Why do old windows let so much noise in?
Noise gets in two ways: through the glass, and through every gap where air gets in. A worn slider seal is an open door for sound. A tilt-and-turn has no sliding seal; the handle pulls the sash against a continuous gasket, so the gap closes. Then the glass build decides the rest.
What do STC and OITC ratings mean on a window?
They are the two sound numbers you'll see on North American window specs. For both, higher means quieter. A rating belongs to a tested build: frame plus a specific glass unit. So a number on a brochure is not a number for your window until the quote names the same build.
How quiet can a REHAU window get?
REHAU's North American ARTEVO announcement (September 16, 2024) lists STC ratings up to 44 and OITC 37. "Up to" is the ceiling of a specific tested glass build. Our standard triple-pane in the price table is not automatically that build. It depends on glass build — ask for the spec.
What about Deerfoot, Stoney and Crowchild traffic?
Noise walls come first from government, if you qualify. The City of Calgary Noise Barrier Program looks at 60 decibels over 24 hours on non-truck routes, 65 at peak hour on truck routes. For Deerfoot and Stoney, the City sends requests to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors. Crowchild is a City road.
Can windows help with airport noise?
A wall can't stop a plane overhead, so the window is the part of the house you can change. YYC Calgary Airport Authority runs 16 noise monitoring terminals in neighbouring communities and takes concerns online. Log yours there too. It costs nothing.
Which glass build should I ask for?
For the noisy side of the house, ask about a laminated outer pane: glass bonded to a plastic interlayer, offered as an option on our REHAU builds. Then ask for the STC and OITC of that exact frame and glass together. More on the options in REHAU profiles and glass.
What does it cost per opening?
Installed prices per opening in Canadian dollars, by REHAU line and wall type, from our published table. These include standard triple-pane glass. A laminated or acoustic glass build is quoted per opening after measurement. Details on the 2026 cost page; a whole house on the estimator.
| REHAU line | Standard retrofit | Stucco or brick wrap | Custom shape or structural |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brilliant Design (70 mm) | $1,800–2,400 | $2,200–2,800 | $2,800–3,800 |
| Synego (80 mm) | $2,300–3,000 | $2,800–3,500 | $3,400–4,600 |
| Artevo (80 mm) | $3,500–4,800 | $4,200–5,500 | $5,000–7,500 |
How does buying work, and who installs?
It starts with you. Describe the project in four quick steps on the start page. I visit a home only when the homeowner invites me first. Then a free measurement, and PWS sends a written quote. Already holding another quote? Run it through the free Window Quote Check first.
Permanent Windows Solutions supplies and installs the windows. I'm a specialist there and I earn commission. European Window Guy is my practice at PWS, not a separate manufacturer or installer.