Gaia Floors eTerra Red Series Sole GA805311 SPC 8mm 9-inch
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Description
warm caramel beige with subtle grain · 100% waterproof · Eterra Red Series collection
What is Sole GA805311?
Part of Gaia Floor’s Eterra Red Series line — it combines warm caramel beige with subtle grain with an 8.0mm SPC construction, 20 mil wear layer, and 9-inch plank width.
Is it waterproof?
Fully waterproof, rated 100%. Sole’s rigid 8.0mm SPC construction means no swelling, no cupping, no delamination — even when a dishwasher leaks overnight or a pet accident sits on the warm caramel beige with subtle grain surface for hours.
Best rooms?
Rated for whole-home installation — above, on, and below grade. Sole’s 8.0mm SPC construction with 20 mil wear layer handles kitchens, baths, basements, living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways equally well.
Who’s it best for?
Families with kids, pets, and the usual daily chaos. Sole’s 20 mil wear layer and 100% waterproof core handle spilled juice, muddy paws, and dropped toys without showing wear. The warm caramel beige with subtle grain visual reads warm in busy households.
How thick is it?
The attached 1.5mm IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment pad plus 6.5mm SPC core brings Sole to 8.0mm total plank thickness.
Price range?
Pricing on Sole runs $4 to $5 per square foot depending on quantity and current Gaia Floor supplier availability. Plus CA sales tax. Text (408) 753-3220 with your it square-footage for a firm quote.
Overview
Sole fits the way Bay Area homes actually live — open floor plans where the kitchen, dining, and family room read as one continuous floor, kids and pets moving through all day. the thickest SPC plank Gaia Floors makes, at 8.0mm total gauge, with 20 mil commercial-grade wear layer engineered for that traffic. The warm caramel beige with subtle grain works in foggy morning light and golden-hour sun without shifting tone. 9-inch by 60-inch planks float over most subfloors using an angle-tap click system with no adhesive and no acclimation wait.
Specifications
| SKU | GA805311 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Gaia Floors |
| Collection | eTerra Red Series |
| Color | Sole — Warm tone, warm caramel beige with subtle grain |
| Plank size | 9 inches wide × 60 inches long |
| Thickness | 8.0mm |
| Wear layer | 20 mil |
| Surface texture | EIR (Embossed in Register) texture with ceramic bead finish |
| Edge profile | micro-bevel |
| Finish | UV-cured EnduraPro ceramic bead finish |
| Locking system | Valinge 5G drop-down click system |
| Unique planks | 8-16 unique pattern repeats per box for natural variation |
| SF per carton | 18.86 sq ft |
| Installation | Floating click (Valinge 5G drop-down) |
| Installation grade | All grades — above, on, and below |
| Waterproof | Yes — 100% |
| Warranty | 50-Year Residential / 10-Year Commercial Limited Warranty |
| Certifications | FloorScore + GreenGuard Gold certified |
Why Sole works in Bay Area homes
✔ warm caramel beige with subtle grain — versatile across design styles. The warm medium beige tone pairs well with traditional or contemporary cabinetry. The EIR (Embossed in Register) texture with ceramic bead finish surface and character variation give Sole authentic depth — it reads as real wood, not printed imitation.
✔ 8.0mm total construction — premium SPC feel. Rigid SPC core plus attached acoustic pad delivers 8.0mm total plank thickness. Dramatically firmer and quieter underfoot than thinner SPC. 100% waterproof — safe for every room including kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms.
✔ 20 mil wear layer with UV-cured EnduraPro ceramic bead finish. The 20 mil commercial-grade wear layer handles pet claws, chair legs, dropped dishes, and heavy daily traffic. Extra scratch resistance matters in kitchens, entryways, and pet households.
✔ Pre-attached 1.5mm IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment. No separate underlayment purchase, no pad decisions. The attached pad is required for the waterproof warranty — other pads void structural integrity coverage. Dampens footfall noise throughout the home.
✔ EIR (Embossed in Register) texture with ceramic bead finish surface with micro-bevel edges. Texture follows the printed grain exactly, creating visual depth that reads as real sawn wood up close. Defined plank edges without overly-wide grooves that trap dirt.
✔ Valinge 5G drop-down click system floating click — above, on, or below grade. Installs over wood, concrete, or existing hard flooring. No adhesive, no acclimation wait, DIY-friendly with a tapping block. Sole’s Valinge 5G drop-down click system plus 8.0mm rigid build works above, on, and below grade — basement to second floor, no construction-type restrictions.
✔ Need an installer? We refer licensed pros. We’re a licensed flooring retailer in Santa Clara — we refer customers to licensed contractors across the Bay Area. (Author byline at top of page covers our installer credentials so they’re not repeated here.)
✔ Wholesale pricing — no big-box markup. Kapriz has been a Bay Area flooring specialist since 2003, and that volume earns us direct-supplier pricing from Gaia Floors that a one-time buyer can’t get. We’re a flooring-specialty retailer — no big-box overhead built into your per-square-foot price. What you see in our quote is what the manufacturer charges plus our margin, not five layers of distribution.
How Sole compares
Sole sits at 8.0mm in Gaia Floor’s Eterra Red Series line. Here’s how it compares to other SPC options in the Gaia Floor lineup:
| Feature | Eterra White Series (6.5mm) |
Sole (Eterra Red Series, 8.0mm) |
Eterra Black Series (10.0mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collection | eTerra White Series | eTerra Red Series | eTerra Black Series |
| Total thickness | 6.5mm (incl. pad) | 8.0mm (incl. pad) | 10.0mm (incl. pad) |
| Wear layer | 20 mil | 20 mil | 20 mil |
| Underlayment | IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment attached | IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment attached | IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment with skeleton core attached |
| Waterproof | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Warranty | 50-yr res / 10-yr comm | 50-yr res / 10-yr comm | 50-yr res / 10-yr comm |
| Price (per sq ft) | $3 to $4 | $4 to $5 | $5 to $6 |
| Best for | Whole-home residential, moderate commercial | High-traffic residential + light commercial | High-traffic residential + light commercial |
Prices are estimated ranges. Call (408) 753-3220 for exact pricing and project quotes on Sole and comparable Gaia Floor SPC collections we special-order from our Santa Clara showroom.
Installation & care
Below are the manufacturer specifications plus installer best-practice notes (author byline at top of page). The warranty follows manufacturer spec; real-world installation often benefits from the extra steps below.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate how much flooring I need?
Pro tip: we strongly recommend hiring a licensed flooring contractor to measure before ordering, especially for larger jobs. They’ll account for transitions, stairs, closets, and pattern waste that homeowners often miss. Under-ordering means stopping mid-install to wait for another box — and batch matching isn’t guaranteed.
Can I install SPC myself?
Pro tip: when a claim gets filed later, the manufacturer sends a licensed flooring inspector who examines the install — DIY that followed manufacturer spec to the letter can still pass inspection. DIY that cut corners won’t. We don’t tell customers not to DIY — we tell them: price out a licensed contractor quote first, read your brand’s warranty carefully, and decide based on your comfort with the procedure, not just the labor savings.
Will Sole work in my basement?
Layer 1 — concrete moisture epoxy applied directly to the slab (products like Koster VAP 2000 or Aquafin 2K/M). Liquid-applied membrane that chemically bonds to concrete. Rates around 25 lbs/1000sqft vapor transmission versus the 8 lbs ASTM F1869 requires.
Layer 2 — 6-mil polyethylene sheeting on top of the cured epoxy. Seems redundant, but it’s not. Epoxy handles normal slab conditions permanently. The plastic sheet above is your insurance against slab cracks that develop over 20+ years from settling, seismic movement, or seasonal water-table stress — all common in Bay Area homes, especially older ones or those built on fill. If the slab cracks in year 12, the epoxy layer is compromised at that crack — but the plastic above stops the moisture before it reaches your SPC.
Total cost: $600-1,100 for a typical basement versus $50-100 for plastic alone. For a floor designed to last 20+ years in a moisture-prone slab, double protection pays for itself the first time the slab shifts.
How does SPC compare to real hardwood?
SPC is functional flooring, not an investment. It’s waterproof, handles pet claws and kid spills, installs fast, costs less upfront. But it’s a printed image with a wear layer on top — you can’t refinish it, and when it wears out in 20-25 years, you replace the whole floor. For kitchens, bathrooms, basements, rentals, and high-traffic family homes, SPC is the right call.
Real investment = engineered hardwood with at least 3mm veneer. That’s the threshold where the floor becomes refinishable — you can sand and refinish it 2-3 times over 50+ years, updating stain color as design trends shift. 4mm+ veneer pushes that to 3-5 refinishes over 75+ years. Appraisers factor genuine hardwood into home value; they don’t factor SPC. If you’re in a forever home, want real wood underfoot, and are willing to keep liquid away from it, engineered hardwood with 3mm+ veneer is the long-game choice.
Important caveat: engineered hardwood sold with 1-2mm veneer (common in budget lines) is functionally the same as SPC — can’t be refinished, lasts 20-25 years, then replace. If you’re paying hardwood prices, check the veneer spec. Under 3mm = you’re paying premium for a utility product.
We carry both categories — happy to walk you through specific products in either direction. The real question is: are you buying for 20 years of waterproof durability, or for 50+ years of refinishable real wood?
Do you offer samples I can take home?
How fast can I receive my Sole order?
What’s your return policy?
Always covered at no cost:
• Manufacturing defects
• Wrong product shipped
• Delivery damage (documented on receipt before driver leaves)
Why returns aren’t the default: sending a flooring pallet back means six handoffs, each with damage risk. Freight runs $300–800. Kapriz carries the exposure if the supplier rejects the condition on arrival.
Written exceptions (rare, case-by-case): 25% restocking fee + customer pays all freight + supplier handling. Never available for opened cartons, custom orders, closeouts, or discontinued runs.
Pro tip: the fastest way to build confidence before ordering Sole is to see it in person. Call us at (408) 753-3220 first — we’ll confirm whether Sole is currently in the showroom (sample inventory rotates) and set up a sample loan or showroom visit. If color matching is critical for a larger project, we have additional options we’ll walk through on the phone.
Hydronic vs electric radiant — which works better with Sole?
See Sole in person
Visit our Santa Clara showroom to handle the plank, compare it to other SPC options, and ask our team anything about installation or pairing.
891 Laurelwood Rd, Suite 101
Santa Clara, CA 95054
In-store pickup · Call (408) 753-3220 for delivery options and pricing
Last updated 2026-04-28 · Sole GA805311 · eTerra Red Series collection · Tracked via Kapriz Hardwood Floors, Santa Clara CA.
Additional information
| Brand | Gaia Floor |
|---|---|
| Collection | eTerra Red Series |
| Flooring Type | SPC |
| Thickness | 8mm+ |
| Water Resistant | Yes |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil |
| Width | 9 inches + |
| Color Tone | Medium Beige |
