Armstrong Alterna LVT
Experience Warmth and Comfort
Like natural 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 in natural stone, including woven 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, Armstrong’s Alterna provides a product with appealing features like few others.
Alterna is all about recreating the look of natural stone and tile. The concept of “engineered tile” might 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
Alterna is 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.
Alterna’s comfortable 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
Is Armstrong Alterna the right flooring for your property? Consider the pros and cons of using Alterna-engineered tile flooring.
Pros
>Alterna floors have a warm and comfortable feel, something different from what you experience with real stone and tile. When you buy natural stone flooring, it feels hard when walked or played on—not ideal if you plan to keep a comfortable floor space, including walking around in socks or while barefoot. Real stone and ceramic tile feel cold to the touch, not something you’d want in a bedroom.
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 stays durable, even when placing grout around the floor surface. Use Armstrong sanded acrylic grout for Alterna grouted installation.
Alterna floors never crack. If you’ve ever had natural 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 natural stone on the surface is the more convenient way to do flooring. You’re getting the definitive look of natural stone yet not having to deal with the considerable upkeep of the real thing.
Alterna 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. Incorporating these styles into other rooms, where the appearance of natural stone or ceramic is typically not used, can also enhance the value of your home, particularly if you have plans to sell it.
Cons:
>Your Alterna floor might eventually have a dull look if you maintain it. Many who don’t clean their vinyl flooring once per week often become surprised when it loses its shine after a while.
This issue can be readily resolved by dedicating a little time to cleaning, whenever it suits your schedule. The cleaning aspects of Alterna are simple and won’t take too much out of your day.
Pre-Purchase Q&A for Armstrong Alterna
How Do You Clean Armstrong Alterna Flooring?
Considering this is the look of natural stone and tile, many assume cleaning Armstrong Alterna is complicated. It’s not—it’s the simplest floor to clean off any in the marketplace.
Thanks to a stain- and soil-resistant surface, stains don’t set in. Still, your floor should be cleaned once weekly to keep it pristine. Simply sweep or vacuum on your days off. Remember to avoid using any vacuum with a beater bar to prevent potential damage on your vinyl floor.
You can also use flooring cleaners from Armstrong for tougher stains. However, 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 installation without any complications.
It’s the thin-set mortar that’s always been a problem with those wanting real ceramic tile or stone. Using this mortar is often messy and takes extra time to spread due to measuring and mixing.
Alterna uses a patented adhesive product that never makes a mess. It can be spread within wide areas, unlike typical thin-set. 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. Note that this is only the basics of installation, something you’ll want to learn more about later.
Where Do You Buy Armstrong Alterna Flooring?
Floor City offers an extensive range of Armstrong Alterna products, providing customers with multiple options based on their specific needs and preferences. Easily browse through our different collections of flooring view product details, and place your orders online! Floor City has provided quality flooring at affordable prices to over 50,000 customers nationwide since 1992.
If you have any questions or want more information on any product, like Alterna flooring, feel free to contact our flooring specialists at (888) 868-5002 or send us a message.
Whether you are shopping for your home or a commercial project, Floor City can provide the flooring solutions you need with the added benefit of nationwide shipping, ensuring you can get your chosen Armstrong Alterna Flooring no matter where you are located.
What Is the Wear Layer of Armstrong Alterna Flooring?
Thickness level is an important aspect of Armstrong’s Alterna floors. It wouldn’t be as durable as advertised without a thick wear layer.
You can enjoy an advanced nano-particle aluminum oxide wear surface 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 the 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 ensure 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.
Alterna Composition
Alterna flooring has three distinct layers that tell you everything about how durable it is. These layers also keep the floor waterproof while withstanding heavy foot traffic.
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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.
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The second layer is the printed design. Digital photography here gives a convincing look of natural stone and tile, with styles that vary from woven marble to slate. Armstrong is now a leader in this technology after starting in Europe earlier in the decade. Using high-definition printing offers real imagery of tile and stone. What makes this unique is the floor looks more pristine this way than if using real materials.
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The third layer is a stone composite base layer made of 75% real stone. Yes, there are some elements of real stone! None of it is on the surface, however, so you never have to worry about maintaining it as a real stone.
Why Buy Armstrong Alterna Flooring?
Consider these reasons for buying Armstrong Alterna:
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It is durable, including being waterproof. It’s also scratch- and stain-resistant.
It has a comfortable surface to walk on, including being warmer than real stone or tile.
It has diverse styles and colors available.
It is 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. They also have insightful Q&As that help answer pertinent questions you may have about Alterna floors.
One customer who bought the Allegheny Slate engineered tile in 2016 offered a picture of their floor five years later. They 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 (antiqued ivory) gave good insight into how Alterna works in older homes:
"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), which 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."
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 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.”
We recommend reading through the various reviews and Q&As on Armstrong’s website as well as on Floor City’s to know important info from real customers. Every customer has unique needs when it comes to flooring, something Armstrong can answer with quality products like Alterna tiles.
Why Does the Mil Wear Layer Matter?
The thickness level of your Alterna floor significantly affects 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-engineered tile flooring, 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—the 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 spaces with moderate foot traffic, so it can still be used in moderately busy commercial businesses.
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-engineered tile flooring 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.
Alterna’s Curvatures is 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 the Armstrong Alterna in White. You can get this in a 16x16-inch size. Keep in mind you have to buy the grout separately, though it should be easy to find. A floating underlayment may also be needed if you need more sound control.
What about products in the Alterna Reserve line? Floor City offers three products in this line: Copper Mountain, Antiqued Ivory, and Reclaim Bay.
Armstrong Alterna 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 requires following directions carefully, as it’s slightly more complicated than a non-adhesive method.
Armstrong notes that, before you begin the installation, consider that 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 tiles 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 installing traditional ceramic tile or real stone.
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 a utility knife, a roller, and an underlayment leveler as starters. Ensure you read every word of your installation directions.
Each Alterna product might have specific differences in what you need to do to prepare. However, one thing is certain—acclimation may sometimes be 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 Alterna tiles, be sure to find your starting point before beginning. Don’t install tiles to a point where you nearly trap yourself in a corner.
Regardless, you can walk on the tiles immediately after installation. The only thing you can’t do is roll 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's 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:
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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.
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 and pays labor costs.
Armstrong will also replace your floor once 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.
Ensure you keep the receipt of the floor dealer where you bought your Alterna product.
An In-Depth Look at Armstrong Alterna Construction
Alterna is categorized under luxury vinyl tile (LVT) because it uses vinyl construction to keep it resilient—LVT is one type of resilient flooring. It’s still marketed as engineered tile 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 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 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. The 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 where you want a wonderful space with a comfortable surface to walk on, 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 driveways, walkways, or 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 with. 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
The kitchen, often a hub of activity, is an ideal location for Alterna flooring due to its excellent waterproof properties, making it highly suited to withstand potential leaks from appliances like refrigerators or sinks. Moreover, Alterna flooring offers a warm and comfortable feel, an essential feature for those who spend a significant amount of time cooking and preparing meals, eliminating the discomfort of standing on a hard floor.
Additionally, Alterna flooring is equipped with foam and cork underlayment which effectively absorbs sound, making it ideal for busy kitchens often filled with the noises of food preparation and lively conversations. It can handle high-traffic areas well, though this needs thorough consideration based on the frequency of use in your kitchen.
Furthermore, Alterna flooring introduces a refreshing aesthetic that provides a contemporary upgrade from traditional linoleum flooring, enhancing the overall appeal of your kitchen.
Bathrooms
The bathroom is a high-traffic area in your home that requires durable flooring to withstand water and general wear. While traditional options like linoleum or laminate are acceptable, Armstrong's Alterna flooring offers longer-term durability and unique aesthetics. Alterna flooring is waterproof, offering protection against leaks from toilets or sinks provided the water isn't left standing. It also provides a comfortable underfoot experience, avoiding the cold sensation often associated with stone flooring.
Moreover, Alterna flooring offers excellent sound absorption, minimizing the amplification of loud noises such as hair dryers or voices that could be irritating in a bathroom setting, especially in a large household or when having overnight guests. Alterna flooring also comes in a variety of unique colors and patterns, which can give your bathroom a distinctive look and appeal to potential buyers if you plan to sell your home.
Laundry Room
If you're thinking about installing a new floor in your laundry room, particularly if the existing one is worn or made of aging linoleum, then consider Alterna flooring. Alterna flooring, with its lifetime guarantee, ensures lasting durability in your laundry area, offering both value and quality.
Despite being an often overlooked area of the home, the laundry room necessitates a comfortable and warm floor due to the considerable amount of time spent when you do your laundry. Alterna's waterproof properties also come in handy to handle potential leaks from the washing machine.
Alterna flooring also adds an aesthetic touch with its vibrant colors and textures. It's important to consider the impression your laundry room makes, as it's potentially visible to guests who might need to pass through to access other parts of your home. By extending the use of Alterna flooring into the laundry room, you can achieve a cohesive look across your home.
Offering a soft, comfortable surface, durability, easy installation and maintenance, and the beauty and style to rival natural stone, porcelain, ceramic tile, or woven marble, Armstrong's Alterna engineered tile flooring stands out as a sound choice for your home.
