Gaia Floors eTerra Black Series Rhea GA22401 SPC 10mm 9.05-inch
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For Contractors & Trade
Why Buy From Us?
Quick Answer
What is Rhea?
Rhea is a soft, medium beige wood-look print with a cool neutral balance, a photographic pattern applied over an SPC stone-polymer core. Its color is a mid-light beige that leans neutral rather than warm-golden, and the print shows fine straight grain in dense parallel growth lines, frequent small round knot eyes, and a quiet ribbon striping. Rhea reads as a tranquil, orderly floor rather than a busy or high-contrast one.
Is it waterproof?
Yes — 100% waterproof. Built for daily life: mop-and-go cleaning, occasional spills, and pet accidents wiped up promptly; clean standing water quickly. Indoor use only — outdoor installation is not approved.
Will it hold up to daily life?
Office chair wheels, spike-heel point loads, and dragged furniture all concentrate force. Rhea's 20 mil wear layer plus 10mm rigid eSPC core manages this better than laminate — eSPC resists crush-indent where laminate high-density fiberboard would dent permanently.
What does the plank surface look like?
The plank surface is a smooth printed wood-look defined by fine straight grain running in dense parallel growth lines along each board. Frequent small round knot eyes and a quiet ribbon striping appear across the boards at a moderate density, giving the floor a tight, orderly texture rather than open swirling figure. The top is sealed with a UV-cured ceramic-bead finish that resists scratches and stains and needs no waxing.
Quiet enough upstairs or in a condo?
The IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening acoustic layer damps the hollow "click" sound characteristic of floating floors. Rhea 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 — Rhea 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?
Rhea is a medium beige tempered by a cool, neutral cast, which keeps a room feeling calm and balanced rather than overtly warm. Because the tone is even and the grain is fine and linear, it works as a steady, restful base that suits soft, pared-back rooms, pairing easily with cream and oatmeal upholstery, light-timber surfaces, and muted greys. Under soft diffused daylight the cool note keeps Rhea reading clean and serene, and under warm evening light it relaxes just a touch without losing its neutral footing, so the floor stays tranquil from afternoon into night.
Price range?
Rhea: $5 to $6 per square foot, material only. Plus CA sales tax. Free 4-month storage if your project starts later — buy now, lock in price, schedule delivery when ready. Trade pricing for verified contractors and designers.
Overview
Rhea is a soft medium beige with a cool, neutral balance, a wood-look print laid over a stone-polymer core. Its pattern is distinctive: fine straight grain runs in dense parallel growth lines down each board, marked by frequent small round knot eyes and a quiet ribbon striping, so the figure reads orderly and linear rather than swirling. The planks click together as a glueless floating floor and wear a UV-cured ceramic-bead finish that resists scratches and stains, which keeps the cool-neutral beige of Rhea even underfoot day to day. In this modern-minimalist living room the floor sits in soft diffused daylight that gives way to evening, paired with low cream sofas, a light-timber coffee table, a slim plant, and a recessed linear fireplace set into a pale wall niche. That tranquil, refined mood makes Rhea a strong fit for a calm evening living room, a serene reading lounge, or a quiet bedroom where you want a cool, even floor that keeps the space restful after dark.
A cool-neutral medium beige with dense linear grain and round knot eyes, a tranquil floor for a calm evening living room.
Specifications
| SKU | GA22401 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Gaia Floor |
| Collection | eTerra Black Series |
| Color | Rhea |
| 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
Rhea'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 Rhea 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.
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 Rhea will look in your home? Call us — sample loan available (confirm Rhea is in showroom; inventory rotates).