Acclimation

Acclimate flooring 48 hours in installation environment, original packaging, stored horizontal at 35-55% RH and 60-80°F

Pro tip: If boxes have been stored in a cold truck or warehouse below 50°F, let them sit in the install room for 24 hours before cutting. Rigid-core planks handle temperature change better than wood, but extreme cold can make the click-lock edges brittle during installation.

Subfloor flatness

Subfloor must be flat (3/16″ over 10 ft), clean, dry, structurally sound, and meet ASTM F710 requirements

Pro tip: Installing over existing tile? Flatness alone isn’t enough — every tile must still be firmly bonded to the subfloor. Tap each tile with a hard object and listen: a solid thud means good adhesion, a hollow sound means the tile has released from the thinset. Loose tiles flex under foot traffic, and that movement transfers up through the SPC — click-lock seams crack within 1-2 years. Re-bond any hollow-sounding tiles (injection epoxy through a drilled hole) or remove and re-set them before the SPC goes down. If more than ~20% of tiles sound hollow, pull the whole tile floor and start from the slab.

Moisture testing (concrete)

Concrete: ≤80% RH per ASTM F2170, ≤3 lbs/1000 sqft/24hr per ASTM F1869, pH ≤9

Pro tip: Bay Area homes near the water (Alviso, parts of San Mateo, coastal San Francisco) often have higher slab moisture than the test-day reading suggests — slab moisture fluctuates seasonally. If your slab tests at 85% RH in October, it may hit 95% in February. Budget for the 6-mil moisture barrier below either way.

Moisture barrier (concrete subfloors)

REQUIRED over concrete: 6 mil polyethylene vapor barrier with 8″ overlap at seams

Pro tip: We recommend 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier over every concrete subfloor regardless of test results. Seasonal moisture shifts, future plumbing leaks, and unseen slab cracks mean a clean moisture test today doesn’t guarantee a dry subfloor in five years. 6-mil poly is $30-50 for a whole room — inexpensive protection. Overlap seams by 6-8 inches, seal with waterproof tape, run 2-4 inches up the walls (hidden by baseboard). This is industry-standard per NWFA and what we’d do in our own home.

Underlayment (do not replace the attached pad)

IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment is pre-attached — do not add separate underlayment

Pro tip: Customers sometimes ask about adding a thicker pad under Eterra Red Series for more softness. Don’t. The attached IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment pad is engineered to work with the SPC core — adding a second pad creates an unstable stack-up that causes click-lock seam failure over time. The warranty specifically voids structural-integrity coverage if a non-manufacturer pad is used.

Installation method

Floating installation using Valinge 5G drop-down click system, no glue or nails required

Pro tip: Follow manufacturer procedure to the letter — this changes what happens when a warranty claim gets filed. When the manufacturer sends a licensed flooring inspector, what they investigate depends on what the install looks like. On a professionally installed floor, the inspector is looking for material defects — manufacturing problems the brand is responsible for. On a floor showing signs of non-professional installation (rigid stagger pattern, missing expansion gaps, skipped moisture readings), the inspector is looking for installation errors — problems the installer is responsible for. Same physical issue, completely different warranty outcome. Professional install puts the burden of proof on the manufacturer; amateur install puts it on you.

Radiant heat compatibility

Compatible with radiant heat up to 80°F (26.67°C); maintain 1/2″ minimum separation from heating elements

Pro tip: Turn the heating system on at least two weeks before installation to purge slab moisture. After installation, raise temperature in 5°F increments per day back to operating level. Never go from room-temp to full heat in one day — thermal shock can compromise the click-lock edges and IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment pad adhesion.

Daily maintenance

Clean with pH-neutral hard surface cleaner; no steam mops; use felt pads under furniture; entry mats without rubber backing recommended

Pro tip: Use a cleaner specifically labeled for luxury vinyl or SPC — Bona Pro Series Luxury Vinyl Floor Cleaner works well. Avoid ‘mop and shine’ products that leave a film; they trap dirt and dull the Ceramic Bead finish over time.

What to avoid

Do not install over: tile below grade, carpet, hardwood, sloping floors, drains, existing floating floors, foam, rubber, cork, laminate, or air vents

Pro tip: Steam mops are the #1 warranty-void cause on Gaia Floor floors — Gaia Floor’s master warranty explicitly denies coverage for any damage caused by steam cleaners, and the moisture/heat breaks down the adhesives in the plank construction. Customers sometimes say ‘but it’s waterproof’ — the core is waterproof; the seams and adhesives are not designed for pressurized hot water.

Furniture and pet protection

Use felt pads under all furniture; allow flooring to expand/contract; maintain 35-55% RH year-round

Pro tip: Before install, if you have pets, pay attention to the finish grade on the plank you’re buying. Not all SPC finishes are equal — a Ceramic Bead or aluminum-oxide-enhanced finish is what handles dog nails, cat claws, and daily paw traffic without visible scratching over 5+ years. Entry-level SPC with a standard UV-cure finish scratches noticeably under the same pet traffic in 1-2 years. The finish is the wear difference customers actually feel — not the wear-layer thickness number. For pet households: Ceramic Bead minimum.