Experience Warmth and Comfort

Like stone, ceramic and porcelain, Alterna Engineered Tile flooring is incredibly beautiful and durable. But its comfortable surface makes Alterna warmer to the touch, kinder to your feet, and easier to care for in any room of your home.

Choose from a wide variety of Alterna styles including marble, travertine, slate and urban-inspired designs featuring weathered metal, concrete and linen. Armstrong's newest collection of reclaimed wood looks complement each other and provide endless design possibilities.

What Makes Armstrong Alterna Engineered Tile So Appealing?

There isn't a better brand choice when buying engineered tile flooring than Armstrong. While the prospect of using engineered tile in your home might sound only intriguing at the moment, Armstrong's Alterna provides a product with appealing features like few others.

Alterna is all about recreating the look of stone and tile. The concept of "engineered tile" might initially sound perplexing, yet it brings the natural appearance of stone and tile to life. In many ways, it upgrades from the look of the actual materials.

Alterna brings quality features offered on all their floors. Expect durable engineered construction that proves durability every time. You can also bring personalized styles to any room of your home or business.

Comfort

Most importantly, it's one of the most comfortable floors in Armstrong's catalog. Installation is also easy when compared to installing real stone or tile. 

With a diversity of styles, sizes, and colors, it's a dream for those who want something natural without the more extensive maintenance involved.

The comfortable Alterna surface has features you need to know to make an informed buying decision. What kind of questions do you need to answer to make Alterna your first flooring choice for your home this year?

Armstrong Alterna Pros and Cons

Pros:

Pro: Alterna floors have a warm and comfortable feel, something different from what you experience with real stone and tile. When you buy real stone flooring, it feels hard when walked or played on. That isn't ideal if you plan to keep a comfortable floor space, including walking around in socks or while barefoot.

Making this worse is real stone and tile feels cold to the touch. You don't want that with home flooring, especially if you place stone or tile in a bedroom.

Pro: The durability of Armstrong Alterna is very much celebrated. What makes this so appealing is it can handle just about anything from high foot traffic to roughhouse play from kids or pets. Even spills from food or drinks won't harm the floor with regular maintenance. 

Most impressive is that Alterna still stays durable, even when placing grout around the floor surface.

Pro: Alterna floors never crack either as a major pro. If you've ever had real stone floors in the past, you know they're prone to cracking due to age and general foot traffic. Imagine how unsettling that is after only using a stone floor for only a year.

It's why Armstrong's print technology of placing digital images of stone on the surface is the more convenient way to do flooring. You're getting the definitive look of stone, yet not having to deal with the considerable upkeep of the real thing.

Pro: Style combinations are numerous, giving you the look of various kinds of tile and stone. These styles range from slate to woven marble. All offer a chance to bring a unique appearance to your home and virtually change how a room looks and feels.

Using these styles in other, less typical rooms also adds value to your home if planning to sell soon.

Cons:

Your Alterna floor might eventually have a dull look if you don't bother to maintain it. Many who don't realize you need to clean vinyl floors once per week often become surprised when it loses its shine after a while. 

A con like this is easily solvable if you put in a little time to clean when convenient to your schedule. The cleaning aspects of Alterna are simple and won't take too much out of your day.

Pre-Purchase Q&A

How Do You Clean Armstrong Alterna Flooring?

Considering this is the look of stone and tile, many might assume cleaning Armstrong Alterna is complicated. It's not, including being the simplest floor to clean of any in the marketplace.

Thanks to a stain and soil-resistant surface, stains don't set in. Still, you need to clean once per week to keep the floor looking pristine. Just do sweeping or vacuuming on your days off. Remember to eliminate any vacuum with a beater bar to avoid any potential damage.

You can also use flooring cleaners from Armstrong for tougher stains. Regardless, Armstrong recommends you avoid using their floor stripper since that's hard on grout if used on your Alterna floor.

How Do You Install Armstrong Alterna Flooring?

If you have any prior experience with real stone and ceramic tile flooring, you know it can take days to get it installed in just one room. Alterna flooring gives you a quicker install without any complications. 

It's the thinset mortar that's always been a problem with those wanting real ceramic tile or stone. Using this mortar is often very messy and takes extra time to spread due to measuring and mixing.

Alterna uses a patented adhesive product that never makes a mess. That's because you can spread it within wide areas, unlike typical thinset. Armstrong's adhesive also comes premixed, saving you valuable time. 

You can start to walk on your Alterna tiles faster this way without any long drying times. Nevertheless, this is only the basics of installation, something you'll want to learn more about later.

Where Do You Buy Armstrong Alterna Flooring?

Any certified Armstrong flooring dealer will have Alterna available. Perhaps going to your nearest home goods store is your first thought to buy Alterna. You're better off going online to find discounts.

Some online flooring dealers can find you a better deal on Alterna. Having it shipped to your door is ideal, including samples to test in your home before final commitment. 

What is the Wear Layer of Armstrong Alterna Flooring?

Thickness level is an important aspect of Armstrong's Alterna floors. Without a thick wear layer, it wouldn't be as durable as advertised.

You can enjoy an advanced nano-particle aluminum oxide wear surface here that showcases the floor's robust qualities. Aluminum oxide has a hardness scale of 9 on the Mohs scale, making it just a little under diamond hardness level. As such, it's right up there with the properties of diamonds, something Armstrong already uses through their Diamond 10 Technology.

What Kind of Rug Can I Use On My Alterna Flooring?

The use of rugs is acceptable on Alterna flooring, though not all are compatible. It's best to look for rugs with "Colorfast" labeling. These assure they aren't made of latex or rubber. Floors with these backings can stain your Alterna floor.

Buy vinyl-backed mats or woven rugs instead. As long as you use the right rugs, you can use as many as you want. Using them can also help protect your floor if you expect a lot of wear and tear.

Brochure

https://www.armstrongflooring.com/content/dam/armstrongflooring/residential/files/brochure/Alterna.pdf

Alterna Composition

Alterna flooring has three distinct layers that tell you everything about how durable it is. These layers also help bring waterproof qualities to the floor while withstanding heavy foot traffic.

The first layer is the advanced Nano-Particle Aluminum Oxide Wear Finish. With aluminum oxide becoming a popular compound in many products requiring durability, you now see where the power of Alterna comes from. 

Thanks to aluminum oxide being used commonly as an abrasive, you also see why it's the top layer. Alterna's strength in one layer proves the sturdy construction of this product. It's quite the difference from other floors that usually require more layers to make it robust.

The second layer is the printed design. Digital photography here gives a convincing look of stone and tile. Armstrong is now a leader in this technology after starting in Europe earlier in the decade.

Using high-definition printing here offers real imagery of tile and stone. What makes this unique is the floor looks more pristine this way than if using the real materials.

The third layer is a stone composite base layer made of 75% real stone. Yes, there are some elements of real stone here. None of it is on the surface, though, so you never have to worry about maintaining it as real stone.

Why Buy Armstrong Alterna Flooring?

• Durable, including being waterproof. It's also scratch and stain-resistant.
• Comfortable to walk on, including being warmer than real stone or tile.
• Has diverse styles and colors available.
• Easy to install with Armstrong's pre-mixed adhesive.
• Residential products come with Lifetime Warranties.

Real Customer Testimonials

What do customers think of Armstrong's Alterna floors? On their website, Armstrong offers a good look at customer feelings about their purchases and how the floor helped specific rooms.

Many five-star reviews exist on-site to give you a good idea of how Alterna works in homes. They also have insightful Q&As that help answer pertinent questions you may have about Alterna floors.

One such customer who bought the Allegheny Slate Engineered Tile product in 2016 offered a picture of their floor five years later. As the reviewer noted:

"Purchased in 2016; looks like brand new! We had installed a new sunroom addition to our home. With grandchildren, I needed something that was highly durable. I found it!"

Another review for Grain Directions Engineered Tile (Antiquated Ivory) gave good insight into how Alterna works in older homes. Said the reviewer:

"My wife and I chose this Armstrong Grain Directions Antiqued Ivory for several reasons. First, it's different than everything you see elsewhere. The antiqued look worked perfectly in our remodeled farmhouse. Is it wood? Is it stone? You decide, but it's just beautiful! Whichever Alterna product you choose, you can't go wrong."

One popular Alterna product is the Mesa Stone Engineered Tile (Light Gray) that received three five-star reviews. One reviewer noted how well Alterna works in kitchens. They noted:

"When planning our complete kitchen makeover, we went to Messner Flooring where we found the perfect floor to go with our cabinets and counters. We could not be happier with the new floor which was installed earlier this month. It's beautiful, feels great to walk on, and is so easy to keep clean. We will be enjoying this floor for years and years."

The Q&A sections have just as much useful information from those asking how Alterna works while using grout. One question on the Mesa Stone product asked:

"We are considering D7113, but are concerned about grout staining and difficulty cleaning. How well does D7113 resist stains?"

The answer from Armstrong staff:

"Thank you for contacting Armstrong Flooring, Inc.

Our Flexstrong™ Premixed Sanded Acrylic Grout is stain resistant, meaning it is easier to clean and will clean to its original color. We recommend using a white 3M pad with our Once n Done cleaner to help remove grout stains. Once n Done can be purchased through your local Home Depot or Lowe's back where they stock the flooring materials. Below is a link to our maintenance recommendations for our Alterna material. Please let me know if I can assist with anything further. Have a great day!"

Another question on the Artisan Forge Engineered Tile product asked:

"Is it possible to install this type of flooring on a slightly uneven surface?" 

Said Armstrong in response:

"Thank you for contacting Armstrong Flooring. We do recommend that the subfloor must be clean, flat, level and smooth. All substrates must be flat. Variations in flatness must not exceed 1/16" (1.6 mm) in 1' (30.5 cm) or 3/16" (4.8 mm) in 10' (3.05 m). Fill low areas in the substrate with S-194 Patch, Underlayment & Embossing Leveler/S-195 Underlayment Additive. I have attached the full installation instructions below for you. I hope this information is helpful.

Armstrong cares about providing its customers with as much information as possible. We recommend reading through the various reviews and Q&As to find some pertinent things you need to know. Every customer has unique needs when it comes to flooring, something Armstrong can answer with quality products like Alterna.

Why Does the Mil Wear Layer Matter?

The thickness level of your Alterna floor makes a big difference in how durable it stays through the years. A mil wear layer is measured in mil, but sometimes in millimeters. It's usually written as both where you get the mil measurement, followed by a figure in mm. 

For Alterna, the thickness is generally 4.1 mm thick, with a 5 mil urethane wear layer. In terms of inches, this is usually around .160 inches. A wear layer like this is the same equivalent of hardwood. 

While maybe not as thick as other brands in the Armstrong catalog, it's still well-suited for busy homes. It's mostly meant for homes that have moderate foot traffic, if still very usable in moderately busy commercial businesses.

Either scenario works. All it comes down to is deciding how much foot traffic your area receives per day. The aluminum oxide coating on top is made to take on water, scratches, and stains to eliminate any chances of early damage.

Having a lower mil wear layer means you'll get a cheaper price on Alterna compared to other brands. Nevertheless, the materials are what matter, and the promise of keeping up with extensive use is made for a lifetime. 

Always take time out to measure how much foot traffic you get in your home environment. Doing so helps you decide if Alterna is the right choice for you beyond the stunning visuals they provide.

Alterna Collections

Alterna comes in two collections: Alterna and Alterna Reserve. You can find 97 products under the single Alterna name, but 10 unique floor products in the Reserve line.

Three distinct looks are available in each: Stones & Naturals, Overall Patterns, and Distressed Wood. Out of these, you can get four different tile sizes: 8x16-inch, 12x12-inch, 12x24-inch, or 16x16-inch.

Sixteen beautiful colors are also available ranging from Beige to Yellow. 

Out of the main Alterna name, you can find unique product names like Curvatures Engineered Tile (Night Blue). With this product, you can enjoy a 12x24-inch tile with a unique blueish color. Thanks to the design name of Curvatures, it's an example of some of the stylish and modern looks you can get with Alterna. 

This comes with a low-gloss finish, plus a urethane/no-wax wear layer. It also has a warranty designed for homes and commercial businesses.

Those of you looking for a standard white color may prefer Solid Colors Engineered Tile. You can get this in a 16x16-inch size, plus 14 pieces per carton. Keep in mind you have to buy the grout separately, though easy to find. A floating underlayment may also be needed if you need more sound control.

Some Alterna products get phased out, and one popular floor in limited supply now is the Artisan Forge Engineered Tile. Armstrong's Golden Glaze model in this line is 16x16-inches with a beautiful golden color scheme. Many people use this in their bathrooms and kitchens because of its moderate waterproof qualities. 

What about products in the Alterna Reserve line? Only ten products are in this category, yet offer dark and more rustic colors. These come in Athenian Travertine, Grain Directions, and Historic District.

The Athenian Travertine product uses a standout Honey Onyx color. It comes in a 12x24-inch size, not including being naturally abundant with limestone as most Alterna floors are. Eco-friendliness additionally makes this a favorite with many customers.

In the Grain Directions line, you have Tobacco Etch, one of the darkest colors available in Alterna. Here, you get the look of distressed wood, specifically the look of Hickory. You can only get this in 12x24-inch size, albeit perfect for large rooms.

Historic District has several variations, with Reclaim Bay a popular one based on its traditional look of Pine. Coming in a Distressed Wood appearance, Reclaim Bay is available in 12x24, despite needing a climate-controlled environment before installation. Temperatures need to be between 65F and 85F to properly acclimate. The same applies to the grout product.

Get these Alterna Reserve products before they go away. All of them are in shorter supply as of this writing.

Installation Information

Unlike other Armstrong floors that use a click-through method for installing pieces, Alterna uses strictly an adhesive. A pre-mixed mortar is available to install each piece with ease. 

While most people can spread this adhesive without issue, it does require following directions carefully. It's slightly more complicated compared to a non-adhesive method. 

Armstrong notes that, before you begin the installation, consider Alterna is not made for shower walls, or fireplace surrounds. One reason is the tiles will likely be exposed to continuous saturation and excessively high temperatures. This is sure to cause damage, so only consider Alterna as a floor option.

If you decide to install Alterna on your own, it's possible to get it done in one day. However, if you've never done a floor installation with adhesives before, it's better to hire a professional. They can get it done even faster based on their expertise. Installing Alterna is still, by far, faster than if installing real stone or tile.

Assuming you install the floor on your own, be sure to check your subfloor first. It needs to be dry, clean, and flat. Take all furniture out of your room, and remove your wall trim. 

Gather your tools, which should include things like a utility knife, a roller, and an underlayment leveler as starters. What's most important before you start placing the tile is to read every word of your installation directions.

Each Alterna product might have specific differences in what you need to do to prepare. One thing uniform is acclimation is sometimes an issue if you live in overly extreme environments. Excessively cold or hot climates may require you to acclimate the tile pieces for a short time. 

While you install your tiles, be sure to find your starting point before beginning. You don't want to install tiles to a point where you nearly trap yourself into a corner.

Regardless, you can walk on the tiles immediately after the install. The only thing you can't do is any rolling on the tiles with heavy furniture. You'll have to let the adhesive dry for 72 hours before placing anything heavy back in place.

Information On Armstrong Alterna Warranties

Armstrong Alterna floors have two kinds of warranties designed for homes and commercial businesses. These differ on how long they last going on the idea your home won't receive as much traffic as a commercial location would.

One significant aspect of Alterna warranties is that their residential versions of the flooring have a lifetime warranty. It's a "limited" lifetime warranty based on the prospect the floor won't falter in various categories. These prospective categories include:

• No wearing through
• No manufacturing defects
• No ripping or tearing from household use
• No indenting
• No discoloring from underlayment use
• No curling of edges

Should any of these occur naturally without you causing them, your lifetime warranty is 100% covered. Read the directions of your floor carefully so you never cause damage to the floor surface accidentally.

While a lifetime warranty is a great thing for your home, Armstrong does have a limited commercial warranty as well. No one says you can't apply that to your own home if your residential environment is overly busy. 

A commercial warranty is limited based on the idea a business always gets more foot traffic than a home does. Armstrong has their commercial warranty set at five years. 

The light commercial use intended for this warranty can also cover multi-unit dwellings and low-traffic retail shops. If you encounter any natural damage within five years, Armstrong replaces your floor, plus pays labor costs. 

It's worth noting Armstrong will also replace your floor once if you encounter any discoloring from mold or mildew due to a flood. Should you encounter water damage again, Armstrong won't cover a replacement the second time. 

Many natural disasters that could occur aren't covered under Armstrong's warranty. For instance, if your floor is exposed to standing water for long periods, you'll be responsible for repairs. 

Overall, any damage caused by floods, fire, or intentional abuse voids your warranty. Your floor is otherwise protected for a lifetime at home with the right care, something not all flooring companies offer. 

Call 1-800-233-3823 to file a warranty claim directly with Armstrong. Also, keep the receipt of the floor dealer where you bought your Alterna product.

An In-Depth Look at Armstrong Alterna Construction

What materials do Armstrong Alterna floors use that make them so durable and useful for living spaces? The layers of each engineered tile only tell part of the story.

Alterna is categorized under luxury vinyl tile (LVT) because it uses vinyl construction to keep it resilient. It's still marketed as engineered tile, though, because of how it offers the look of real tile.

Engineered tile (or what's known as engineered stone tile) is sometimes mistaken as agglomerate stone tile, which is constructed with bits of marble and pieces of rock. Many people use this type of engineered tile on their countertops and for backsplashes.

Armstrong's engineered tile is constructed using 30% vinyl and 70% ceramic. You're essentially getting a combination of the best qualities of vinyl and ceramic tile without the tile being real. 

The vinyl you can enjoy here is stronger, placing it in the LVT category. At the same time, you have the visual beauty of stone and tile through a printed image.

You already know about the background on aluminum oxide providing the durability aspect of Alterna's surface layer. What about the digital printing technology providing the look of natural materials?

As Floor Covering Weekly noted in 2019, resilient flooring has seen a huge innovative advancement in printing tech. FCW quoted directly from Armstrong:

"Morgan Lucente, design manager for Armstrong Flooring, explained, 'One of the biggest advancements is in the number of unique visuals or planks in a design; the more unique visuals you have, the more natural and realistic the product is.' She noted that longer and wider planks and embossed in register texture are also examples of how far the technology has come."

High-definition print decor films, embossed in register and with enhanced beveled technology are the reasons these images look so appealing now. Still, the technology keeps evolving, including printing the image directly on the tile or plank. 

Above the imaging, what makes Alterna so comfortable to walk on? Vinyl is already softer, bringing a warmer feel to the floor than real natural materials. Vinyl itself might not always feel warm until using a quality underlayment, something Alterna offers. 

These underlayments use foam and cork to help bring a warmer feel. What makes those materials so important is they also help with sound control in any living space. 

Residential Use for Alterna Floors

Which rooms are the best to use Armstrong Alterna flooring? Armstrong notes you can use Alterna virtually anywhere, and that's very true.

Let's take a look at the most typical rooms where Alterna is often used, plus rooms you might not expect. The only area where you can't use Alterna is outdoors like on driveways, walkways, or in garages.

Living Rooms

Using Alterna flooring in a living room might still seem a bit different from the ordinary. For generations, families have used carpeting in their living rooms. You have some good reasons to use Alterna flooring there instead.

Carpeting is still a challenge to keep up. Vacuuming takes extra work, not including dealing with stains that can potentially set in. Thanks to Alterna being soft and warm on the feet, it can act as an alternative to carpeting.

When you have a lot of kids and pets playing in your living room for long hours, you need something durable and stain-resistant. Alterna does it for you while giving you a unique color and aesthetic to add home value. 

Now you can hold parties in your living room without worrying about spills or excessive foot traffic. You'll also have a floor as a real conversation piece.

Kitchens

A kitchen is the most typical Alterna floor location. Based on the waterproof qualities of the floor, there isn't a more apropos space. 

Alterna's benefits of taking on water are only part of why you should use this floor in a kitchen. The comfort level is well-noted, making it perfect for those of you who spend considerable time in your kitchen making meals. No one wants to stand on a hard floor while making dinner every night.

Most importantly, the warmer feel of Alterna floors means you can stand on your kitchen floor barefoot and not feel chilled. Those nights when you walk in for a late-night snack without footwear won't chill your feet to the bone.

And the sound control aspect of Armstrong Alterna needs more mention. Foam and cork in the underlayment help absorb sound well in noisy environments. Your kitchen may be one of those if you're always using food prep equipment to make elaborate meals. Also, general people chatter in a kitchen becomes annoying when you have guests over.

Alterna hits every checkmark for a kitchen, including when potential leaks from the refrigerator or sink occur in one area of the floor. Assess how much floor traffic your kitchen receives to decide whether Alterna is the best floor choice. One thing for sure is it'll give a new aesthetic to your kitchen floor if you've mostly used linoleum there for years.

Bathrooms

Other than your kitchen, you probably spend the most time in your bathroom. You need a good floor in there to hold up to water, and general wear. 

Perhaps you're still thinking about going with something overly traditional like linoleum or laminate. These are fine, but to hold up longer-term, Armstrong's Alterna is a good choice. Think about what the look of Alterna can also do to make your bathroom look distinctive.

Let's start with the waterproof qualities. Yes, Alterna will help protect against things like leaking toilets or sinks, just as long as you don't leave the water standing. 

Comfort level is equally important here since your family likely spends time standing in place, namely in front of the mirror. They can stand in the bathroom barefoot without feeling like they're standing on ice-cold stone. 

Loud sounds in your bathroom also won't be problematic. No doubt you've experienced floors in your bathroom that amplified loud noises ranging from hair dryers to the sound of your voice. All of these grate on the nerves without good sound absorption. Alterna has you covered there when you have a large family or guests staying overnight.

Aesthetically, you'll reinvent your bathroom with the unique colors and patterns from Alterna. With the chance you might be selling your home soon, adding Alterna floors to your bathroom gives it new appeal buyers are sure to find attractive.

Laundry Room

Are you considering placing a new floor in your laundry room soon? No doubt the previous floor is looking worn by now if you haven't replaced it in a long while. It may also be linoleum, something sure to wear out, if after a few decades. 

In an older home, you'll want to think about what kind of floor goes in your laundry room if looking to live there long-term. Considering Alterna offers a lifetime guarantee, you can enjoy a durable floor in the laundry area for the rest of your life.

Like a kitchen or bathroom, you may spend more time in your laundry room than you think. Doing laundry involves a lot of standing in place, requiring a soft and warm floor. Alterna provides this for you while also livening up the area with beautiful color and texture. 

Sooner or later, friends or other guests will see your laundry room. They may have to walk through this area to visit a bathroom or other area of your home. Why not match it up with the rest of your home spaces if using Alterna in all your other rooms?

Of course, the waterproof qualities also help if your washing machine ever has a water hose leak. Your kids or pets may also play in that area when you're not looking, bringing the floor's durable qualities into play.

Just don't forget to clean your Alterna floor in your laundry room every weekend to keep it looking like new for years to come.

Bedrooms

Armstrong Alterna floors in a bedroom might sound a bit unusual. Give it strong consideration since it has every quality to make your bedroom floor better than it ever has been.

At the top of the list is the warmth of the floor when you inevitably get out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Walking that floor by night in your bare feet would be freezing with any other type of flooring other than carpet. Alterna's vinyl keeps it warm at all times so it won't make you shriek when stepping foot on it during overnight hours.

Then consider the durable qualities of Alterna for a bedroom. Your kids or grandkids may be playing in there for long hours during the day. The same goes for your pets when you're not looking. 

All of those qualities make Alterna a better alternative to carpet in your bedroom. Above all, the look engineered tile gives to your bedroom is worth the effort to bring real value. It'll allow you to share pics of your bedroom and not feel embarrassed showing what kind of aging floor you have in there. 

In the future, if you decide to maybe sell your home, an Alterna floor is going to catch the eye of prospective buyers when seeing your bedroom. They won't initially believe it isn't real stone or tile.

Commercial Applications for Armstrong Alterna Flooring

What kind of commercial businesses can use Armstrong Alterna floors? Any workplace can use Alterna, from busy environments to more quiet office settings.

Take a look at some common commercial locations where Alterna is used including locations not necessarily as busy as a retail store.

Retail Store

Have you ever wondered what kind of floor a retail store usually has? If you've been to other stores, you've maybe checked out the competition. Are they using Armstrong floors there?

Armstrong's Alterna is a good choice for retail environments, as long as it has moderate floor traffic. Plus, it's simply good for branding since the textures and colors set individual statements. 

For your employees who have to stand in place for long hours, the comfort level of Alterna always makes a big difference. The foam/cork underlayment and vinyl material won't make workers' feet feel sore by the end of the day like they once felt.

Best of all is you can keep your Alterna floor in your retail environment for many years. The process of having to replace a floor in a busy store is not something you want very often. With proper maintenance, you may never have to replace your Alterna floor in your store for the life of your business.

Business / Home Offices

Alterna floor usage in an office is something you've maybe never considered. If you manage an office, you still have to think about flooring and how long it'll hold up. Whether your office gets moderately heavy foot traffic or not, you'll need a floor that won't wear out after only a year. 

Alterna works well for office spaces thanks to the durability aspect, plus for the aesthetic value. You may have visitors who see your office from time to time. Bringing a rustic look to your office brings something unique and trendy. 

Some of your office staff may also stand in place for long periods while working at standing desks. An Alterna floor feels like a soft carpet for them at a better price. Your after-hours maintenance crew will also appreciate how easy Alterna is to clean. No more having to deal with doing extra cleaning on a low-pile carpet.

Sound control is a big plus using Alterna in an office. Even if the era of loud typewriters is over, other loud sounds can amplify in an office like printers or general chatter. Using a floor that better reflects sound is important for any work environment more prone to distractions.

Medical Offices

Armstrong's Alterna is also useful in medical offices ranging from hospitals to small clinics. Those of you managing the design of medical environments need to think about how your floor is going to hold up long-term so you don't disrupt daily activity.

In a hospital, foot traffic may vary, depending on the rate of medical emergencies. Lining your hallways with Armstrong Alterna makes it possible to take on wear and tear for long, continual days. Yet, you can make your hospital floor look appealing to the eye without looking drab.

For places like dental offices, Alterna is ideal. You don't get quite as much traffic in a dentist's office as other medical clinics. Most people are going to be lying down for their procedures. Not that dental staff won't be walking those floors all day long. They'll appreciate how soft and warm Alterna feels. 

Think about using Alterna for medical waiting rooms as well. As much as you think people are sitting and waiting there, many others also have to stand in line to check-in for appointments or pay bills. Patients hanging out in this environment can enjoy the comfort of their Alterna floor while also taking in the beautiful aesthetic these floors continue to bring.