Armstrong Luxury Vinyl Tile & Plank Flooring

LVP & LVT Flooring

Armstrong Flooring continues to lead in the Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and plank flooring market. Their LVT collections are some of the most varied in the world, including giving you the convincing looks of both tile and wood for any room at home or at work. You can get these products in various appearances, including distressed wood, traditional wood, specialty wood, and stones & natural.

Resilient Wood & Stone Look Vinyl Floor Coverings

The first true standout of Armstrong LVT goes beyond how it looks. It's the resiliency of these floors and how they hold up under heavy floor traffic. Through the use of a fiberglass structure, you have something that can withstand busy homes or businesses.

Armstrong LVT Vinyl Floor Tile

Armstrong continues to lead in the Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and plank flooring market. Their LVT collections are some of the most varied in the world, including giving you the convincing looks of both tile and wood for any room at home or at work.

These are divided into two main product categories: Luxe Plank and Vivero. The distinction might look like the difference between the look of wood and tile. Both products offer a convincing look of either type of material.

Each product has specific features, however. Vivero is known for its use of Diamond 10 Technology, something you'll want to know more about later.

You'll also want to know more about what the Armstrong LVT wear layer is made of and how thick it is. Color options are very comprehensive and range from standard beige to bright shades of yellow.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Waterproof - Armstrong LVT and planks are all waterproof, giving you further assurance of the care the company gives their floors. It's also impervious to scratches, stains, and gouges, something you can't say when using real natural materials.

You still need to care for your LVT floor to prevent any stains or markings from becoming permanent. The floor gives back to you if you put in a little maintenance time once per week.

Pro: Made in America - Armstrong continues production of their LVT and planks here in the U.S.A. That's something every flooring company can't say nowadays. With others still producing flooring in China, it should make those who want to buy American feel better buying a real, U.S.-manufactured floor.

Pro: No interior installation limitations - It's possible to install Armstrong LVT flooring in any room of your home. The diversity of it makes it possible to place it in areas beyond the usual like kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms. Many people now use these floors in unexpected areas that used to use more traditional flooring. Thanks to LVTs beauty and comfort level, you could place it in a living room, bedroom, or other miscellaneous rooms.

One popular spot where these durable floors go is in entryways or mudrooms that get considerable foot traffic. Thanks to the aesthetic quality of the floor, you can set a statement immediately while taking on busy traffic, plus dirt and water.

Pro: Realistic look and texture - Armstrong LVT lets you enjoy the convincing look of wood or tile without anyone noticing it's just a printed digital image. What makes this convenient is the image of wood and tile printed on the surface gives the impression your natural floor is pristine. In reality, it would probably never look that good using the real thing, even with proper maintenance.

Con: It doesn't last forever - You'll eventually have to replace your Armstrong LVT floor when it goes out of style but this con is more of a pro considering how long Armstrong luxury vinyl floors typically last. No floor in the world can last forever. Real wood has the potential to last the longest but seldom does due to the extreme wear.

Your Armstrong floor is still going to last for a couple of decades with good care. A convenient install method called FasTak allows you to use a light adhesive to place the tile and planks. Removing those pieces is just as easy when you need a complete floor replacement someday. Keep in mind, though, that it might be a generation before it needs replacing, making it a household task for your children.

Pre-Purchase Q&A

What is Luxury Vinyl Tile?

The term "LVT" has perhaps been a mystery to you while shopping for floors. It stands for "Luxury Vinyl Tile", and it does have distinguishing differences from standard vinyl tile. It's the word "Luxury" with a literal meaning. This means the vinyl tile flooring you're buying has extra qualities that make it more durable. What this means further is you'll get more layers without necessarily making the floor heavy. All the materials used are lightweight enough to make installation and removal easy.

The stability layer of Armstrong LVT is what makes it strong for multiple uses. However, all the added quality materials built-in make it more protective against water and general wear.

In all, you truly are getting a luxury floor compared to ordinary vinyl floors that hold up for less time. More people consider LVT nowadays because it holds up better than using real natural materials. Buying real wood or tile just doesn't make sense nowadays when you can spend less and get something that looks real to the naked eye.

How Do You Install Armstrong LVT and Planks?

Learning how to install Armstrong's LVT flooring is probably the first thing on your mind. Getting that floor installed quickly and easily is more than possible based on Armstrong's FasTak technology. This enables a light, pressure-sensitive adhesive to place your tile or planks on your subfloor.

It creates a solid bond over most subfloors, and you can even reposition the pieces if you need to. Remember, though, that a light adhesive is not the same as using glue. FasTak technology is not nearly as messy as using glue-down methods. Glue also usually requires a professional installation.

What makes FasTak most convenient is it requires no drying time. You don't even need any extra tools. Just place each piece in place when ready, making it releasable if you decide to change your mind on the positioning.

FasTak adhesives apply to LVT and the plank versions of these floors. This makes installation less of a burden and a very workable DIY project. Still, some things need to be considered during an installation. Learning how to prep your work area is something you'll want to learn more about later.

How Do You Cut Armstrong LVT and Planks During Installation?

A major plus of Armstrong LVT flooring is how lightweight it is, making it easy to cut if you need to. Before you install LVT flooring, you always need a quality tile cutter or utility knife. Using these makes it simple to cut the pieces to the shapes you want.

Not all floors are like this and sometimes require going to a saw to cut pieces. Cutting right through the Armstrong LVT layers takes little effort. All you need to do to prepare is put down a piece of cardboard on the floor as your base while doing the cutting.

Being able to cut one piece or plank in two won't make any mess either. You don't have to worry about creating dust or ruining the tile. To make more complex cuts like curves (or putting a hole in the tile), it's a good idea to use a heat gun on the tile to make it easier to cut through.

How Do You Clean Armstrong LVT and Planks?

You already know that proper maintenance is important with Armstrong LVT floors. Cleaning at least once per week is all it requires to keep it looking pristine.

Handling spills shouldn't wait since fluids and other substances could seep between the planks and harm your subfloor. While the floor can handle these spills, always clean them up as fast as possible.

For general cleaning, you only have to sweep your floor once per week to keep it free from dirt and dust. Vacuuming is also acceptable as long as you don't use a beater bar on the front of the machine.

Mopping is a good method of deeper cleaning. Just don't use cleaning solutions that have abrasive chemicals. These leave behind scratches on vinyl, including possible filmy stains.

Shining your Armstrong floor is also a good idea periodically. Armstrong does provide some cleaning solutions you can apply. Regardless, creating a soap out of a gentle detergent is suitable for the above mopping.

Where Can You Buy Armstrong LVT and Plank Flooring?

Any authorized dealer of Armstrong flooring carries their LVT and plank brands. Most popular home goods stores within the U.S. carry Armstrong floors, albeit at full retail prices. Your best bet is to look for discounts online. Many online flooring dealers provide Armstrong LVT at lower rates, including having it delivered to your door.

When you decide to buy these floors, make sure the flooring company has knowledgeable staff on hand. Someone with real expertise is going to help you make a smarter buying decision. Most corporate box stores don't hire real flooring experts to give you dependable information.

Make sure you have all your questions thoroughly answered before you buy your Armstrong LVT floor. Some online outlets send you samples in the mail so you can test a tile or plank to see how well it matches your interior decor.

LVT Flooring Layers

Each layer of Armstrong LVT flooring gives you special materials that make up the whole of its quality. You should know each layer and why each matter.

The first layer is the wear layer, which determines the floor's thickness. Each wear layer from Armstrong differs in its thickness based on the particular sub-brand you buy.

Their Vivero Good, Better, and Best brands all determine what the wear layer thickness is. The Good brands have 0.11 inches of thickness, translating to 2.79 mm. Better brands go to 0.13 inches, and Best brands go to 0.16 inches.

How you determine the wear layer you need depends on measuring the foot traffic you have in your home or business. You should be able to estimate this based on the average amount of people who enter those doors every day.

The second layer is the image layer, which is digitally printed. Here, you get a photographic, digital image of real wood and tile so it looks real without it being real.

Digital printing techniques on LVT flooring continue to grow in popularity. They haven't been around too long, though. The process started in Europe during the early 2010s, finally prompting American flooring companies to do the same. Armstrong is one of the leaders in using the process. Most uses of the technology create a recurring pattern of the material so no one can tell it's a photographic image.

The third layer is the resilient core, plus the backing of LVT. It's here where you get the real heart of the floor in making it feel comfortable. Armstrong mostly uses PVC here to aid in adding to the floor's durability.

Backing on the floor is typically made up of cork. Using this material has become more commonplace in the flooring industry because it helps provide further softness to the floor. Although it's also useful for sound absorption. If you have a lot of loud noises in your home or business, the quality backing from Armstrong helps tremendously.

Why Buy Armstrong LVT and Planks?

Made in the U.S.A.
Resilient against water, scratches, and stains
Numerous design highlights with realistic looks of wood
Simple to maintain
Extensive warranty

Testimonials

What do customers say about who bought Armstrong LVT flooring? Getting word directly from those who already live on these floors can give you a good idea of what you might need.

A good cross-section of reviews available on Armstrong's website tells numerous stories of personal experiences. Most of them are positive and offer five-star reviews.

One good example comes from an anonymous reviewer giving the Armstrong Arbor Orchard version of the LVT floor five stars while detailing success with cleanups. As the reviewer noted:

“I installed about 1,500 square feet of this flooring in my home about two years ago. Best choice I made. The flooring is durable - does not scratch with the movement of heavy furniture. It is easy to clean - I dropped a huge amount of paint on the floor, and ALL of it cleaned up with no long-term effects. Clean-up from pets is a breeze. I have received so many compliments about my flooring. I am so pleased with this flooring.”

Comments like this prove even the worst type of situations don't become disasters with Armstrong flooring. Nevertheless, it still needs to be said that all spills need cleaning as quickly as you can. Being able to handle paint spills, though, should ease your mind on the spill test.

Another reviewer for Cinder Forest LVT noted the appeal of the floor for their office. The reviewer said:

“We just had this product installed in our office common area. The finished product is seamless and provides an updated curb appeal, especially when clients come to visit our showroom. We were happily surprised to see the product being glued down. Would definitely recommend it!”

Now you see how diverse Armstrong LVT is for both the home and at work. The commercial business use of these floors is exponential, even if versions like Vivero Best are the better option for more thickness.

For an example of how these floors work for kitchens and laundry rooms, check out the review from someone who bought Tropical Oak LVT :

"My wife and I are 70 years old. We installed 400 square feet of Tropical Oak with the Fast-Tack installation concept in our kitchen and laundry room ourselves.

We are thrilled with the result, this floor is as beautiful as natural wood but we don't have to worry about water (plumbing leak, etc.) destroying it.

It's been over a month now and we've found that crumbs or spills wipe up readily, it's very easy to keep clean.

We would say that this is the best-looking vinyl we've ever seen (and we looked at many samples prior to purchasing this one).

We would highly recommend this product."

Testimonials from older customers give you further proof of how easy this floor is to install for most ages. With Armstrong making their LVT waterproof, you never have to worry about the worst-case scenario in rooms vulnerable to moisture.

Many similar reviews are available on Armstrong's website devoted to LVT. Their site also has Q&As where customers ask questions and Armstrong experts answer them.

A good example of this was a customer asking: "Where is Vivero's Best Flooring Made?" The answer: “We are happy and excited to provide you with durable, high-quality flooring products. The material you're inquiring about is made in the USA and manufactured right here in Lancaster, PA! We are thrilled to manufacture such an awesome product with our new Diamond 10 Technology making it extremely durable, pet and kid-friendly too! Please let me know if I can assist with anything further. Have a great day!”

Why Does the Mil Layer Matter?

You may be wondering what the mil wear layer means on all those Armstrong flooring products. It's essentially the wear layer and the floor thickness. This matters because it determines which LVT floor is best for your surroundings.

Based on the sub-brands of Armstrong LVT floors, the mil wear layer is going to vary widely based on your environment. Residential versions of this type of LVT flooring are going to have a smaller mil wear layer than ones for commercial use. This makes sense because businesses are usually going to get more floor traffic than a home. Of course, this isn't always the case with every individual.

Your home may be very busy every day. Having a lot of children in the house (plus pets) only increases the chances of your new floor wearing out faster. In this case, you may want to get something like Armstrong's Vivero Best for your home, despite normally being a commercial product.

Every circumstance is different, including some businesses not getting as much traffic as others. A dentist's office, for instance, would perhaps get less foot traffic than a hospital or a retail store.

Thickness in the residential and commercial varieties of Armstrong LVT runs from 0.080 inches up to 0.200 inches. The residential versions are within the 0.080-inch range, which would translate to 80 mil. A mil wear layer at this level for a home is very strong, something you can always count on with Armstrong.

Most of the Armstrong LVT brands have higher mil layers than other flooring companies selling residential flooring. Some of the cheapest on the market go as low as 6 mil, which is still acceptable if your floors only get walked on once in a while. Take some time to measure how much traffic your floor gets throughout the day. Based on the mil layer and the warranty you get from Armstrong, you can gain a basic idea of how long the floor will last.

An In-Depth Look at Five Armstrong LVT Collections

All five of the main LVT collections Armstrong offers are suitable for any room. Yet, they have distinct qualities about them, including some unique, patented technologies made only through Armstrong.

Let's take a deep-dive look at all five collections:

American Charm 6

American Charm 6 is so-named because it offers a 6-mil Urethane Plus wear layer. This allows for superior protection against everything from scratches to stains.

Keep in mind this is vinyl wood plank flooring rather than tile. LVT flooring from Armstrong sometimes gives the impression it's all luxury vinyl tile when many of the products offer a wood aesthetic.

You can get either 36 square feet of planks per box or as 24 pieces per box. The general size of each piece is 6"x 36".

Five colors are available in each wood species. These are brown, gray, orange, red-brown, and tan. Your choices are also varied on how you want the wood to look either distressed, traditional, or natural.

While not the highest wear layer you can acquire, it's a floor perfect for any room prone to moisture. Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms are the most common choice uses of American Charm 6.

LUXE Plank with FasTak Install

Thanks to LUXE Plank, you can get the look of wood or stone for your home. It's also one Armstrong LVT floor that comes in the look of wood or tile.

Along with being waterproof and extremely durable, LUXE Plank gives you more variety in the realm of authentic hardwood looks. It even gives you various stylized grain patterns that you can't find on similar floors.

As seen in the title, it also uses the FasTak install method. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are placed on each piece so it firmly adheres to any subfloor. The adhesive isn't so strong that you can't pick a piece back up and reposition it if need be.

When adding the look of stone to the mix, you have a lot more to work with for different rooms in your house. Colors variances are more substantial as well, including everything from beige to white.

This floor comes in two sizes: A wide plank 5 inches and up, or 12 inches x 24 inches for tile. Reviews for LUXE Plank are usually stellar because of its diversity and a particular focus on lasting value. With proper care, a LUXE Plank floor can last you up to 30 years.

Vivero Best

Three Vivero brands are available, with Vivero Best the first one, designed for any space that needs more durability. Vivero floors offer higher mil layers, with Best offering a 20-mil layer suitable for overly busy areas.

It also offers a combination of wood looks and stone, making it another diverse product in the Armstrong catalog. Known for its warmth and beauty, this is another LVT floor you could use at home or in a workspace.

One of the highlights of Vivero Best is its use of Armstrong's patented Diamond 10 Technology. The surface is made of real, cultured diamonds, making it scratch-resistant just like a diamond ring. However, the diamond properties also add to protecting against stains and scuffing. The "10" in Diamond 10 means it scores at 10 on the Mohs scale for mineral hardness. In other words, this tops all other floor finishes available in the industry.

Diamond 10 Technology is exclusive to Armstrong and why they continue to lead with the most durable floors on the planet. Yet, it's more than the durable qualities of Vivero Best that so many continue to buy it. It's even produced here in the U.S.A., something important to many.

Colors are varied and range from black/grey to wood tones. Sizes are either 6 inches x 48 inches, or 9 inches x 48 inches. Wood species range from Amarela Heartwood to Messenia Travertine Antiquity.

Vivero Better

Next in the Vivero series is Vivero Better, upping some of the material quality for more protection. With a 12-mil wear layer and utilizing various trendy hardwood designs, it's a good choice for bustling homes.

Like all Vivero floors, this also uses Diamond 10 Technology to keep your floor looking more pristine over a longer period. Another thing to note is that Vivero floors have an embossed wear surface using various textures to enhance visuals on the surface.

Colors are basic, though mimic the most common aesthetics of wood. This means using black and gray, plus typical wood tones. Wood species looks range from Bluegrass Barnwood Beige Ballad to Vintage Timber Timberwolf.

Vivero Good

As the more basic version of the Vivero brand, Vivero Good still lives up to its name. Despite having a lower mil layer from Best and Better, it has impressive visuals, including much of the same protective elements.

One thing to note about Vivero Good is it uses Armstrong's IntegriLock system for installation. You can essentially click the planks together, making an installation easier than ever. For many, this is easier than adhesives.

The higher up you go in the Vivero line, the higher the performance levels, including longer-lasting warranties.

Armstrong LVT Reviews

LVT Installation Methods

How do you install an LVT floor? As you already know, FasTak technology makes installing these Armstrong floors easier than ever. It's only part of the entire installation process, though.

To have a successful installation of your LVT floor, most of the real work is in preparation. Part of this comes in reading your directions carefully before doing any work.

Various precautions need to be taken with some Armstrong flooring, including proper acclimation to your environment. In other cases, it means prepping your subfloor before the floor is put down.

When starting, make sure your subfloor is clean and dry at the very least. Armstrong LVT can go over most subfloors, but it should never be wet or dirty. Also, make sure it's level. You can buy self-leveling kits to take care of this if your subfloor has cracks.

Move all furniture out of the room before applying the floor as well. Trimming along your walls should also be removed to avoid any damage during the installation process.

Gather all the tools you'll need. It's going to mean having everything from a utility knife to safety goggles. You may even need extra underlayment. The most suitable substrates for installation include concrete, suspended wood with approved wood underlayments, suspended hardwood flooring, single-layer resilient flooring, ceramic tile, and polymeric poured floors.

You can't install Armstrong LVT on carpet or hardwood flooring installed over concrete. As you install the luxury vinyl tile or planks, be sure to plan out where you'll start and end. Pick a starting wall first. Then start laying the pieces in the corner of the room on the left side of your starting wall. While each piece goes into place, you'll want to use a hand roller to make sure the tile or planks fully adhere.

Keep the end joints of each piece staggered to a minimum of 6 inches in adjacent rows to help bring a seamless installation. Butting the edges together neatly gives you a perfect connection of each piece using FasTak.

Transition strips are always provided with your Armstrong LVT order so you can install pieces into closets or other irregular-shaped areas. Remember to wait about five days before you start cleaning your floor. You need to let the adhesive cure for that long before doing thorough mopping.

FasTak vs. Glue-Down Method

The use of the FasTak method on Armstrong LVT is very useful for those who want a DIY installation project. Regardless, it's not the only type of way to install these floors.

Glue-down installation is also possible with all Vivero floors. Some people prefer this to give a more solid installation. If you're placing your LVT floor in a larger room, sometimes glue-down is better since it provides more durability. Also, if you constantly move heavy furniture around a room, glue-down methods prevent the floor from lifting in certain places.

Should you decide on glue-down, keep in mind it's more work during installation. Still, it does give a more permanent installation method, and it's still easy to remove the tiles or planks when the floor needs replacing.

Those of you who have never done glue-down before should consider hiring a professional installer.