and heat loss. According to consumer reviews, the seals of the German company are of higher quality.

Different models of windows of the compared companies are equipped with 2 and 3 sealing contours.

Profile reinforcement type

To give the window greater strength, rigidity and resistance to temperature changes, PVC profiles are additionally reinforced by inserting closed, U-shaped or L-shaped profiles from a thin metal sheet. Both manufacturers use the same profiles for reinforcement, but Rehau launched a model with innovative polymer reinforcement, which significantly reduces the overall weight of the product without losing strength.

Mounting width of the window unit

From the width of the window block or in other words — the depth of the profile, the noise and heat-insulating properties also depend. The Kaleva company produces models with a profile width in the range of 70-80 mm, Rehau — 60-86 mm. The models of the German manufacturer are distinguished by a wide variety in width, which allows you to select products that are most suitable for the specific climatic conditions of the region in which the construction is carried out. For example, windows with a mounting width of 60 mm will better match the conditions of the southern regions in terms of their heat-shielding qualities, a width of 70-80 mm for central Europe, with a profile width of 86 mm for the regions of the Far North.

Insulating glass thickness

A double-glazed window is the main element of a window, which occupies about 80% of its design area, therefore, most of the heat from the room is lost through the double-glazed window or a large proportion of noise from outside penetrates. In this regard, double-glazed windows are made airtight — the design of a double-glazed window consists of 2, 3 or even 4 glasses, united by spacers of a certain width, resulting in one, two or three air chambers.

The German company uses double-glazed windows with a width of 35 to 53 mm, the Kaleva company uses a width of 40–54 mm. That is, Rehau products have a wider range that allows you to select windows with thinner double-glazed windows for budget glazing options or for installation in buildings located in southern regions, where energy saving requirements are less stringent.

Heat transfer resistance coefficient

The heat transfer resistance coefficient or KST is an indicator that is influenced by almost all parameters of a particular window system: the number of profile chambers, installation width, thickness and number of double-glazed unit chambers, the number of sealing contours. The higher this coefficient, the better the heat and noise insulating properties of the window. The models of the Kaleva company have K = 0.71 — 0.92, the windows of the German manufacturer — K = 0.62 — 1.05. That is, the Rehau company has a wider range of KST.

To summarize: window systems of compared manufacturers have approximately equal operational properties, and you can choose completely identical models from one and the other company. However, Rehau produces some window systems with a wider range of performance characteristics, therefore it offers a wider range of products.