If you love the look of a ceramic tile floor but hate how cold and hard it is and how difficult the grout is to maintain then this is the blog for you. Alterna Engineered Tile flooring was created by Armstrong flooring to provide a much more comfortable and easy to maintain option when compared to ceramic tile.
What is it?
These engineered tiles are made of a predominantly limestone core (about 75%). They’re only 4.1mm thick, come in a large variety of sizes, and are installed through the glue down method. You can install the Alterna Engineered Tiles with or without the use of grout depending on the look you want to achieve. To top the tiles off, they have a no-wax 5 mil urethan wear layer. This wear layer is similar to the finish that is applied to a hardwood floor.
Proudly American made, being manufactured In Kankakee, Illinois, these engineered tiles are composed of over 95% domestic content. Since these tiles are predominantly made from limestone, which is a natural resource that there is an abundance of, these tiles are also environmentally friendly.
Alterna Engineered Tile is the obvious choice over ceramic tile or natural stone for several reasons. Alterna tiles stay warmer and are much softer under foot than ceramic tile, with no risk of having cracked tiles or grout in the future. The installation process is also much quicker and significantly less messy than ceramic tile installs. Outlined below are some differences between Alterna Engineered tile and ceramic tile.
Watch the short video below to see how much much easier and quicker the Alterna Tile installation is!
Endless design possibilities
Each Alterna design has 32 unique visuals giving you a 32-tile pattern repeat- which helps to create the look of natural stone or tile. Alterna has been made to mimic the most popular hard surfaces and natural stones such as marble, travertine, slate, weathered metal, concrete, and linen, and many others. These styles don’t only look like tile but they have extremely realistic texturing so the feel like ceramic tile too (without the cold temps and hard surface!).
Not only are there an abundance of tile-styles, there are also several colors, installation patterns, and sizes available making the possibilities endless. This is where you can really put your personal touch into designing your dream space. Check out all of the installation possibilities below.
Where can Alterna be installed?
Because it is 100% waterproof, Alterna is a go-to option for high moisture areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, entries, and virtually any other space in your home. Alterna tiles can also be installed as backsplash, or accent walls. These tiles are suitable for most all areas but are not recommended for shower walls, fire place surrounds, or any wall application that exposes it to continuous saturation. The recommended temperature for these tiles after installation is between 55°F and 100°F. Alterna can be installed, on, above, or below grade
design tip #1
For a truly high-end custom stone look, consider this classic 3-way opus pattern.
Design tip #2
Pair elegant marble with a cool color scheme for a luxurious spa-inspired retreat.
Design Tip #3
Installing square tiles in a staggered brick pattern is a simple way to add geometric interest to your space.
Design Tip #4
Installing square tiles in a staggered brick pattern is a simple way to add geometric interest to your space.
Design Tip #5
Introduce decorative tiles for a sophisticated touch.
If you have any further questions about Alterna Engineered Tile feel free to give us a call at (417) 883-4720, email us at flooring417@gmail.com or visit our family friendly showroom located at 2516 W Battlefield Rd in Springfield, MO.
We offer free in home estimates and design consultations, you can get set up for an appointment here. We also post weekly rug sales, new arrivals, design inspiration, completed job site photos and more on our social media platforms, so be sure to follow us where you can!
We’re excited to help you design your new Alterna Engineered Tile flooring, backsplash, or feature wall!
