GemCore Flooring — Waterproof SPC, LVT & Laminate Plank Flooring

GemCore Flooring builds waterproof stone-composite (SPC), luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and waterproof laminate plank flooring for rooms that see real daily traffic — spills, pets, and busy households — without giving up a wood look. Kapriz Hardwood Floors carries all 86 colors across GemCore’s 11 collections: six SPC lines built on a stone-heavy core with a pre-attached foam pad, two glue-down LVT lines, and three waterproof laminate lines. Every GemCore floor is FloorScore certified for low-VOC indoor air and carries a warranty up to Lifetime Residential, tiered by wear-layer mil. Order any collection through our Santa Clara showroom.

The GemCore collections

Crystal — SPC, 5mm

Everyday-performance SPC with a 20-mil wear layer, a 9″ × 60″ plank, and a pre-attached 1mm IXPE pad under a UniClic angle-lock click. 7 colors.

View Crystal collection →

Diamond — SPC, 6.5mm

The heaviest-duty SPC line in the brand — a 28-mil wear layer (the highest of any GemCore collection) on a 6.5mm plank, 9″ × 60″, pre-attached IXPE pad. 6 colors.

View Diamond collection →

Garnet — SPC, 4.5mm

GemCore’s thinnest-profile SPC — a 4.5mm plank, 20-mil wear layer, subtle kissed-bevel edge, 7″ × 48″ board, pre-attached 1mm EVA pad. 5 colors.

View Garnet collection →

Jasper — SPC, 5mm

A long-format SPC board — 9″ × 73″, the longest plank in the GemCore lineup — with a painted-bevel edge, 20-mil wear layer, and pre-attached IXPE pad. 7 colors.

View Jasper collection →

Opal — SPC, 5mm

A 7″ × 48.6″ SPC board with a 20-mil wear layer and pre-attached 1mm EVA pad, built for a household that wants a narrower-format plank. 7 colors.

View Opal collection →

Sapphire — SPC, 5mm

A wide-format 9″ × 72″/72.5″ SPC board, 20-mil wear layer, pre-attached 1mm IXPE pad, UniClic angle-lock click. 6 colors.

View Sapphire collection →

Advantage II — LVT, 3mm

GemCore’s widest LVT color range — a 3mm, 20-mil glue-down dryback LVT, 7″ × 48″ plank, for a fully adhered floor with no pad or click seams. 10 colors.

View Advantage II collection →

Meridian II — LVT, 2mm

A lighter-duty glue-down dryback LVT — 2mm, 12-mil wear layer, 7″ × 48″ plank — for a lower-traffic room. 8 colors.

View Meridian II collection →

Lakeshore — Waterproof Laminate, 12mm

A 12mm AC4 waterproof laminate with a painted-bevel edge, 7-1/2″ × 48″ plank, angle-snap floating click. 10 colors.

View Lakeshore collection →

Riverfront — Waterproof Laminate, 12mm

GemCore’s widest laminate board, tied for the longest — 9-3/8″ × 72″ — with a commercially rated AC4 melamine surface and a true-to-wood V-shaped micro-bevel, angle-snap click. 10 colors.

View Riverfront collection →

Seaside — Waterproof Laminate, 12mm

A 12mm AC4 waterproof laminate, 9-1/4″ × 72″ plank, painted-bevel edge, angle-snap floating click. 10 colors.

View Seaside collection →

What makes GemCore different

  • Waterproof core on every collection. SPC, LVT, and waterproof laminate lines are all rated waterproof, so a spill wipes up clean instead of soaking into the plank.
  • FloorScore certified. Every GemCore floor meets the FloorScore low-VOC standard for indoor air quality — an easier call for a bedroom or nursery.
  • Warranty up to Lifetime Residential. Coverage is tiered by wear-layer mil — the SPC lines, the Advantage II LVT line, and all three waterproof laminate lines carry a Lifetime Residential warranty; only the lighter Meridian II LVT carries a separate, shorter term. Check the collection page for the exact tier.
  • Pre-attached pad on the SPC lines. Crystal, Diamond, Garnet, Jasper, Opal, and Sapphire ship with a 1mm IXPE or EVA pad already bonded to the plank, so there’s no separate underlayment to buy and no second pad to void the warranty.
  • Three install methods under one brand. The SPC and waterproof laminate collections click together as a floating floor over a prepped, dry subfloor; the Advantage II and Meridian II LVT collections are glue-down dryback for a fully adhered, low-movement floor.
  • One brand across three floor types. Because SPC, LVT, and laminate GemCore lines share the same waterproof standard and warranty structure, a whole-home project can put a stone-composite floor in a wet area and a matching laminate look in the living room without switching brands.

Best uses for GemCore flooring

  • Kitchens & baths — every GemCore core is waterproof-rated, standing up to sink splashes and daily spills better than raw wood.
  • Laundry rooms & mudrooms — the same spill-prone environment as a kitchen; wipe up standing liquid immediately and the floor is built to take it.
  • Busy households with kids or pets — a dry-sweep-and-damp-mop care routine plus a real wear layer keeps grit and everyday traffic from dulling the finish.
  • Basements and other below-grade rooms (SPC collections) — a stone-composite core doesn’t swell with humidity the way solid wood can; follow the collection’s install guide for the subfloor moisture-barrier requirement.
  • Rental properties & flips — the click-together SPC and laminate collections go down fast without glue, and the wear-layer tiers make it easy to match durability to a property’s use.
  • Whole-home continuity — pair an SPC or LVT collection in a wet area with a matching-tone laminate collection in the adjoining living space, all under one warranty structure and one showroom order.

Choosing the right GemCore floor

Start with the flooring type that fits the room: SPC for a kitchen, bath, or basement that sees regular water exposure, LVT for a fully adhered commercial-grade install, or waterproof laminate for a main-level living space. From there, pick a collection by plank size and wear-layer tier — Diamond’s 28-mil layer or Riverfront’s wider 9-3/8″ plank suit a heavier-traffic or larger room, for example — and narrow the color by how much daylight the room gets: a light or blonde tone reads brighter in a room with little natural light, while a deeper brown or grey tone can carry a sunlit space without washing out. Because dye lots can shift slightly between production runs, we recommend ordering a sample or stopping by our Santa Clara showroom to compare planks under your own lighting before you order full cartons.

Frequently asked questions about GemCore

What core does GemCore flooring use?
GemCore builds three flooring types: a stone-composite (SPC) core across six collections (Crystal, Diamond, Garnet, Jasper, Opal, and Sapphire), a glue-down luxury vinyl tile (LVT) core in Advantage II and Meridian II, and a waterproof laminate core in Lakeshore, Riverfront, and Seaside. All three material types are waterproof.
Is GemCore flooring waterproof?
Yes — every GemCore collection, across all three material types, is built with a waterproof core and is rated for spill-prone rooms like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
What warranty comes with GemCore flooring?
Warranty coverage is tiered by wear-layer mil. The SPC collections, the Advantage II LVT line, and all three waterproof laminate collections carry a Lifetime Residential warranty; only the lighter Meridian II LVT line carries a separate, shorter residential term. Check the specific collection page for its exact tier.
Can I install GemCore flooring myself?
The SPC and waterproof laminate collections click together as a floating floor over a prepped, dry subfloor, which is DIY-friendly. The Advantage II and Meridian II LVT collections are glue-down dryback installs that call for a specified adhesive and trowel — most homeowners hire a flooring pro for that step.
Is GemCore flooring certified for indoor air quality?
Yes — every GemCore collection is FloorScore certified, meeting strict low-VOC standards for indoor air quality.
How many GemCore colors does Kapriz carry?
Kapriz carries all 86 GemCore colors across 11 collections. Order any of them through our Santa Clara showroom.

Written by Sergey Stotskiy

Managing Partner, Kapriz Hardwood Floors · Licensed California C-15 Flooring Contractor #875369 (active since 2006) · Established 2003

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