Armstrong Flooring Company RIPOFF does not honor warranty on defective products Lancaster Pennsylvania

 I also was denied a claim( even though their own inspectors stated defective flooring,) because the defects were not noticeable until after installation.  Apparently they can wash their hands of any responsibility in defects if the installer doesn't notice the defects prior to installation; doesn't matter if they sell you garbage.. they can get away with it.  

Determined again during demolition to be a product problem by yet another neutral party (sorry, rebuttal person, incorrect his time, and please contact Carpet One to verify the pulling of the glue-together product), the new product is in place and is clearly a of better quality engineering.

While I'm jaded with Armstrong right now because of the poor way this was handled until the carpet retailer stepped in, I must admit I am so far pleased with the replacement.

Would I recommend Armstrong laminate to others? Honestly, I would say the newer product is superior other makes like Pergo...so in light of the new design eliminating the problems I experienced, probably so.

So here is the deal with your laminate floor. First, Armstrong did not "pull" it off the market because of defective product. The technology about the construction of the product had developed so that eliminating the use of glue meant that consumers could actually install the product 33% faster than using glue.

Problems can arise from three sources. 1) the product was made improperly (i.e. mis-milled, the pattern ran off, etc. 2) the installer did not install the product correctly, following manufacturer's guidelines about layout, subfloor prep, spacing, amount of glue to use, etc. 3) the enviroment to which a product is installed- high moisture, heavy traffic, poor maintenance, etc.

99% of the problems are with 2&3. Honestly. Do you really think a floor will buckle, bubble, pull apart on its own without something bigger causing it? Armstrong tests all products in a simulated house under all circumstances in order for it to go to market.

I am sorry about your struggles, and look Armstrong is replacing it. Carpet One did not want to take the hit on that, neither did the installer.

After advising Armstrong I would fully pursue the matter despite their decision, and after my carpet retailer became more involved, Armstrong agreed to a one-time replacement of my entire floor under the provision that recurrence of the original floor's problems would not be covered (the new product is not succeptible to these problems, anyway). I am currently waiting for the involved companies to provide current samples so I can order the replacement product.

After advising Armstrong I would fully pursue the matter despite their decision, and after my carpet retailer became more involved, Armstrong agreed to a one-time replacement of my entire floor under the provision that recurrence of the original floor's problems would not be covered (the new product is not succeptible to these problems, anyway). I am currently waiting for the involved companies to provide current samples so I can order the replacement product.

After advising Armstrong I would fully pursue the matter despite their decision, and after my carpet retailer became more involved, Armstrong agreed to a one-time replacement of my entire floor under the provision that recurrence of the original floor's problems would not be covered (the new product is not succeptible to these problems, anyway). I am currently waiting for the involved companies to provide current samples so I can order the replacement product.

After advising Armstrong I would fully pursue the matter despite their decision, and after my carpet retailer became more involved, Armstrong agreed to a one-time replacement of my entire floor under the provision that recurrence of the original floor's problems would not be covered (the new product is not succeptible to these problems, anyway). I am currently waiting for the involved companies to provide current samples so I can order the replacement product.

The inspection took place last week and it was determined that excess moisture and subfloor problems were not the cause of any cosmetic issues.

However, Armstrong contacted me this morning, and just as I expected, they decided installation was the problem and their customer relations representative said point blank "there is nothing Armstrong is obligated to do about your floor."

They said my floor had been installed with the visible gaps and peaking at the seams....I assure you if this was the case, I would have never let the installers finish installing it. She added that the "poor installation" allowed moisture to enter the floor and eventually do further damage.

I know the following: 1) Armstrong discontiuned the glue-together floor system because of the number of warranty claims it presented, and 2) Armstrong trained and cerified installers installed this floor...if they did a bad job from the beginning I would have never accepted their completion of the floor, and if this product is so difficult to install that trained installers can't get it right, then that's a problem with the product.

I Jodie back to firmly explain this, and when I concluded she told me "OK, thank you, you can do all you want."

Basically I am no out $4,000 and they have already told the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General's Office the issue is resolved.

This issue is still far from over. Following formal complaints filed with their corporate location's Better Business Bureau and the State of North Carolina, Armstrong finally took the first step of granting an independent inspection of my laminate floor. Additionally, two regional news stations are investigating for possible airing of the issue on television...I suspect Armstrong is only concerned now that their public reputation in my area may be jeopardized.

The inspection is to take place later this week, and I am still awaiting a confirmed time with the inspector.

The bad news is that I have recently discovered a plank of the flooring in the middle of my kitchen is no longer attached to other planks on either side and now slides freely. Additionally, I have discovered one particular seam separation I have been concealing with wood filler (yes, a $4000 floor that I have had to patch with putty) has grown to more than 8 feet in length.

Armstrong advised on 12/14/05 installer confirmed that problem is not manufacturer's defect. I have confirmed this statement is not truthful. Installer believes sales representative who inspected the floor was not knowledgeable of the product and biased toward Armstrong's interests because she is affiliated with Armstrong.