Infloormation

The big news in laminate flooring this year is Rustics Premium™ New England Long Plank, a dramatic line from Armstrong which offers a hand-scraped, oiled finish hardwood look and the longest laminate floor boards to date – over seven feet.

Called ‘New England Long Plank’ because it emulates the look of single plank, centuries-old reclaimed hardwood, the floor’s real-life counterpart would be extremely expensive.  The collection was inspired by today’s demand for a time worn look with a matte finish, minus the high price tag. These textural surfaces have the depth, feel and realistic looks of a well-worn floor.

“While the long plank, oiled finish look is gaining in popularity, a lot of people get locked out of this category because of price,” said Milton Goodwin, vice president, Armstrong Laminate & Ceramic.   “Long planks in real wood also can be challenging to install because of the potential for warping.  Our exclusive Lock&Fold® makes installation easier.”

With Lock&Fold the panels do not have to be tapped together; simply fit the tongue-and-groove panels together, fold them down and lock them into place.  The collection offers a 30-year residential and a 5-year light commercial warranty. Colors include Coastline Clam, Boston Tea, Maritime Gray, and River Boat Brown.

IT’S NOT JUST WOOD DESIGNS: NEW PRODUCTS EMULATE NATURAL STONES & CERAMICS

The new Armstrong Laminate Stones & Ceramics collection offers a Limestone in Linen Sand and Tawny Beige, as well as a new Slate inspired by Natural Vermont Slate, in five colors, including Ivory Sand, Pebble Dust, Ebony Mist, Natural Beige and Grey Stone.

Sure to be laminate’s next best seller, Weathered Way replicates the look of tumbled stone in a random block format.  It is available in four colors: Antique Cream, Euro Terracotta, Roman Grey and Earthen Copper.  All floors in the Stones & Ceramics collection can be installed using angle/angle installation; no glue required.

“With continued improvements in design and technology and a growing assortment of products, ranging from long planks and new looks in  stone and ceramic, Armstrong’s newest laminate innovations are ideally suited for people who are looking for high style at a great price,” said Goodwin.

The new collections are available now at flooring retailers nationwide. For general information, or to locate an Armstrong dealer, visit http://www.armstrong.com./flooring/products/laminate

The authentic hardwood looks are breathtaking. The water-resistant performance is superior. The installation is incredibly simple. But the real beauty of Armstrong’s new Luxe Plank™ with patent pending Lynx™ Technology is the flexibility it provides, thanks to its revolutionary design and construction.

Luxe Plank, launching to retail now, is the best option for a beautiful, high performance floor, according to Armstrong Resilient Vice President Allen Cubell.  “A combination of beauty, performance and simplicity makes Luxe Plank superior to any other luxury vinyl tile glue-down or floating system available today,” he said.  “It’s the easiest LVT floating installation on the market.  Luxe Plank with Lynx Technology allows the installer to reposition planks as many times as needed, and still maintain the integrity and appearance of the installation – a practice unheard of until now.”

Lynx Technology, the next generation in floating floor engineering, starts with specially formulated super thick LVT planks combined with a manufactured rigid film with a highly advanced performance oriented pressure sensitive adhesive.

“Flexibility without compromise means fewer call backs because the installation is right the first time,” said Yon Hinkle, Product Manager, Armstrong.  “With Luxe Plank, the end result is always a beautiful, high integrity installation that our dealers and their customers can count on.”

“This is a true game-changer,” said Buddy Faircloth, president, Cain & Bultman.  “The genius behind Luxe is that it improves upon existing technology to offer the retailer a truly unique product – unbelievably realistic looks, superior performance and a fail-safe installation. This adds up to not only happy customers, but repeat customers.  It’s a product that promises to be easy to sell.”

“Luxe Plank fills a gap in the market by being more than just about installation,” said Ray Mancini, president, BelknapWhite.  “It clearly establishes a style/beauty first position that speaks volumes to the consumer.”

The vibrant hardwood colors and textures of Luxe Plank™ add instant luxury to any room and feature the most realistic hardwood visuals available in the category. Authentic plank lengths, along with beveled edges and ends, combine to make the visuals incredibly natural. Consumers can choose from a stunning array of the most popular traditional, exotic, rustic and distressed looks to recreate the style of genuine hardwood.

Luxe Plank is available across 33 SKU’s at three price points, in a total of 14 design categories. Its distinctive looks include the undulating textures of Exotic Fruitwood, with vibrant colors and cosmopolitan elegance, and English Walnut inspired by Europe’s great country estates, with a  rich palette and contrasting stained edges (Best Collection).  Peruvian Walnut captures the beauty of the species’ natural variations in color and graining, and the distinct pattern of Empire Bamboo adds a modern flair to any space (Better Collection).  Jefferson Oak seizes the character and versatility of traditional oak in four classic wood tones that enhance any room (Good collection).

“The wow factor is that this is one beautiful flooring collection, a sure crowd pleaser,” said Mancini.  “There is an amazing breadth of design, and just the finest looking and top performing planks I’ve seen.  It is clearly designed to be the best.”

With Luxe Plank, even bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms can have a natural hardwood look. The thicker, more durable top layer features enhanced urethane coatings that resist scratches, stains and wear, making Luxe Plank perfect for high traffic areas as well as high moisture areas.  One of the attributes of the pressure sensitive adhesive is that it also is resistant to various factors – water or chemical.  Plus, the floor’s bond only gets stronger and stronger with time, offering superior adhesion strength with a grip that is virtually unbreakable.

Installing is as easy as 1-2-3

Lynx™ Technology, with its exclusive pressure-sensitive adhesive, makes Luxe Plank incredibly versatile and simple to install. Because each plank attaches to the planks beside and above it – not the floor beneath it – it installs quickly and easily, over practically any surface in any home or business.

With the technology to revolutionize floating floor installation and design options to meet any decorating need, Luxe Plank™ ensures high referral rates and repeat business.

“Luxe Plank wins where it counts – better wear layer, more features, better visuals and great warranties,” added Faircloth.  “Plus, it’s developed and backed by Armstrong, the brand our customers can trust.”

Come into Pierce Flooring today to see the latest in hardwood trends and the latest from Mannington. One product in particular to watch is Mannington’s American Craftsman Antique Amberwood Hardwood.

With a distinctive “crackle” finish for a look that is both rustic and refined, Antique Amberwood is a sophisticated, yet down-to-earth floor. Its subtle finish is accented by knots and splits which add character and charm. Antique Amberwood is available in four warm colors – Burnished Gold, Hammered Steel, Polished Bronze, and Etched Copper.

Mannington is a story of a family. A family determined to be the best manufacturers of flooring and the best employer possible. A family set on living by their values and staying true to the mission of always doing the right thing. In a world today where only 2 in 10 family-owned companies make it to the second generation, and fewer than 2 in 100 make it to the third, they are on their fourth generation of leadership. With a fifth ready to come into their own. They believe that with continuity comes stability and opportunity. This is the vision that started back in 1915 and lives today.

Are you looking for something new and unique to set your child’s room apart? Here at Pierce, we are now offering a line of carpet and rugs from Shaw and Disney that can help you do just that!

Inspired by the worlds of favorite Disney friends, The Disney Collection weaves the warmth and soft durability of Shaw carpet with the magic and fun of Disney. The collection is designed around six Disney and Disney-Pixar favorites: Hannah Montana, Cars, Toy Story, Disney Princesses, Disney Fairies and Winnie the Pooh. These beloved stories have inspired signature designs, patterns and color palletes that showcase the quality craftsmanship from Tuftex of California as well as the unique style of Disney storytelling. Each carpet can compliment other Disney home products so you can create the happiest rooms on earth.

The beautifully designed, masterfully manufactured carpets of the Disney collection from Shaw incorporate several pattented technologies to unsure products that are soil and stain resistant, long lasting and environmentally friendly:

Softness: Revolutionary carpet fibers are tough and resilient without compromising softness.

R2X stain resistance: Exclusive soil and stain repellent protects carpet fibers from dirt and spills.

SoftBac Platinum: An exclusive, patented backing system keeps carpet flexible and wrinkle free.

5 Star Shaw Warranty: 10 year limited quality assurance warranty from the worlds largest producer of carpet.

Eco Friendly: To learn more about Shaw’s eco friendly carpet and manufacturing process visit www.shaw.carpet.com.

Contact us today to find out more about how you can incorporate the fun of Disney and the quality of Shaw into your home. To visit the Disney site directly, click here.