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CEILING
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SYSTEMS
Between us, ideas become reality®
Issue 10, March 2009
CONTRACTORS
ONL
Y
O n a n d o f f t h e j o b – f a s t e r, e a s i e r, b e t t e r .
™
HOT TOPIC – Road Warriors
HOT TOPIC
Contractors Go Hog Wild!!!
“Straight Talk” at INTEX
Contractors Charles Brown of
C.W. Brown Inc. of Thornwood, NY and
Earl Washam of E&K of Kansas City, MO
are going hog wild!
If you’re going to INTEX (March 27 &
28 in Nashville), visit Booth #1215 for
“Straight Talk.”
The reason: They’re the East and West
winners respectively of our recently
completed “Full Throttle” promotion
for drywall framing contractors using
Armstrong Drywall Grid, ShortSpan™,
and Stucco Grid products.
As a result of winning the promotion, the
contractors received a trip to Armstrong
in Lancaster, PA, a tour of the HarleyDavidson plant in York, PA and a choice
of either receiving $16,000 toward a
Contractor Charles Brown sits atop a new Harley-Davidson
following his tour of the Harley plant in York, PA
Harley-Davidson motorcycle with $4,000
in tax assistance, or $16,000 in cash.
Stop by and learn about the broadest
selection of high recycled content
ceiling and grid systems in the industry;
a variety of time-proven systems to
reduce the time and hassles of framing
drywall; a faster, more accurate way
to estimate; a fast, easy way to get
technical assistance, and more.
The winning contractors’ names were
selected from more than 2,700 entries.
Whether you can make it to the show
or not, turn the page and read about
the ways we can get you on and off
the job – faster, easier, better.
The winning “Full Throttle” team (left to right): Doug Cadle, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Grid Systems, Armstrong;
Tom Estes and Nick Grebel (attending on behalf of winner Earl Washam), E&K; Charles Brown and Jack DiGirolamo,
C.W. Brown Inc; and Keith Johnson, Product Manager, Drywall Grid Systems, Armstrong.
(continued on pg 2…)
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HOT TOPIC (continued)
Here’s How Armstrong Gives You “Straight Talk”…
Faster Takeoffs/Bidding
Code Compliance:
Project Estimating:
• Armstrong Download on Quick Bid and
The EDGE estimation software provides
up-to-date code compliance information
• Leading estimation software
programs, Quick Bid and
The EDGE, partner
with Armstrong
Save time and money with Build a Submittal on the Web!
• Up-to-date product information for
increased accuracy and profitability
of project estimates
• Stucco and EIFS systems meet wind
uplift requirements (Miami-Dade County,
Fla NOA No. 07-0119.02 – 03/17/10)
• Faster takeoffs and estimates
Seismic Solutions:
Preparing a Submittal:
• Seismic Rx® suspension systems are
an ICC-ES approach to installations
(ESR-1308)
• Prepare submittals online; ship directly
to subcontractor
• Requests received by 1:45 pm EST ship
out same day
Georgian High Washability Ceiling installed
• Save submittals in “My Armstrong” as
PDF for email to customers
Green Genie™:
• Find sustainable
ceiling options
and LEED® credit information quickly
and easily
• Research, calculate and document the
environmental criteria for your next project
Recycling at the Armstrong Marietta Plant, Marietta, PA
• The only ceiling
manufacturer to
conduct over 120
full-scale seismic tests on ceiling systems
Meet LEED Criteria:
• The only standard high recycled
content grid with Prelude® XL HRC
and Suprafine® XL HRC
• Maximize sustainability by combining
Prelude XL HRC and Suprafine XL HRC
with our HRC ceiling panels – Cirrus®
HRC and Ultima® HRC
Reduce Risk
• Easily create a “green” submittal with
our Green Genie web tool
• Alternative to vinyl-covered gypsum
in areas where a washable ceiling is
required
• Meets USDA/FSIS guidelines for
Federally-inspected food processing
facilities
• Lighter in weight and easier to cut than
vinyl gypsum
2
• Seismic Rx allows
for the use of 7/8"
wall molding
• Create and print custom LEED submittals
for our ceiling, suspension system and
wall products
Washable Georgian™:
ShortSpan Drywall Framing Grid
• ShortSpan™ Drywall Framing Fire Guard
components meet 27 UL design listings
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Save Time
Faster Installations
TechLineSM…There When You Need Us:
Axiom® Building Perimeter System:
• Reliable answers to installation
questions; live help between 8:00 am
and 5:30 pm EST; 1 877 ARMSTRONG
(1.877.276.7876)
• The only pre-engineered system available
• Product and assembly drawings;
guide specs available for all standard
Armstrong ceiling, grid and wall
products
• Pre-engineered components allow
integration of drapery pockets, air
distribution and ceiling elevation
changes at building perimeter
• Strongest technical support in our
industry; over 100 years of experience
• Compatible with acoustical ceilings
and drywall systems
Kits for Clouds and Canopies:
QuikStix™ Family:
• Just one item number to order a
Formations™ or Serpentina® cloud
• Ceiling system allows 14' of coverage
off a single center Locking Pocket Main
• No takeoffs or estimating
• Soffit system allows for fast, easy
creation of 30º, 45º, 60º, 75º and
90º angles
• Pre-engineered components; no
field fabrication required
• No material waste
Drywall Framing/Grid:
• Locking Angle Molding pre-engineered
locking tabs eliminate measuring
for 16" or 24" framing spacing and
prevent lateral and upward movement
• ShortSpan™ is engineered to span
up to 7' without vertical support
• 6' DGS Cross Tees allow for spacing
of mains at 6' centers resulting in cost
savings of 10% - 15%
• Replaces commonly used drywall details
that require many labor-intensive and
time-consuming steps
Serpentina Waves™, Armstrong Corporate Campus,
Lancaster, PA
Drywall Ceiling at Kamehameha High School, Maui, HI
• Wall system provides locking track
with pre-engineered locking tabs;
framing tees simply lock in track;
layout work is done
Specials:
• Six-week lead time for special sizes;
minimum quantity just one carton
• 4" to 48" widths and 4" to 120" lengths –
Optima®, Ultima®, Cirrus® and Dune™
Axiom Building Perimeter System, Malvern, PA
• Available in lay-in, beveled, angular
and square tegular, even Vector® edges
• Cross tees available in lengths of 6" to
144", plus special rout spacing on mains
and tees
QuikStix Wall Liner
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NEW AND IMPROVED
FSC-Certified WoodWorks ® Ceilings
Talk about a trifecta! Armstrong is now the only
company in the industry to offer a broad portfolio
of composite wood ceilings that:
1. Are FSC-certified
2. Contain no-added formaldehyde
3. Have a Class A fire rating
Designed to meet both your customers’ aesthetic and
sustainable needs, FSC-certified WoodWorks panels also
feature a 92% pre-consumer recycled content, and are
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase l compliant.
All WoodWorks ceilings have a Class A fire rating. This
rating relates to the entire composite ceiling panel, not
just the substrate.
Variety of Veneers
FSC-certified WoodWorks ceilings are offered in a variety
of wood veneers, including Maple, Light Cherry, Dark
Cherry, and Bamboo. They are well-suited for use in
applications ranging from retail, hospitality, healthcare,
higher education and office environments to lobbies,
entryways and conference rooms.
Other features include:
• Available perforated and unperforated
• Install in standard suspension systems
• Tested and approved for all seismic areas
MetalWorks ™ Linear Now Available in Effects ™ Wood Looks
no risk of delamination because Effects Wood Looks
are embedded into the panels.
Effects Linear ceilings are also much lighter, more
durable, easier to maintain, and fit for broader
applications than real wood products.
Plus, unlike real wood products, no time is needed
to acclimate Effects Linear ceilings to the installation
environment (temperature and humidity). They can be
installed before the building is conditioned and won’t
be affected by weekend cycling.
Other features include:
MetalWorks Linear ceilings are now available in three
Effects Wood Looks finishes – Maple, Cherry and Walnut.
Manufactured using FX technology, the new additions
offer a more affordable option than real wood ceilings.
Compared to wood-laminate-on-metal ceilings, there is
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• Nominal 4", 8" and 12" wide panels
• Universal suspension system for both Connections
and Contrasts
• Fast and easy installation
• Matching molding and perimeter trim available
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SUCCESS STORIES
NEW LITERATURE
A (Drywall) Star Is Born
2009 Ceiling & Wall Systems Catalog
Restoring a historic building to its previous grandeur can be a
painstaking task. Using today’s more efficient construction methods,
however, can simplify the challenge.
Our 2009 Ceiling & Wall Systems catalog is off the
press and ready for use. Sporting a refreshed graphic
look, the new catalog contains the same reliable
information you and your customers expect, and is
once again available in three formats:
Featured on
our cover:
METALWORKS ™
Fashion Outlets
Vector ® Faceted
of Niagara
Falls, Niagara
Extra Microper
Falls, NY
forated in
Architect:
Effects ™ WoodLoo
Lauer-Manguso
ks Cherry
& Associate
s Architect
s, Buffalo,
NY
MS & W
ALLS
CEILING
&WALL
SY ST EM
2009/10
S
2009/10
SYSTE
To give you an idea of the framing project’s intricacy and the end
result, take a look at the photos above and below. In this case, a
picture is indeed worth a thousand words.
• Online –
Allows you
to e-mail
individual
pages
and even
search by
product
SPECI
FIER’
S REF
ERENC
E
NSION
Due to the complexity of the framing, drywall contractor Minuti-Ogle
of Oakdale, MN decided to use Armstrong Drywall Grid and the
result is spectacular.
• Cut Sheets – Allow you to insert pages in a binder
and remove
them as
needed
GS, SU
SPE
Included in the ceiling renovation was the creation of a dramatic,
multi-pointed drywall star. This eye-catching accent is located in the
hotel’s main level elevator lobby. In the past, steel studs would have
been used to frame out the eye-catching ceiling accent.
• Bound Publication – The classic version of the
easy-to-use reference tool
CEILIN
As a case in
point, consider
the Foshay Tower
in downtown
Minneapolis. Built
in 1939, the
32-story structure
is one of the
tallest concrete
skyscrapers in
The Armstrong Drywall Grid System framing
before installation of the drywall.
the country,
second only in
height to the Empire State Building. After decades of serving as
an office tower, the building has recently been converted into an
upscale, 230-room W Hotel by Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Meta l
Woo d
Fabr ic
Tran sluc
ents
Mine ral
Fibe r
Fibe rglas
s
All three
versions feature
a cleaner format to help you and your
customers find the information you need quickly and
easily on charts and product pages.
Other enhancements include:
• More photos of products
• Color-coded tabs
The eye-catching star after installation of the drywall.
• Ceiling Selector Chart in the front of the book
• Expanded “At-a-Glance” pages
Access the 2009 online catalog at
armstrong.com/commceilingsna.
To obtain a hard copy of the catalog:
• Call 1 877 ARMSTRONG (1.877.276.7876)
• Order online at armstrong.com/contractorsonly
• Contact your Armstrong distributor or representative
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TOOLS AND TIPS
An Easier Way to Cut Silhouette ® Grid
Cutting Silhouette bolt-slot grid still remains somewhat of a challenge for some contractors. Cutting
the old way by starting at the bottom, cutting both sides of the box, and then cutting the web will
deform the box. As a result, you then have to re-form it to its original shape.
Installation team:
(left to right)
Barry Buhay,
Steve Newcomer
and Bob Reed
You can make that cutting process easier by simply following this three-step tip:
Step 1: Make a vertical cut from the bulb down to the
beginning of the box as shown in Step 1.
1
Step 2: Now the trick. Place the grid on a flat surface
or on your thigh and slow-w-w-w-ly make the bend as
shown in Step 2. The box will actually tear and not deform.
2
Step 3: Make the final cut through the bottom of the grid
as shown in Step 3.
3
CUT
If you make the cut near a miter notch or near the end of the grid, it may not work exactly like it is
shown here. Then you must revert back to the old way.
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SUCCESS STORIES
Good Judgment: Carolina Law School Decides to Recycle Old Ceiling Tiles
Campbell University will soon be relocating its
Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law from the
school’s main Buies Creek, NC campus to
downtown Raleigh.
The university is renovating a former commercial
office building to house the school, and as part of
the Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program, they recycled
more than 100,000 square feet of old ceiling tiles.
According to Campbell Vice President, Jim Roberts,
the reason for recycling the ceilings is easy: “We
have 4,000 young people on campus who constantly
remind us of our need to care for the environment
and for their future. The ceiling recycling program
provides us with one more opportunity to do that.
As a result, ceiling recycling is now the norm on
campus rather than the exception.”
Campbell University’s Law School will soon be housed in this renovated office building.
Roberts notes the economic benefit as well. “By
recycling ceilings
and other
construction
waste materials,
we’re able to
reduce our
landfill disposal
charges.
However, while
this does provide
a financial gain,
it is not our main
objective. We want to do what works best for us in
the long run to reduce our waste stream.”
Contractor Actively Involved
Campbell learned of the program through the
acoustical contracting firm, Southeastern Interiors.
The Buies Creek-based firm is quite familiar with
ceiling recycling. Southeastern Interiors has been
involved in the program since 2001, and has
shipped more than 40 trailers full of discarded ceiling
tiles to be recycled.
“We introduced Campbell to the program a few
years ago as part of a renovation we were involved
in,” states Southeastern owner, Jerry Milton. “Ever
since then, we’ve recycled ceilings for them
regardless of how big or small the job.”
The new Law School building is the largest recycling
job to date. Milton points out that in a renovation
project of this magnitude there is a construction
benefit in addition to the environmental and
economic benefits.
“By removing the ceiling tiles early on, architects
and engineers can look into the plenum and see
what they’re working with, which can prevent a lot
of problems later.”
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DRYWALL CORNER
QuikStix ™ Family Continues to Grow
The Armstrong family of QuikStix Drywall
Framing Systems for ceiling and walls
continues to grow. Here’s what the family
tree of time and labor-saving products now
includes:
• Locking Pocket Mains allow uptight
installation; installed at the same level
as ShortSpan™ tees
• Uptight clips allow installation in 1-1/2"
to 5-1/2" plenums
• Use of Locking Angle Molding eliminates
measuring, marking and screwing at
perimeters
QuikStix Wall Liner
• Offers a better way to frame walls
QuikStix Soffits
• Locking Track eliminates measuring,
marking and screwing at tee locations
• Reduce time and labor installing vertical
drops
• Simply click Framing Tees into Locking
Track – layout work is done
• Knockouts at 6" or 8" centers reduce
cutting time
• RolLock™ Support Bar and Uptight Clips
allow easy anchoring
• Flattened bulb is offset to allow true
angles without interference
• Bending crimp prevents misalignment
QuikStix Ceiling Systems
• Provide a faster, easier, better solution
for installing uptight drywall ceilings and
corridor transitions
• Alignment holes make screw installation
simple and form perfect 30º, 45º, 60º,
75º and 90º angles
For additional information on QuikStix
Drywall Framing Systems log onto
armstrong.com/drywall.
• 90º angle fits locking angle mold
SOLUTIONS GUIDE SPOTLIGHT
Creating a Groin Vault
• A primary vault for the short walls
The updated Drywall Systems section
of our new Solutions Guide features a
step-by-step breakdown of how to create
a groin vault for both square and
rectangular spaces.
• A secondary vault for the long walls
A square space is the simplest type of
groin vault to lay out and install, requiring
only two templates, one for the primary
vault and one for the groin.
The layout for a rectangular space is
similar to that for a square space, except
that three templates are required:
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• A groin vault running diagonally corner
to corner
You’ll find installation details for
applications like these and many more in
the latest edition of our problem-solving
Solutions Guide. Obtain a hard copy by:
• Going to the “Contractors Only” page
on our website and ordering one online
• Asking your local distributor or
Armstrong representative
NEW!! The Commercial
Ceilings and Walls Solutions
Guide is now available online.
Download it at armstrong.com/
solutionsguide.
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ON THE WEB
New Green Genie ™ Helps Speed LEED ® Calculations
If you are involved in “green” projects and need to
know how ceiling and wall systems can contribute to
LEED credits, be sure to visit the new Armstrong Green
Genie website.
This helpful, new interactive web tool allows you to
quickly and easily identify Armstrong ceiling and wall
products that meet the project needs, and to calculate
the contribution of those products toward LEED credits.
All Armstrong ceiling, suspension and wall system
products are included in the rating system. The
interactive aid even completes the submittal process
by producing a LEED documentation letter for inclusion
in a specification.
Access the Green Genie tool at armstrong.com/
greengenie.
The fast, easy-to-use online tool offers 24/7 access
to LEED credit information and provides you with the
ability to research, calculate and document which
Armstrong product best meets the environmental
criteria of the project.
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NEW PRODUCT ROUNDUP
New Axiom ® Color Choices
We’ve added eleven new Axiom colors to meet
your customers’ demand for more choices. The new
finishes are created using a new type of powder
coated paint that enhances Axiom’s richness.
Available in Classic, Vector®, Knife Edge®, Profiled,
Soft Edge, and Paired.
Other features include:
• Pre-engineered components
• No custom fabrication needed
• No change in installation instructions
• Increased depth of color vs. flat finishes
Sticks ™ Mineral Fiber Ceilings
Sticks features a medium textured surface inspired by
the Bird’s Nest Stadium at the Beijing Olympics. Sticks
is a playful new ceiling that offers an added plus of an
exclusive DuraTech™ manufacturing technology which
minimizes damage caused by handling and accessing
the plenum.
Other features include:
• Standard 2' x 2' panels
• Square tegular and angled tegular
• Can be installed before building is
enclosed
• Nine standard colors
Stones ™ Mineral Fiber Ceilings
Our new Stones mineral fiber ceiling offers the look of
natural slate in a cost-effective option to competitive
stone looks in the marketplace. Plus, our new DuraTech
manufacturing technology creates a more natural look
that is less likely to show scratches and residue.
Other features include:
• Easier to cut than cast products
• Lighter and faster to install than cast products
• Can be installed before building is enclosed
• 2' x 2' square and angled panels
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GREEN SCENE
Armstrong Ceilings & Walls Contribute to LEED ® Points
More and more architects are designing with
the LEED rating system in mind. As a result, it’s
important that you know how Armstrong ceiling
and wall systems can help earn LEED points
and assist you in bidding on “green” jobs. Here’s
a quick rundown:
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) –
Credit 1.1 (Optimize Energy Performance): High
light-reflectant ceilings (LR of 0.83 or higher) help
reduce the energy required to light a room.
Materials and Resources (MR) –
Credit 2.1, 2.2 (Construction Waste Management):
Armstrong offers the longest-running closed loop
ceiling recycling program. The mineral fiber substrate
of Ekos® wood walls can also be recycled as part of
the program.
Credit 4.1, 4.2 (Recycled Content): Armstrong
ceilings and walls contain high levels of recycled
content depending on the product. See Pages 249
and 250 in the 2009 catalog for specific details.
Credit 5.1, 5.2 (Local/Regional Materials):
Armstrong has seven ceiling plants and three
suspension system plants throughout the country,
which reduces the environmental impact of
transportation from plant to project.
Credit 6.0 (Rapidly Renewable Materials):
WoodWorks® Bamboo ceilings can contribute
to the rapidly renewable calculation.
Armstrong’s Corporate Headquarters Building was awarded LEED Platinum Certification in 2007.
Credit 7.0 (Certified Wood): Armstrong WoodWorks
ceilings are available as an FSC-certified composite
product.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) –
Credit 4.4 (Low Emitting Materials): The Ekos wood
wall system contains no-added formaldehyde.
Credit 8.1, 8.2 (Daylight and Views): High
light-reflectant ceilings help “extend” daylighting
into a space.
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Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
P.O. Box 3001
Lancaster, PA 17604
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Between us, ideas become reality®
CEILING
SYSTEMS
LANCASTER, PA
PERMIT NO. 146
e
YOUR FEEDBACK
IS APPRECIATED
“Contractors Only” is designed to keep you up to date
on new product introductions, installation procedures,
promotions, news of noteworthy jobs, tips to get you
off the job…faster, easier, better!
What would you like to see included in future issues?
Drop me an e-mail at dzkereczman@armstrong.com.
We’d really like to hear from you. In the meantime,
happy and profitable installing!
CS-3591I-309
LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council
© AWI Licensing Company, 2009 • Printed in the United States of America