Among all the popular window profiles, VEKA and REHAU can be distinguished. It is these manufacturers that occupy the first lines of the ratings of the most famous and sought-after companies in both the Russian and international markets. A plastic window is a complex structure and it is impossible to clearly identify a leader, because some of the indicators among thermal protection, sound insulation, waterproofing, reinforcement, seals and PVC profile quality are better with REHAU, and some with VEKA.
Everyone has their own strengths, which must be relied upon and taken into account when choosing new windows. To do this, we determine the desired configuration and functionality: whether enhanced protection from external noise sources is needed, improved waterproofing and how high-quality the thermal protection of the room should be.
Main characteristics of windows and profiles
Number of cameras in the profile.
A chamber is a hollow space between the profile partitions filled with air. The higher their number, the higher the room temperature. Usually 3 cameras are installed, this is the minimum acceptable number. Based on the number of chambers, the thermal protection resistance coefficient and the noise insulation index are calculated.
Profiles from VEKA and REHAU contain from 3 to 6 chambers; in terms of this indicator, the products are almost similar.
Width of external walls.
External walls determine the reliability and service life of the window, as well as its functionality. The level of heat protection and noise insulation depends on the thickness, providing resistance to mechanical and physical stress and deformation. According to GOST 30674-99, the thickness of the profile walls should not be less than 3 mm.
The VEKA company adheres to Russian and international standards, offering profiles with walls with a thickness of 3 mm and higher. It is not without reason that VEKA products have become the basis of Russian window standards. In order to reduce the cost of products, REHAU offers profiles with thinner walls - from 2.5 to 3 millimeters.
Width of the glass unit.
Not only the profile determines the performance of heat and noise insulation. It is also necessary to take into account the thickness of the glass unit - the thicker it is, the better. But only profiles with special sash designs can withstand the high thickness of the glass unit.
The most stable profile in the VEKA line is VEKA-Alphaline, which can withstand double-glazed windows up to 50 millimeters thick. REHAU's strongest profile is REHAU Sib-Design with only 44 millimeters.
Window thermal protection.
The heat-protective properties of the profile are measured by the heat transfer resistance coefficient (KRT). The higher it is, the warmer the room, since cold air does not penetrate inside.
It largely depends on the thickness of the glass unit: for VEKA it is 1.37 m 2 C/W, for REHAU it is only 0.79.
Waterproofing.
Moisture is always an unwelcome guest in those areas where there is already a lot of it - kitchens, bathrooms, bathrooms. To provide good waterproofing on windows and to prevent frost and condensation, elastic gaskets are used between the frame and the sash - seals. The tighter they fit, the better the room is protected from cold air and condensation.
Ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) is a versatile material used by most window manufacturers. It does not deform when stretched, compressed and bent, and also does not lose its properties at low temperatures.
VEKA mainly uses single-lobe seals, slightly separated from the product and shaped like a tube. REHAU has two petals and no additional air space, which increases the service life by 3-4 years.
Strength.
According to GOST PVC profiles above 50 centimeters must be reinforced, since plastic without additional materials is not able to withstand the pressure of a double-glazed window and environment. The insert is a galvanized metal strip 1.5-2 mm thick. Both can be square or U-shaped, the quality depends on its shape.
The VEKA company uses square reinforcement in most profiles; REHAU is allowed various options, in particular G-shaped. It is stronger than a square profile, but worse in terms of rigidity and stability.
External and operational characteristics.
The companies VEKA and REHAU offer a wide range of window profiles, among which everyone can find something that satisfies both functionality and external characteristics. You can pick up a window optimal size, shape, color, shade and texture, and in aesthetics, VEKA and REHAU are not inferior to each other.
Additional features are also provided: choice of sash arrangement, lamination, climate control, mosquito net, toning, selection of opening type.
PVC does not require special care and all window owners need to do is wash and wipe them periodically. REHAU has some profiles that are smoother, which makes the operation process even easier.
- (3 cameras, 58 mm);
- ProLine (4 chambers, 70 mm);
- (5 cameras, 70 mm);
- SwingLine (5 chambers, 70 mm);
- (7/6 cameras, 82 mm);
- ArtLine (6/6 cameras, 82 mm);
- AlphaLine (6 cameras, 90 mm).
- (6 cameras, 86 mm);
- (6 cameras, 86 mm);
- (5(6) cameras, 70-80 mm);
- (5 cameras, 70 mm);
- (3 cameras and additional thermal block, 70 mm);
- (3 cameras, 60 mm);
- (3 cameras, 60 mm).
- sound insulation;
- waterproofing;
- thermal protection.
- number of air chambers (varies from 3 to 6);
- the width of the profile and the thickness of its walls (you can check compliance with GOST);
- presence of reinforcement;
- number of seals ( the best option— 2 pcs., the part is located between the frame and the sash and is responsible for ensuring that condensation and ice do not form on the glass);
- number of double-glazed windows (blocks of hermetically connected glass, for example, a 2-chamber one consists of 3 glasses and 2 chambers between them).
- strength of welded joint corners;
- reliability of fastening of sash hinges, locks and other fittings;
- durability of the structure.
- frame width is 60 mm;
- number of cameras - 3 pcs.;
- number of seals - 2 pcs.;
- thermal insulation - 0.64 m²C/W.
- With polymer film, are called triplex.
- Standard.
- Energy saving.
- Sun protection.
- With different glass thicknesses - soundproof double glazed windows.
Anyone who wants to understand which profile is better - Veka or Rehau, probably already knows that both of these companies are recognized leaders in the production and sale of PVC profiles. But which brand is better? To answer, let’s compare the plastic windows of the century and rehau according to several main criteria.
Comparing profiles
One of the main indicators is the number of chambers and air cavities in the profile. The more of them, the warmer and quieter the room. A profile with three chambers reduces the level of street noise by 15-20 decibels, each subsequent chamber (fourth, fifth) will reduce the noise by another 8-10 dB.
So, Veka profiles have 3-6 cameras, Rehau - 3-5.5. How is this possible – “half a camera”? It's all about the "modesty" of the manufacturer - according to Russian standards its windows are considered six-chamber, and the company itself, due to the design features, positions them as 5.5 or 5(6)-chamber.
Conclusion: when choosing a century or rehau profile, we will not be able to find out which is better, since the number of chambers is the same.
Comparing waterproofing
The waterproofing of the profile largely depends on the sealant. It represents elastic rubber gasket located between the sash and the frame. Thanks to it, the room is protected from cold and dampness, and due to poor quality material, frost and condensation can form.
Both companies make seals from frost-resistant EPDM material - ethylene-propylene rubber that resists any deformation. Since the material is the same, let’s compare the seals in shape: in Vek they are single-petal and tubular. And the Rehau seal has 2 petals, there is no air space in it. Thanks to a more practical shape, condensation and freezing are not allowed to accumulate in the petals, and its overall service life will be 2-3 years longer than that of a competitor.
Conclusion: according to the waterproofing criterion plastic windows veka definitely lose to models rehau.
Comparing the appearance
Both companies have carefully worked on the functionality of the windows. The buyer can choose any shape, texture and shade. The window design has different ways sash and window opening positions, they can be equipped with additional options. Therefore, externally, Rehau and Veka windows look decent.
As for maintenance, plastic windows are quite easy to clean. But even this process has been simplified even further by Rehau: their profiles have an absolutely smooth surface due to the closest possible arrangement of polyvinyl chloride particles. Therefore, roughness or unevenness can only be seen under a microscope. As a result, the profile gets dirty less and will need to be washed even less often.
Plastic windows Century vs Rehau: which will last longer?
Perhaps the issue of durability is the most important. To find out the answer, real scientific experiments were carried out: windows were placed in “accelerated time” chambers. They create conditions equal to the load for decades. As a result, the conclusion was made: the average service life of a standard Veka profile is 40 years old. Rehau double-glazed windows will withstand all 60!
Choose quality, reliability and durability!
Plastic windows made from Veka or Rehau profiles will help protect your home from noise and cold. Both PVC profile manufacturers are valued by consumers for their high quality and affordable price. It will be easier to give preference to one brand or another after familiarizing yourself with technical features products of Century and Rehau.
What to choose, Rehau and Veka profile, which is better?
Both companies produce PVC profiles that are most suitable for the Russian climate; the quality of the products has long proven itself with the best side. The first plant of the Veka company appeared in Russia back in 1999. The profile produced in the Veka Rus workshops in the Moscow region, Novosibirsk or Khabarovsk, as well as at the main plant of Veka AG in Germany, has the highest RAL quality certificate and is highly valued all over the world.
There are several types of profiles in stock:
All products are certified, the company complies with the regulations and rules of international standards. White and colored profiles are environmentally friendly, fire resistant, do not fade in the sun and do not turn yellow over time.
In 2002, Rehau production opened (plant in Gzhel). The company is constantly improving its profile, introducing innovative design and configuration solutions, focusing on energy-saving technologies and environmentally friendly materials.
The assortment includes white and colored profiles with lamination:
For most customers, the choice of windows made from Veka or Rehau profiles is based on operational characteristics. Basic parameters for plastic windows:
However, both leaders provide a 100% guarantee for each parameter. Therefore, before concluding which profile is better, the consumer must decide what conditions Veka and Rehau windows should provide in the house, what is better for a comfortable environment - maintaining silence, reducing heat loss or providing waterproofing.
Technical characteristics of Rehau and Veka profiles
Plastic windows that are similar in appearance have different internal organization. The elements that make up the profile design are responsible for one or another parameter.
In stores and showrooms where you can place an order for installation Veka windows, or Rehau, or KBE, or any other brand, design features profiles can be viewed on cross-sectional samples:
The ability to evaluate the design helps in choosing Veka or Rehau windows and installing window unit, most suitable for the room (for the kitchen and bedroom, for example, the requirements are different).
Let's compare, for example, the 6-chamber models Softline and Intelio: and mm. These models are positioned as the best. They have different methods of reinforcement: U-shaped for Rehau and square for Vek. Double-glazed window width: 44 mm for Rehau and 2 mm less for Vek. And the thermal insulation rate of Softline is slightly higher (1.06 m²C/W) than that of Intelio (0.95 m²C/W). The cost of Softline 82 starts from 11,500 rubles, Intelio - from 13,400 rubles.
There were no complaints about the quality of the seals of the compared brands, but Rehau differs from Vek in this parameter. The Rehau seal consists of 2 petals and is made of a material that does not freeze or wear out.
There is no gap between the petals, so condensation does not accumulate. Vekka uses a 1-petal tube seal, but this does not reduce the quality of waterproofing, because The material for the manufacture of this part was ethylene propylene rubber.
Glass thickness, walls in Veka and Rehau profiles
The standard establishes not only requirements for environmental friendliness and fire resistance of the material, but also mathematical parameters. For example, the outer wall of the profile cannot be thinner than 3 mm. This indicator determines the window’s resistance to deformation and mechanical stress, as well as:
Veka company specialists take this requirement responsibly, and all their models do not differ in this parameter - the walls in the profiles are never thinner than 3 mm. Rehau saves on this parameter by allowing the production of models with a wall thickness of 2.7 mm, which allows consumers to purchase finished products at a lower cost (5-15% cheaper).
Based on the thickness of the external and internal walls, profiles are divided into classes A, B and C. The leadership among all manufacturers in this parameter is held by the company Century, and the German profile Rehau is a lower class.
The thickness of the profile is also important, on which the stability of the structure, the ability to withstand the weight load of a thick double-glazed window, and therefore noise and heat insulation depend. In the Century product line, the strongest, capable of withstanding a 50 mm double-glazed window, is considered to be the Alfaline profile, while Rehau has the strongest profile, designed for a 44 mm double-glazed window.
Sound and heat insulation of Veka and Rehau profiles
The ability to maintain a comfortable temperature in a room depends on the thickness of the profile and glass unit, seals and fittings and is determined by the heat transfer resistance coefficient (KRT). Veka or Rehau profile markings may indicate, for example, the following numbers: 60/3/2/0.64. It means that:
The standard average parameters for protecting premises from street noise and cold for window units look like this:
| Number of cameras | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| KST (m²S/W) | 0,62 | 0,64 | 0,68 | 0,72 |
| Sound protection factor (dB) | up to 20 | up to 30 | up to 40 | up to 50 |
But some models are endowed with maximum values for these parameters. Vek has the maximum possible indicator - 1.37 m²C/W (Topline+ model), Rehau - 1.05 m²C/W (Geneo Design). Such parameters make it possible to install plastic windows in regions where the air temperature drops to -40°C.
Which profile is stronger: Veka or Rehau?
The State Standard also applies to the strength of PVC profiles. Since plastic is not able to withstand the weight load of a double-glazed window and the influence of the external environment, profiles of 50 cm and larger that are made from it must be reinforced. As additional material A galvanized metal insert made of 2 mm thick tape is used.
The profile cut shows what type of reinforcement is used in plastic Rehau windows and Veka. Metal rigid insert square shape brings forward the quality of the Century. If you compare with Rehau, you can see that their windows can have a U- or G-shaped profile.
Among the latest developments is the use of fiber-fiber material RAU-FIPRO. The innovative material has made it possible to improve all consumer characteristics of the plant’s products.
The elimination of steel reinforcement was made possible due to the fact that during the production of RAU-FIPRO the entire mass is reinforced. The design surpasses all the strongest competitors' windows in strength and reliability and is 40% lighter. This will help customers choose which windows are better - Veka or Rehau.
When purchasing housing on the secondary real estate market, or having inherited an apartment built during the Soviet Union, the owners are faced with the question of major renovation Houses. Improving living conditions, as a rule, begins with replacing communications and windows. There is a huge selection of companies on the market of plastic profile systems, among which the leading positions are occupied by products from German manufacturers. Which is better: Veka or Rehau windows? It is impossible to answer unequivocally in favor of a particular company, however, by analyzing the characteristics and advantages of each manufacturer’s products, it will be possible to make an objective choice.
Manufacturers
The window, as a finished product, reaches the customer after passing through several links. At the first stage there are companies that produce plastic profiles using the extrusion method. In everyday life, windows made from the profile of a particular company have its name, which indicates the importance of such a characteristic as PVC construction. Then the six-meter PVC structure goes to the processor, where it is turned into a finished window structure. Dealers with whom the customer communicates before selecting windows and installing them enter into an agreement with the processing plant for the supply of finished PVC profile ny systems. Although there are companies that independently produce plastic windows, purchasing only a profile for their production, and sell them directly to the customer, bypassing the dealer link.
It is important to understand that if we're talking about about windows from European manufacturers, this is an indirect sale of goods from Germany. For example, plastic windows “Veka” or “Rehau” are manufactured from the German profile of the same name in Russia under the license of the concern. And the profile is also produced locally at one of the company's production complexes.
"Veka" and "Rehau": what do they have in common?
Which is better: Veka or Rehau windows, if both manufacturers produce profiles using German quality control. The history of the two companies begins in the 20th century. The first plastic profile was sold at Rehau in 1958; 10 years later the company Veka competed. The main representative offices of the companies are located in Germany, and production complexes work in Russia, Poland, Ukraine and other countries.
The only difference between the companies is that Rehau specializes not only in window and door profile systems, like Veka, but also in engineering communications, supply of polymer systems for the automotive industry, production of components for the furniture industry.
With a slight time difference, a representative office of the companies appeared in Russia: first, Rehau in 1995, and in 1997, Veka. The first plastic extrusion plant in the Moscow region was opened by VEKA; in 2004, similar facilities were located in Novosibirsk. The Rehau company opened a workshop for the production of plastic profile systems in 2002, and in 2003 construction of a plant began in Gzhel, which was completed by 2008.
Profile
Main structural element The window is considered to be a PVC profile, which in cross-section represents a contour with many partitions. The voids between the plastic walls are called chambers. The more air spaces, the higher the coefficient. Plastic window companies produce products from profiles minimal amount cameras in which there are 3.
"Rehau" and "Veka" have in their product line window profiles from 3 to 6 cameras. comparison table(information is objective and taken from official sources).
Profile series | Number of cameras, pcs | Installation width, mm | Heat transfer resistance coefficient, m2C/W |
Euroline | |||
Softline | |||
Alphaline | |||
Euro design | |||
Sib design | |||
Based on the characteristics of the profile, it is impossible to say clearly which is better, the “Veka” or “Rehau” windows, unless the analyst is an employee of one of the listed companies, since the technical indicators of identical profile series are the same.
Profile class
According to the European standard, the outer frame of the profile must have a thickness for class A: 2.7 - 3 mm. Then façade structures can be made from it and frame installations. If the profile walls are less than 2.7 mm, then the manufacturer has saved on polyvinyl chloride, and such a profile belongs to class B, which has a service life shorter than its predecessor.
On the official resource, plastic windows “Veka” in a series with a four-chamber design are declared with an outer wall thickness of 3 mm; there is no similar information about the opponent “Rehau”. Although on competing websites the supposedly real (not declared by the manufacturer) characteristic of the thickness of the profiles of both companies is given - 2.8 mm. There remains hope for your own measurements when choosing windows.
Double-glazed window
A large area of the window opening is made up of glass, so noise insulation and energy saving depend on its thickness and other characteristics. The glass unit consists of at least two glass panels, the space between which is filled with air. A single-chamber double-glazed window is a minimum of two glasses. The thicker the multilayer structure, the higher specifications window system: tightness, heat and sound insulation. Cameras in a profile and in a glass structure are two different things.
Rehau windows are installed using double-glazed windows with a thickness of 24 mm to 44 mm. In the Veka profile, it is technically possible to install a glass structure with a thickness from 24 mm to 50 mm.
Accessories
When choosing plastic windows, you should understand that this structure does not consist of one profile and glass. Mechanisms that open and close up to five locks simultaneously with one turn of the handle are called fittings. A constant load is placed on it, and the uniform fit of the sashes to the frame depends on the quality of the mechanisms.
Plastic window companies choose their own suppliers window fittings. A burglar-proof window handle from REHAU is presented on the Russian market. Reliable fittings: hinges, pins, clamps are produced by the Austrian company MASO. German companies Roto and SiegeniaAUBI also provide high-quality mechanisms for PVC windows. The listed fittings can withstand a load of 20,000 full cycles opening and closing windows. Prices for standard “Veka” windows with installed German fittings are 65% higher than for similar designs with Turkish or Chinese mechanisms.
Plastic windows for the house "Rehau"
When choosing a decent filling for a window opening, it is necessary to take into account the natural and climatic conditions. Which Rehau windows are best for urban high-rise buildings? Professionals recommend choosing windows with a profile 70 mm wide, for example, the SIB-DESIGN series. Soldered and meeting all the requirements, the profile into the window block does not leak or freeze, which has been experimentally proven. The Delight series is suitable for northern apartments with a lack of natural light. The profile of this series is narrower than the usual one, due to which the light flow increases by 10%.
What other features do Rehau windows have? The price of a structure measuring 1400x1450 mm, with double-glazed windows, with a five-chamber SIB-DESIGN profile, without lamination is 9,350 rubles (without window sill and ebb). The cost of a profile system with the possibility of additional light production will cost the buyer, as of November 2015, 10,240 rubles. Since Rehau windows have different profile characteristics, there are also budget options products. A standard window from the BLITZ category will cost 7,980 rubles.
Windows "Veka": prices
To compare the pricing policies of both companies, the monitoring of Veka windows was based on determining the cost of a double-leaf product of similar dimensions as for Rehau 1400x1450 mm.
Plastic window systems made from the Euroline profile, consisting of three chambers with double-glazed windows, will cost the customer 7,300 rubles. If the work is carried out on a turnkey basis, then you need to count on 13,600 rubles. The Proline window series, consisting of a four-chamber plastic system, is priced by the manufacturer at 8,400 rubles. The cost of a window system made from a five-chamber “Softline” profile is not much different from the similar “Sib-design” series of “Rehau” windows. The price of the structure is 9,100 rubles. Comparing German brands for the production of basic elements for plastic window Based on the price, we can conclude about a loyal pricing policy. The price of a standard double-leaf window (without window sills and sills) in Russia averages 10,000 rubles.
Bottom line: which is better, Veka or Rehau windows?
If the reader has reached this section of the article, then he has an idea about all important elements and the parts that make up complex design plastic window. The profiles of the two brands being compared are top sellers. Both companies have production facilities in the Russian Federation, so there are no direct supplies from Germany. The technology for manufacturing profiles from Veka and Rehau meets all state requirements and European certificates.
The only difference between plastic systems is the ability to accommodate a 50 mm thick double-glazed window. Here, by a small margin, the company “Veka” is in the lead. The service life of the windows depends on the fittings supplied by the manufacturer and on the installation.
When choosing windows, it is important to entrust the installation of the structure to professionals. When signing a contract, it is necessary to check the information about the hardware manufacturer; if the data is missing, then there is a high probability that the locks, handles, and hinges will not meet the declared quality.
When choosing from all the variety, you often hear statements that windows from the Veka profile are better than PVC windows from Rehau. Is it so? - We invite you to figure this out for yourself, based on their main differences.
Surface of the VEKA profile, in comparison with the surface REHAU profile, has a more matte finish, which ensures an impeccable appearance even after several years of use of the plastic window. Such a window will not capture your fingerprints, and if the surface is abraded, the abrasion will not be noticeable.
Sealant
The location of the seal in the frame, sash and glazing beads of the product is made taking into account the need for tight pressure and, at the same time, invisibility from the outside. The angle of inclination of the seals to the horizontal plane provides a more accurate and aesthetic appearance, while fully meeting the requirements for window structures class "A".
In our production, we use only original seals recommended for installation in modern Euro-windows that meet the conditions of the harsh Russian winter.
Internal structure of the profile
The PVC profile is a hollow structure with internal stiffeners. Thanks to the mandatory standard of the VEKA company, all profiles produced by the company correspond to the highest class “A” in terms of the thickness of the external walls, as well as the specified geometric parameters.
Reinforcement installed in the central chamber plastic profile Veka, in contrast to the reinforcement in the REHAU plastic window frame, has a closed contour (in the shape of a square), which ensures high strength finished product and compliance with linear dimensions. Convenient fastening of the frame in the opening and its reliable fixation is also a significant advantage when comparing windows of the profile systems under consideration.
Other important parameters for comparison
In order for the comparison to be made on identical systems, it is important to mention that manufacturers, both Rehau and Veka, produce several various types profiles - so-called series. These same series can be roughly divided into clear classes: design, universal, standard, premium.
Design ones are the simplest and, accordingly, the most inexpensive. Among them distinctive features- the presence of a minimum permissible number of internal chambers (3) and a minimum width (less than 70 mm).
Universal - assume them effective application in most modern multi-storey residential buildings, office and other civil facilities.
Standard - standard series, which meets high requirements for thermal insulation and therefore has more wide application in the case of private glazing projects country houses and objects with passive heating.
Premium - ultra systems High Quality heat saving and insulation. They are used in facilities where heat conservation is a key selection factor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we would like to note the fundamental similarity in quality characteristics profiles of Century and Rehau from the same category of “coolness”. Therefore, in pursuit of a cheaper window from the REHAU profile, take into account the fact that this window can be made from a lower class REHAU profile. The same is true for inexpensive VEKA brand windows.
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