Gaia Floors eTerra Red Series Nota Alta Herringbone SPC 8mm 5.9-inch
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Quick Answer
What is Nota Alta Herringbone?
Nota Alta Herringbone is a warm muted brown set in a tight herringbone, softer and more weathered than a bright golden floor, so it reads calm and natural. It is a wood-look print over a stone-polymer core, and each piece shows an open cathedral grain with weathered character marks, scattered cat's-eye knots, and dark mineral streaking, giving Nota Alta Herringbone a quiet, aged character beneath its geometric pattern.
Is it waterproof?
Yes — 100% waterproof. Unlike engineered hardwood or laminate, surface spills don't soak in, and the rigid core won't cup or buckle. Wipe up spills and pet accidents promptly and don't leave standing water. Not approved for outdoor installation.
Will it hold up to daily life?
What 20 mil typically means in real homes: 15-25 years of moderate residential use without visible wear-through. Nota Alta Herringbone with UV-cured ceramic bead (EnduraPro) finish in heavy-traffic zones (kitchen, entry) trends toward the lower end; bedroom installs push past 25 years comfortably.
What does the plank surface look like?
Each Nota Alta Herringbone piece shows an open cathedral grain with weathered character marks, scattered cat's-eye knots, and dark mineral streaking across a smooth printed surface. Laid in tight herringbone, the grain alternates board to board, so the weathered figure forms a quiet woven texture and the muted brown reads as natural and gently aged rather than busy.
Quiet enough upstairs or in a condo?
There's no separate underlayment to buy and no pad to choose. Nota Alta Herringbone's factory-attached IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening acoustic pad comes bonded to every plank and dampens footfall noise throughout the home — one less material decision and one less install step.
Is it safe for indoor air?
Yes — Nota Alta Herringbone is FloorScore, GREENGUARD Gold certified, independently tested for low chemical emissions. That matters most for households with allergies, asthma, or young children.
Will this color work in my room?
Nota Alta Herringbone is a warm muted brown, low in contrast and easy on the eye, which suits a room kept deliberately simple. It pairs with warm white walls, cream and natural furnishings, and the green of plants and a garden view, and the weathered tone stays calm from bright midday daylight into softer afternoon light. In a minimalist space Nota Alta Herringbone offers pattern and a touch of age without raising the visual volume.
Price range?
Nota Alta Herringbone prices at $4 to $5 per square foot. Quantity pricing available for whole-home installs (1,500+ sqft). Plus CA sales tax. Trade pricing for verified contractors, designers, architects. Call (408) 753-3220.
Overview
Nota Alta Herringbone is a warm muted brown laid in a tight herringbone, a soft, low-key shade with a weathered, lived-in feel. The print runs an open cathedral grain with weathered character marks, scattered cat's-eye knots, and dark mineral streaking, so the short angled planks read natural and slightly aged rather than glossy or new. Nota Alta Herringbone is built on a rigid stone polymer composite core for dimensional stability and is waterproof against topical spills wiped up promptly, and it is certified FloorScore and GREENGUARD Gold for low chemical emissions and indoor air quality, which matters in a calm, pared-back room where you want the air to feel clean. With its 20 mil wear layer and UV-cured ceramic-bead finish, Nota Alta Herringbone brings a quiet, natural herringbone to a minimalist living room that opens to the garden.
A muted, weathered brown in tight herringbone that keeps a pared-back garden-facing room feeling calm and natural.
Specifications
| SKU | GA85313AB |
|---|---|
| Brand | Gaia Floor |
| Collection | eTerra Red Series |
| Color | Nota Alta Herringbone |
| Plank size | 5.9 inches wide × 28.3 inches long |
| Thickness | 8mm |
| Wear layer | 20 mil |
| Finish | UV-cured ceramic bead (EnduraPro) |
| Locking system | Valinge 5G drop-down |
| SF per carton | 13.95 sq ft |
| Installation grade | Above, On, Below grade |
| Waterproof | Yes — 100% |
| Warranty | 50 Years Residential / 10 Years Light Commercial limited warranty (prorated after the first 5 residential years). Covers manufacturing defects, the UV-cured ceramic-bead finish, and topical waterproof protection under normal use. Non-transferable; original purchaser, single-site installation. |
| Certifications | FloorScore, GREENGUARD Gold |
Installation
Nota Alta Herringbone's manufacturer installation specifications. Care follows in its own section.
Installation method
These planks install as a glueless floating floor and may be laid over most existing clean, dry, level hard-surface coverings. For indoor, climate-controlled use only; not suitable for sun-rooms, solariums, showers, saunas, seasonal porches, RVs, boats, or any space with flooding potential. Acclimate the planks a minimum of about 12 hours on site before installation. Maintain a 1/4" expansion gap to walls and fixed construction such as pillars, cabinets, and islands. Install T-moldings in doorways 4 ft or narrower and in rooms 49 ft or longer in any direction. The acoustic pad is attached to the plank, so no additional underlayment should be added. Inspect every plank under good lighting before installation and discard pieces with questionable color, finish, or sheen; report visual defects within 15 days. Purchase about 5% extra material for back stock and future replacements.
Climate & humidity
Install in conditions of 35-55% relative humidity and a room temperature of 60-80°F, and keep three-season rooms within that range year-round.
Subfloor flatness & prep
The sub-floor must be flat within 3/16" over 10 ft (or 1/8" over 6 ft) and securely anchored. Concrete sub-floors must be ASTM F710 compliant, at least 3,000 psi in density, with a pH of 9 or below.
Moisture testing
Concrete must test at no more than 80% relative humidity (ASTM F2170) and no more than 3 lbs/1000 sq ft/24 hr (ASTM F1869). New concrete or gypcrete must cure and dry a minimum of 4 weeks before installation. A vapor barrier is required over all concrete sub-floors: 6 mil polyethylene with an 8" overlap.
Radiant heat compatibility
Compatible with radiant heat as long as the floor surface temperature never exceeds 80°F (26.67°C). Keep at least 1/2" of separation between heating elements and the flooring, and an in-floor temperature sensor is recommended. Raise or lower radiant heat gradually, about 10°F per day, and never shut it off abruptly.
Care & maintenance
Keeping Nota Alta Herringbone looking its best takes very little — the manufacturer care guidance is below.
Daily maintenance
Vacuum or sweep regularly to remove grit, but do not use vacuums with beater bars or power rotary brush heads. Clean spills quickly with a luxury vinyl cleaner and a clean white cloth, mopping back-and-forth and replacing the mop cover when soiled. Use a pH-neutral cleaner; no waxing is required. Avoid steam cleaners, spray cleaners, and any device that sprays liquid directly on the floor, as water can cause damage. Never use oil soaps, wax, liquid detergent, or other household products, and avoid excessive wet mopping and standing water. Place exterior and interior entry mats at all entrances, but avoid rubber-backed mats, which can stain the floor or trap moisture.
Furniture protection
Use felt or plastic floor protectors at least 1" in diameter under furniture legs. Chairs with wheeled casters need flat 1"-wide casters and a protective rigid mat; rubber casters are preferred over plastic or metal. Use a dolly to move heavy furniture or appliances; never slide or roll heavy items across the floor.
Pets & claws
Trim pets' nails and inspect footwear for spiked heels to protect the finish.
Climate & humidity
Minimize direct sunlight and intense lighting by keeping window treatments closed when sunlight is strong.
Radiant
Use caution with area rugs over radiant heating, as they can raise the floor temperature beyond recommended levels.
UV exposure (rooms with many windows)
Sustained direct sun can fade any hard-surface floor over time, so high-exposure rooms benefit from a window treatment.
Pro tip: In south-facing or many-window rooms, light-filtering window film or shades cut the UV reaching the floor and protect nearby furniture and area rugs at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate how much flooring I need?
Pro tip: don't return extras after install — colors can shift slightly between production runs. If you need 5 replacement planks in 2 years, your only exact match is the stock you kept. Bring floor-plan dimensions into the showroom and our staff will walk through the calculation with you.
Can I install eSPC myself?
Most common case: DIY is allowed, but install mistakes (missed expansion gap, bad subfloor prep, wrong stagger, skipped moisture barrier) void that portion of coverage. Material defects from the manufacturer remain covered.
A few brands go further — their warranty requires "professional installation by a licensed contractor" as a coverage condition, so any DIY = warranty void even without mistakes. Check your brand's warranty language before deciding.
Pro tip: when a claim is filed, the manufacturer sends a licensed flooring inspector. DIY that followed manufacturer spec to the letter passes inspection; DIY that cut corners won't. We recommend: price out a licensed contractor quote first, read your warranty carefully, and decide based on your comfort with the procedure — not just labor savings.
Will it work in my basement?
Layer 1 — concrete moisture epoxy applied directly to the slab (manufacturer-approved liquid-applied membrane). Reduces vapor transmission well below the slab moisture limit this floor requires (measured per ASTM F1869 — see the Installation section for the exact figure).
Layer 2 — 6-mil polyethylene sheeting on the cured epoxy. The epoxy resists normal slab conditions; the plastic above is insurance against slab cracks from settling or seismic movement (common in older Bay Area homes built on fill). If the slab cracks in year 12, the plastic stops moisture before it reaches your eSPC.
Cost: $600-1,100 for a typical basement vs $50-100 for plastic alone. For a floor lasting 20+ years in a moisture-prone slab, double protection pays for itself the first time the slab shifts.
How does eSPC compare to real hardwood?
A genuine hardwood investment means solid hardwood, or engineered hardwood with 3mm+ veneer. That veneer thickness is the threshold where the floor becomes refinishable (2-3 refinishes over 50+ years, updated stain colors as trends shift). Appraisers factor genuine hardwood into home value; they don't factor eSPC.
Caveat: budget engineered hardwood with 1-2mm veneer shares eSPC's non-refinishable, 20-25 year practical life — but unlike eSPC it is not waterproof, and unlike genuine hardwood with a 3mm+ veneer it cannot be refinished, so eSPC stays the better pick for kitchens, baths, and basements. If you're paying hardwood prices, verify the veneer spec. Kapriz carries both categories; the right choice depends on your rooms and refinishing expectations.
Do you offer samples I can take home?
How fast does it ship?
What's your return policy?
Defective products are Kapriz's problem, not yours — manufacturing defects, wrong product, or transit damage documented on the delivery receipt all get free replacement or refund. Note any visible damage on the receipt before the driver leaves.
Why returns aren't standard: reverse logistics on a flooring pallet runs $300–800 with damage risk Kapriz absorbs.
Written exceptions (rare): 25% restocking fee + customer pays freight. Opened cartons, custom orders, and discontinued runs are never eligible.
Pro tip: unsure how Nota Alta Herringbone will look in your home? Call us — sample loan available (confirm Nota Alta Herringbone is in showroom; inventory rotates).