Armstrong Offers Linoleum with NATURCote

Lancaster, PA, July 6, 2007--Armstrong Commercial Floor Products now offers its Linoleum collection with NATURCote a new durable top layer that increases resistance to scratches and scuffs and helps to maintain the floor’s appearance at a low maintenance cost. Thanks to the new top layer, Armstrong Linoleum colors maintain their clarity and intensity while generating a smooth and tight surface on the floor that resists dirt build-up. The finish has fewer microscopic places for dust or dirt to hide than unprotected linoleum.

“Linoleum’s natural ingredients are more prone to damage from chemicals than some other resilient floor coverings.  These chemicals can stain, bleach, dull or even soften a linoleum floor,” says Dominic Rice, vice president, Product Management – Commercial Resilient.  “Armstrong NATURCote enhances linoleum’s resistance to damaging chemicals.”

NATURCote protects like a coat of armor, resisting scratches and scuffs that can cause hazing and dulling and mar the floor’s appearance. In Armstrong test installation findings, Armstrong linoleum scratched 60% less then competitive linoleum products.

“This increased resistance is achieved because NATURCote is a harder and tougher coating,” says Rice.  

Made from renewable raw materials, linoleum is enjoying a fresh resurgence in large part due to greater environmental awareness of building materials.  Natural linseed oil, cork and wood powder, limestone, organic pigments and jute are all ingredients of Armstrong Linoleum.  Green building requirements strive for such goals as increased health and well being of occupants; better indoor air quality, lower operating costs, reduced maintenance and longer product life.  

One of linoleum’s natural characteristics is the tendency to “yellow” from high pH cleaning solutions that might not discolor other commercial resilient flooring. Although polish applications protect linoleum’s surface, polishes can wear off if not maintained properly, leaving the surface vulnerable to discoloration from harsh cleaning agents. But because NATURCote is bonded to the floor’s surface, the floor is protected from accidental exposure to high pH cleaners and stripping solutions.

Exclusive Adhesive Seaming System Saves Installation Time and Costs

Installation alternatives for Armstrong linoleum also have been designed to accommodate varying performance, aesthetic and budget requirements. 

Armstrong S-760 Floor Adhesive/Heat Welding Installation System is recommended for medium to heavy commercial or aseptic areas. It provides superior seam integrity and creates clean, aseptic seams that effectively block the penetration of direct and topical moisture. It is environmentally compatible – a plus for builders, subcontractors and others who appreciate linoleum’s “green” characteristics.  The S-760 Adhesive will bond linoleum sheet to concrete underlayments, wood substrates, terrazzo, metals (aluminum, steel, copper and stainless steel) and existing resilient flooring on all grade levels.

Armstrong’s exclusive S-760/S-761 Installation System is designed specifically for use in seaming Armstrong linoleum floors.  It significantly reduces installation time and costs, with minimal tools required and eliminates the need for heat-welding the seams.  It creates a monolithic appearance and helps block the penetration of dirt, with excellent seam bonding strength.  Installers save time, builders and subcontractors save money – a win/win for everyone.  The S-760/No Seam Treatment Installation System is a quick, easy and economical option for light commercial areas.

With NATURCote, another time-consuming initial maintenance step—polishing—also can be eliminated and increase the speed of building occupancy. The installation site conditions including end user expectations, location within the building, and even the floor’s color, can have a significant impact on determining if polishing is recommended. “If, after careful evaluation, it’s determined that initial polish preparation is not necessary, the linoleum floor will look great and be ready for foot traffic the moment it’s installed, saving the time and costs associated with traditional maintenance methods,” says Rice.

NATURCote is a low-maintenance coating. Ongoing cleaning procedures will take less time and use fewer chemicals, which can reduce the time required for maintenance. Compared to linoleum without NATURCote, the lower maintenance procedures result in cumulative and perpetual cost savings.  

Low-maintenance floors also benefit the environment because less water is used and less energy is expended to keep floors clean. Because fewer chemicals and cleaning agents are needed, low maintenance methods contribute to better indoor air quality. The reduced maintenance also helps reduce waste treatment needs because there are fewer cleaning agents and water that need disposal. Guidelines for helping to determine a maintenance program are available in the Armstrong F-7796, “Commercial Linoleum Installation/Maintenance Tipsheet.”

Environmentally Friendly, Certified by FloorScore™ - Eligible for LEED Points

All Armstrong linoleum floors are FloorScore certified and eligible for LEED points for

EQ4.3. The FloorScore program was developed by Scientific Certification Systems, a nationally recognized third-party certification company, and the Resilient Floor Covering Institute. Under this program, hard surface flooring products are tested and certified for compliance with California’s Section 1350 for low VOC emissions, the most stringent high-performance IAQ requirement in the nation.  Natural linoleum is a proven solution for contributing to environmentally-friendly interiors. Made from renewable raw materials and recycled content, linoleum’s “green” attributes help you obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points under EQ4.3, MR4.0 and MR6.0. As a founding sponsor of the United States Green Building Council, and a member of the Canadian Green Building Council, Armstrong recognizes the importance of sustainable design and the value associated with the LEED green building rating system.

Armstrong’s flagship MARMORETTE™ line anchors the collection, featuring 33 new colors.  Fine marbling characteristics are displayed in a rich array of contemporary colors.  The collection also encompasses:  LINORETTE™ – A line of 12 background and accent colors that create sophisticated color combinations and also coordinates with MARMORETTE™; COLORETTE™ – A line of cleaner and brighter colors, including seven speckled bright solids sprinkled with subtle patterning to help conceal dirt and traffic wear patterns;  GRANETTE™ – A line that combines the natural look of granite with the maintenance benefits and underfoot comfort of Linoleum; and UNI WALTON™ – A line of solid color flooring designed to create eye-catching borders, insets and custom accents. Armstrong also markets the LINODUR™ line for industrial applications.  (UNI WALTON and LINODUR are not available with NATURCote™.)  Armstrong’s linoleum collection is designed to work within a variety of environments through a carefully-targeted color palette to meet design needs in various market segments, including healthcare, education, retail and virtually any other commercial interior

Related Topics:Coverings, Armstrong Flooring