Two Armstrong products named Best New Home Products of 2012

“We had to make thousands of tough calls while putting together our list of the best new home products of 2012.  The TOH Top 100 is the result of an exhaustive search for the most forward-thinking, relevant and necessary new home products out there,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor of This Old House.

“What’s terrific is that out of thousands of products reviewed, two very different types of Armstrong floor products were selected, but for the same good reason: both Alterna and Performance Plus offer homeowners the ideal balance of beauty, comfort, durability and easy care,” says Mara Villanueva-Heras, vice president, marketing, Armstrong Residential Floor Products.

Armstrong’s Performance Plus Hardwood uses proprietary acrylic-infusion technology to give it unbeatable strength while enhancing the wood’s natural beauty.  It has the highest hardness of all residential wood floors, including solid and tropical exotics. Even cherry—one of the softest hardwood species – becomes harder than oak that has not been infused. The floors offer increased indent resistance and resistance to scratches and stains. Available in six species – maple, hickory, oak, cherry, birch and walnut – the floors offer a 50-year warranty.

Alterna Groutable Premium Tile is designed for comfortable living: while it feels like stone or tile, its feel underfoot is actually warmer and softer. It’s also easy to clean, and it’s more tolerant of drops and accidents than stone or tile. These engineered stone tiles are made mostly of limestone with a high definition printed design and tough urethane finish. With Alterna, buyers get all the benefits of stone or tile, including looks and performance, without the drawbacks. No more installation headaches, chipped tiles, scrubbing grout lines or cold tiles underfoot. The tiles are available in both 16”x16” and the popular 12”x12” format to provide even greater design flexibility.

The November/December issue of This Old House features “The TOH Top 100.” The editors hunted high and low to find the most unique, helpful and coolest home products in seven categories: Kitchen, Bath, Tools, Building Products, Outdoor Living, Home Tech and Finishing Touches. Each winning product also is labeled with icons such as Money-Saver, Easy Upgrade, Perfect Solution, Eco-Friendly, Splurge or Made in the USA. Also included are editors’ picks for the most useful apps in each category.

The 2012 list marks the second annual “The TOH Top 100” and includes items for people who love houses new or old and are looking for the newest ways to fix them up. A complete list of the “TOH Top 100” can be found atwww.ThisOldHouse.com/top100 and on newsstands, beginning November 2^nd.

For more information on Armstrong floor products, visit www.armstrong.com.