Acclimation

Acclimate flooring for 48 hours in the installation environment, lay boxes flat, store between 60-80°F with 35-55% relative humidity. Maintain these temperature and humidity ranges for 48 hours prior to, during, and after installation. Stocking and transport must not deviate more than 25°F or 20% RH from final installation environment.

Pro tip from Sergey: 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 to within 3/16 inch over 10 feet (5mm over 3m) or 1/8 inch over 6 feet (3mm over 2m). Fill low spots with high-compressive-strength Portland-based leveling compound (minimum 3,000 psi). Vertical deflection cannot exceed 3/16 inch. Substrates must be free from excessive moisture, paint, varnish, wax, oils, solvents, dirt, and other foreign matter.

Pro tip from Sergey: On older concrete slabs, we measure flatness in multiple directions — not just one straight line. A 3/16-inch dip in a 2-foot circle under a refrigerator telegraphs through even the thickest SPC eventually, regardless of what the 10-foot average says.

Moisture testing (concrete)

Concrete subfloors must be tested per ASTM F2170 (in-situ relative humidity ≤80%), ASTM F1869 (calcium chloride moisture vapor emission ≤3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours), and ASTM F710 (pH ≤9). Test all concrete substrates regardless of grade level or age of slab.

Pro tip from Sergey: 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)

All installations over concrete sub-floors REQUIRE a moisture barrier — 6 mil polyethylene sheeting with at least 8 inches of overlapping seams. Installing without a moisture barrier voids the warranty.

Pro tip from Sergey: 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 — cheap insurance. 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)

eTERRA ships with a pre-attached IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment. Do NOT add a second underlayment under eTERRA — additional underlayment voids the warranty. The pre-attached IXPE pad is required for the waterproof and acoustic warranties.

Pro tip from Sergey: Customers sometimes ask about adding a thicker pad under eTerra Red Series for more softness. Don’t. The attached IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening 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

Glueless floating click installation. White Series uses Uniclic angle-snap; Red and Black Series use Valinge 5G drop-down with spring lock. Leave 1/4 inch expansion gap at all walls, cabinets, columns, pipes, and door jambs. Stagger end joints between adjacent rows. Minimum installation temperature: 60°F with maximum 80°F and humidity below 55% for 48 hours prior, during, and after.

Pro tip from Sergey: For rooms wider than 25 feet or longer than 40 feet continuous, add a T-molding expansion break. SPC is dimensionally stable but not dimensionally inert — large rooms need room to breathe. Ignore this on thicker SPC at your peril; the extra thickness makes seam pressure more pronounced when expansion has nowhere to go.

Radiant heat compatibility

Compatible with electric or hydronic radiant heat systems with embedded heating elements. Maximum floor surface temperature: 80°F (26.67°C). Electric heating mats that are NOT embedded into the subfloor are NOT recommended. Maintain minimum 1/2 inch separation between heating elements and flooring. Use an in-floor temperature sensor. New concrete or gypcrete sub-floors must cure and dry for minimum 4 weeks before operating radiant heat. Damage from radiant heat is not covered under warranty.

Pro tip from Sergey: 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 pad adhesion.

Daily maintenance

Sweep with a dust mop or vacuum on hard-floor setting (no beater bar) regularly. For deeper cleaning use a damp microfiber mop with a Luxury Vinyl pH-neutral cleaner or plain pH-balanced water. Clean spills immediately. Avoid steam mops and excessive water — pooled water on the surface creates a slippery, unsafe environment and may affect the warranty.

Pro tip from Sergey: 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

Never use bleach, ammonia, chlorine, mop & shine products, steel wool pads, or any cleaner that is not pH balanced. These cause warping, decontamination, swelling, and joint-line separation that void the warranty. Avoid wax, polish, or ‘cleaner and polish in one’ products. Never use rubber-backed walk-off mats — they trap moisture and can permanently discolor the flooring.

Pro tip from Sergey: 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

Attach felt pads to all furniture legs and replace as they wear. Heavy items require larger-diameter components to disperse weight correctly. Trim pet nails. Use entry mats and hard-surface rug protectors at exterior doors. Use approved Rug Pads under area rugs to avoid slippage. Maintain 35-55% relative humidity year-round so natural expansion and contraction stay minimized.

Pro tip from Sergey: Office chairs with plastic wheels are harder on SPC than pet claws. Gaia Floor’s warranty specifically excludes damage from caster wheels unless they’re wide rubber — swap plastic wheels for rubber or silicone, or use a chair mat. This is in the written warranty, not a suggestion.