Armstrong

Founded by business visionary Thomas Armstrong in 1860, the Pittsburgh-based company was originally a cork cutting shop with a mere two employees. Relying on his credo of hard work and integrity, Armstrong withstood the difficulties of the Civil War, financial hardship, factory fires, and a hostile marketplace to persist and expand—and ultimately to develop a diversified product line. The company provides a great example of how to parlay technology in order to foster innovation and keep pace with changing times: “Corkboard led to fiberboard, fiberboard led to ceiling board, cork tile and linoleum led to vinyl floors... this natural progression of product development brought the company to its position of leadership in its industry.”

• BioBased Tile — Long a pioneer of VCT (Vinyl Composition Tile), Armstrong recently developed a non-toxic and sustainable alternative to this exceptionally durable flooring material. BioBased Tile contains Armstrong’s patented BioStride Polymer, an environmentally-friendly material made from rapidly renewable materials sourced from plants grown in the U.S. Armstrong’s BioBased Tile reduces usage of petroleum products; it boasts low emissions of VOCs; and it contributes to LEED credits in multiple categories. It also offers superior resistance to impact, indentations, and cracking. Armstrong’s BioBased Tile offers multiple stylistic options and an extensive variety of colors.
• Commercial Laminate — Combining the rich, warm look of hardwoods with the durability and impact-resistance of Synthetics, Armstrong’s Commercial Laminate Line provides the best of both worlds. The product is unparalleled among synthetic flooring in its fine art duplication of the coloration and grain patterns of real wood. In addition to its renowned durability, Armstrong’s Commercial Laminate is affordable—glue-less installation cuts down on initial costs and the patented HydraCore Plus interior moisture resistance ensures a long product life cycle. Armstrong’s Commercial Laminate is also easy to maintain: spills wipe up easily with no penetration into the underlayment.
• Commercial Hardwood — Armstrong appreciates the enduring value of hardwood flooring. The company’s vast hardwood line includes everything from the timeless appeal of Maple in Adirondack Brown, to the hypnotic striations of Bighorn Oak, to the exotic tonal variations of Natural Tigerwood. All told, the company offers more than 80 distinct combinations of different species and stains. Armstrong’s hardwoods are available in multiple widths and lengths, as well as various edge profiles and details, thus giving consumers the creative license to “bring the sensual appeal of the outdoors to your interiors.”

Beginning over a century ago when the company’s efforts focused on manufacturing cork, Armstrong has a long heritage of environmental awareness. As one of the first companies to actively recycle waste and use post-consumer recycled products, Armstrong has always looked to minimize resource use and diminish reliance on petroleum products. The company’s present sustainability initiative is focused on four major objectives: reducing energy use, minimizing creation of greenhouse gases, conserving water, and sourcing natural materials from responsibly-managed forests.