Armstrong vs CertainTeed Ceiling Tiles

Armstrong dominates the commercial ceiling tile market. CertainTeed (owned by Saint-Gobain) is smaller but punches above its weight, especially in acoustic performance. We install tiles from both companies, and they each have situations where they're the better pick.

Company Overview

Armstrong Ceiling Solutions (AWI) is the largest ceiling tile manufacturer in North America. They make mineral fiber, fiberglass, metal, and wood ceiling products, plus the Prelude grid system that's the industry standard. Their catalog has 100+ tile SKUs.

CertainTeed Ceilings is part of Saint-Gobain, the French building materials giant. Their ceiling tile line is smaller — maybe 30–40 SKUs — but they're serious about acoustics. Their Ecophon brand (sold separately in the US) is the go-to for high-performance acoustic ceilings in education and healthcare.

Product Line Comparison

Acoustic Performance

At the basic tier, both companies make tiles with NRC 0.55–0.60 and CAC 33–35. Interchangeable for most office and retail applications.

Where CertainTeed gets interesting is their mid-range acoustic tiles. The Baroque BET-197 delivers NRC 0.60 at a price point close to Armstrong's Cortega (NRC 0.55). For budget-conscious projects that need a slight acoustic boost, that's a meaningful difference.

Armstrong's Total Acoustics line is hard to beat at the high end — NRC 0.70+ with CAC 35+ in a single tile. CertainTeed doesn't have a direct equivalent. For spaces that need maximum absorption AND sound blocking, Armstrong has the edge.

Availability and Lead Times

Armstrong tiles are stocked at almost every ceiling distributor in the country. Our local distributors in Sacramento carry Cortega, Dune, and several other Armstrong lines in their warehouse. Same-day pickup on standard tiles is normal.

CertainTeed availability varies by region. In Northern California, we can get Baroque and Symphony within a few days, but some specialty CertainTeed tiles are special-order with 2–3 week lead times. That matters on fast-track projects.

For renovation projects where a tenant needs to move in next week, Armstrong's availability advantage is real. For new construction with a 6-month timeline, lead time is less of a factor.

Pricing

CertainTeed is often 5–15% cheaper than the equivalent Armstrong tile at the distributor level. The Baroque BET-197 typically costs less per square foot than the Cortega 769, with slightly better NRC.

Armstrong commands a premium partly because of brand recognition and partly because architects spec Armstrong by name. When a spec says "Armstrong Cortega 769 or approved equal," the GC can submit CertainTeed Baroque as a substitution — but it requires architect approval, which adds time.

Head-to-Head: Popular Tiles

When We Recommend Each

• Armstrong when the spec names Armstrong, when you need specialty products (Health Zone, Total Acoustics, MetalWorks), or when availability and speed matter.
• CertainTeed when budget is the primary driver, when you need higher NRC at a lower price point, or when the architect is open to substitutions.
• Either brand for standard office, retail, or education ceilings with basic acoustic needs.

Both manufacturers make good products. The "best" choice depends on what the project needs, what the spec allows, and what's sitting in the distributor's warehouse when you need it.