Gaia Floors eTerra Black Series Matilda GA22402 SPC 10mm 9.05-inch
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Quick Answer
What is Matilda?
Matilda is a warm honeyed light brown with a neutral, balanced tone, bright enough to feel breezy and coastal. It is a wood-look print over a stone-polymer core, and what sets Matilda apart in its color family is the knots: a fine straight linear grain crowded with round knot eyes and swirling figure, with strong character marks. That busy, knotty surface gives Matilda far more movement than a quieter board.
Is it waterproof?
Yes — 100% waterproof. Stable against concrete-slab humidity and seasonal moisture variation, so Matilda suits below-grade rooms once the slab passes a moisture test; clean up standing water promptly. Not approved for outdoor installation.
Will it hold up to daily life?
At 20 mil, Matilda's wear layer sits on the thicker end for residential flooring, which is why it stands up well to heavy day-to-day use. The 10mm construction adds rigidity underfoot, so the floor handles busy rooms without showing wear quickly.
What does the plank surface look like?
Each Matilda plank shows a fine straight linear grain crowded with numerous round knots and swirling knot eyes, with pronounced figure and strong character marks across a smooth printed surface. The knot density is high, so the boards are lively and varied, giving Matilda a busy, characterful look where the honeyed tone and the abundant knots share the attention.
Quiet enough upstairs or in a condo?
The IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening acoustic layer damps the hollow "click" sound characteristic of floating floors. Matilda installs quieter than LVT with a loose pad — both for the walker and for rooms below in multi-story homes.
Is it safe for indoor air?
Yes — Matilda 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?
Matilda leans warm and honeyed but stays neutral, so it reflects plenty of natural light and keeps a big room feeling breezy. It pairs with white panelled walls, light timber, olive and rust accents, and the brightness of a beach view, and the honeyed tone stays light and airy under strong coastal daylight. In a large open room Matilda brings warmth and a relaxed, character-rich texture without going dark.
Price range?
Matilda: $5 to $6 per square foot, material only. Plus CA sales tax. Matilda ships special-order in 3-7 business days; only the rotating set of colors on our sale page is stocked for immediate pickup. Trade pricing with verified license. Call (408) 753-3220.
Overview
Matilda is a warm honeyed light brown with a neutral balance, a breezy, sunlit shade that suits a coastal great room facing the water. Where its Light Brown siblings stay quiet, Matilda is the character of the family: the print runs a fine straight linear grain dense with round knots and swirling eyes, with strong character marks and pronounced figure, so the boards are lively and full of movement. Matilda is built on a rigid stone polymer composite core for dimensional stability and is waterproof against topical spills wiped up promptly, a real plus where sandy feet and wet swimsuits come in from the beach. With its 20 mil wear layer and UV-cured ceramic-bead finish standing up to grit, Matilda gives a large, light-filled coastal living room a warm, knotty floor that feels relaxed and lived-in.
A breezy honeyed light brown packed with knots and character, made for a sunlit coastal room off the beach.
Specifications
| SKU | GA22402 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Gaia Floor |
| Collection | eTerra Black Series |
| Color | Matilda |
| Plank size | 9.05 inches wide × 70.87 inches long |
| Thickness | 10mm |
| Wear layer | 20 mil |
| Finish | UV-cured ceramic bead (EnduraPro) |
| Locking system | Valinge 5G drop-down |
| SF per carton | 17.81 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
Matilda'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 Matilda 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.
Care for heavy-character knots
Open knot pockets are part of the rustic profile; manufacturer spec doesn't restrict cleaning method.
Pro tip: Pronounced character knots can collect crumb dust around their pockets. Vacuum with a soft brush attachment every 2-3 weeks (soft-bristle broom for daily); avoid stiff-bristle attachments that can score the embossed surface.
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 shortchange the 10% buffer. If you end up with 3-5 extra cartons, keep them — don't return them. Even if you reorder the same SKU in 3 months, it'll be a different manufacturing batch with slightly different tone and grain. It won't match your existing floor. The extras are insurance against leaks, furniture damage, or cracks down the road.
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?
Always covered at no cost: manufacturing defects, wrong product shipped, delivery damage documented on receipt. Call (408) 753-3220 to report.
Why not returnable by default: reverse freight on a pallet runs $300–800 with damage risk through 6 handoffs — Kapriz carries that exposure.
Rare written exceptions: 25% restocking fee + customer pays freight. Never for opened cartons, custom orders, or discontinued runs.
Pro tip: call (408) 753-3220 to arrange a sample loan before a large order — confirm the color is in the showroom (inventory rotates).