The favorite interior product manufacturer Web sites keep users coming back for more.
By BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine Staff
The favorite interior product manufacturer Web sites have a lot to offer builders and remodelers. They not only show off their wares with beautiful room shots and abundant color swatches, they also feature far-reaching specifications and many other details.
The sites that our contractor-reviewers thought are surperb are maintained by Armstrong and Bruce, which is part of the Armstrong family. These two sites are well organized, easy to navigate, and contain a helpful toolbar on every page. Most important, they feature detailed specs and extensive installation tips for pros.
Favorite Interior Product Sites
| Armstrong | Y | Y | N | Y | N | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Easy-to-use product search; detailed product list with photos; nifty toolbar on every page; extensive installation tips for pros; includes materials estimator. |
| Bruce | Y | Y | N | N | N | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Well organized; easy to navigate; detailed spec and installation info; useful toolbar on every page; links to Armstrong site. |
| ClosetMaid | N | Y | Y | N | N | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Well organized; great photos and illustrations; detailed installation instructions; mainly for consumers. |
| Dal-Tile | N | Y | Y | N | N | 3 | N | 3 | 2 | 3 | Well organized; detailed specs; can search for products by room or product name; search function only for products, not entire site. |
| Harris Tarkett | N | N | Y | N | N | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Easy to navigate; exceptional installation info with detailed PDF files; nifty toolbar on every page; no toll-free number or technical assistance line. |
| Pergo | N | Y | Y | N | N | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Extensive specs and installation instructions in Consumer section; useful toolbar on every page; limited product application shots; trade section for Pergo installers. |
As compared with the other favorite sites. 1=below average; 2=average; 3=above average; N=no; Y=yes
Click for more Favorite 50 sites.
[This article is a reprint from BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine, November/December 2001 issue.]
