Waterproof LVP Performer PLUS SPC Tern PPPSPC2027 6mm — Paradigm

Greige-brown with balanced warm undertone · 100% waterproof · Performer PLUS collection ✓ FloorScore Certified Independently certified emissions limits for indoor spaces ✓ 20 mil Wear Layer Designed to absorb years of wear from pets and moving furniture ✓ Lifetime Residential Warranty Paradigm Flooring protects your investment through original ownership Quick Answer What is Tern? Part of the scuff-resistant tier — Performer 20MIL with the addition of MaaXguard surface technology, named exclusively after birds (27 colors) — built for daily use in Bay Area kitchens, bedrooms, and whole-home runs. Tern reads grounded as greige-brown with balanced warm undertone, grounding rooms without competing with cabinet selection. Is it waterproof? Yes — 100% waterproof. Engineered for daily life: mop-and-go cleaning, occasional spills, pet accidents, and the inevitable plumbing event. Mold/mildew from prolonged water exposure not covered by moisture warranty; outdoor installation not approved. Who’s it best for? Homeowners planning aging-in-place renovations. Tern installs over existing flooring with no tripping transitions, the acoustic pad adds subtle underfoot cushion, and the slip-resistant surface reduces fall risk without area rugs. How thick is it? 6mm total — substantial rigid construction that won’t telegraph subfloor imperfections the way thinner options do. Floating click install over wood, concrete, or existing flooring. Specs section has pad and core breakdown. Price range? Tern: $6 to $7 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. Jump to: Overview Specifications Why Tern Compare Install & care FAQ SS Written by Sergey Stotskiy Managing Partner, Kapriz Hardwood Floors · Licensed California C-15 Flooring Contractor #875369 (active since 2006) · Established 2003 Overview Tern’s greige-brown with balanced warm undertone sits in the grey family — a position on the color wheel that pairs reliably across the cabinet finishes and tile options our showroom keeps on display. White shaker with grey-veined quartz countertop and white-marble-look backsplash tile — the floor grounds without competing. Warm-stained oak or walnut cabinets with travertine or limestone-look tile — the cool tonality provides contrast that makes the wood feel intentional rather than dated. Charcoal or dark navy cabinets with brass hardware and matte-black hex tile — the floor balances the dark elements. Painted-cabinet color blocking (sage, olive, dusty blue) with neutral subway or zellige tile — its neutrality lets the painted color hold the room’s identity. In the photographed install: Tern carries beneath white walls and matte charcoal upper cabinets with white marble lower cabinetry — the full vertical palette holding without either element dominating. The inviting reading is what allows this range. 6mm construction with 20 mil wear layer; FloorScore certified. What makes our showroom different: flooring, cabinets, and tile under one roof. Around 10 modern cabinet finishes on permanent display next to backsplash and countertop tile — hold Tern against any cabinet, any tile, in real showroom lighting before committing. Specifications SKU PPPSPC2027 Brand Paradigm Flooring Collection Paradigm Performer PLUS Color Tern — Warm tone, greige-brown with balanced warm undertone Plank size 9 inches wide × 60 inches long Thickness 6mm total (4.5mm SPC core + 1mm attached EVA acoustic pad) Wear layer 20 mil Surface texture Barnside emboss Edge profile Painted Bevel Finish Ceramic Bead with MaaXguard Locking system Unilin Angle-Angle click SF per carton 22.38 sq ft Installation grade Above, On, Below grade Waterproof Yes — 100% Warranty Lifetime Residential / 15-Year Commercial Certifications FloorScore certified, low-VOC compliant per CDPH/EHLB v1.2-2017 (CDPH/EHLB v1.2-2017 indoor air quality — LEED, WELL, and GreenPoint Rated qualifying) What we tell customers ✔ Color & pairing. In the install photo our supplier shipped, Tern sits beneath white walls and matte charcoal upper cabinets with white marble lower cabinetry — the medium grey tone carries the floor without competing for attention. That’s what we look for when matching Tern to cabinet, paint, or tile samples in our showroom. ✔ Thickness & core. The 6mm total plank thickness combines the rigid SPC core with the attached acoustic pad in a single factory-bonded stack. Noticeably firmer and quieter underfoot than thinner SPC at the same step. 100% waterproof — safe for every room including kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. ✔ Wear layer & finish. The 20 mil commercial-grade wear layer is rated for kitchens, entryways, and pet households — tested for chair legs, pet claws, and daily mop-and-go cleaning. FloorScore certification confirms emissions meet CDPH/EHLB v1.2-2017 — California’s strictest indoor air standard, LEED + WELL accepted, GreenPoint Rated qualifying. Safe for families with infants, asthma, or chemical sensitivities — tested annually by SCS Global. ✔ Acoustic pad. The attached 1mm EVA acoustic underlayment arrives factory-bonded to the SPC core, ready to install over the subfloor — no separate purchase, no extra-underlayment decisions. The attached pad is the only approved underlayment under the manufacturer warranty; installing additional pad above or below voids the warranty (the plank itself remains physically waterproof regardless). Dampens footfall noise throughout the home. ✔ Surface & edge. Close inspection of Tern reveals smooth low-relief surface, gentle grain-following relief, even board-to-board greige-brown register — what actually distinguishes premium SPC from printed-vinyl tier. The long flowing horizontal grain with refined figure catches light directionally; the minimal-knot, refined character of scattered pin knots (under ¼-inch) reads as authentic floor texture, not flat-printed pattern. That’s what makes the floor read as wood at 5 feet rather than vinyl at 18 inches. ✔ Locking & grade. Installs over wood, concrete, or existing hard flooring. No adhesive, no acclimation wait, DIY-friendly with a tapping block. Tern’s Unilin Angle-Angle system plus 6mm rigid build works above, on, and below grade — basement to second floor, no construction-type restrictions. ✔ Showroom & installer. Kapriz Santa Clara: supplied and installed flooring across 3,000+ Bay Area projects since 2003 (installed through 2016, retail since). 80+ brands of flooring, Boxy Cabinetry, and tile collections under one roof — only a fraction shown online. Designers and architects browse the full showroom inventory in person, pulling cabinet + tile + flooring samples side-by-side in one visit instead of three. Don’t see what you want? Stop by — we likely have it. General contractors and flooring installers source through us because we don’t install — never your competitor — and deliver always-on-truck. Trade pricing with verified license. Whole-home, kitchen/bath, commercial, and rental projects across Cupertino, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, San Jose, and Santa Clara — concentrated install referrals in San Mateo and Fremont. Homeowner installer referrals: CSLB-licensed pros. How it compares Tern at 6mm vs other Paradigm SPC lines: Feature Performer 20MIL (5.3mm) Tern (Performer PLUS, 6mm) Conquest 20MIL (6.5mm) Collection Paradigm Performer 20MIL Paradigm Performer PLUS Paradigm Conquest 20MIL Total thickness 5.3mm (incl. 1mm pad) 6mm (incl. 1mm pad) 6.5mm (incl. pad) Wear layer 20 mil 20 mil 20 mil Underlayment 1mm EVA acoustic underlayment attached 1mm EVA acoustic underlayment attached 1.5mm IXPE acoustic underlayment attached Waterproof 100% 100% 100% Warranty Lifetime / 10-Year Lifetime / 15-Year Lifetime / 15-Year Price (per sq ft) $6 to $7 $6 to $7 $3 to $4 Best for Mid-tier residential + commercial Mid-tier residential — character-grade visuals with MaaXguard scuff coating Premium residential + commercial Style fit Mid-tier residential + light-commercial — kitchens, baths, family rooms Contemporary, modern, refined interiors — 2010+ contemporary builds Premium contemporary residential — 2010+ luxury builds Pairs well with warm cream walls + warm-wood or matte-black cabinetry + brushed-chrome hardware white walls + contemporary-tier interiors + warm wood or matte-black cabinetry warm cream walls + contemporary cabinetry + matte-black hardware Prices are estimated ranges. Call (408) 753-3220 for exact pricing and project quotes on Tern and comparable Paradigm SPC collections we special-order from our Santa Clara showroom. Installation & care Below are Paradigm’s manufacturer specifications plus installer best-practice notes (author byline at top of page). Paradigm’s warranty follows manufacturer spec; real-world installation often benefits from the extra steps below. Acclimation: Acclimate sealed cartons 48+ hours at normal room conditions before install. Pro tip: SPC doesn’t need acclimation the way hardwood does, but the install room should be at its normal operating temperature during install — not 60°F in winter or 90°F in summer. Install at the temperature the room will typically be. This minimizes edge-gap changes after the floor settles. Subfloor flatness: Subfloor must be dry, sound, flat to 3/16-inch over 10-foot radius. Concrete fully cured. Pro tip: If the subfloor has small unevenness that can’t be fully leveled, thicker rigid-core planks provide more physical forgiveness. Rule of thumb: under 1/8-inch variance over 10 feet, any SPC or WPC thickness works. 1/8 to 3/16-inch — choose the thicker option in your collection. Over 3/16-inch, the subfloor needs leveling compound before install regardless of plank thickness. Important caveat: even if thicker plank masks the problem physically, manufacturer flatness specs are flatness specs. If a warranty claim gets filed later and the inspector measures out-of-spec subfloor, that goes in the report as installation-related — regardless of whether thicker plank was used to “compensate.” Thicker rigid-core is forgiveness for minor borderline cases, not license to skip subfloor prep. Moisture testing (concrete): Test concrete subfloors per ASTM F2170 (RH) or ASTM F1869 (calcium chloride) before install. Pro tip: Run the moisture test at least 48 hours after any wet trade (painting, drywall mud, tile grout) finishes in the room. Fresh wet trades release vapor that artificially inflates RH readings. And test in the season closest to year-round average humidity — a winter-wet Bay Area test may read 8-12 points higher than the summer baseline the slab actually lives at. Moisture barrier (concrete subfloors): Below/on-grade concrete: install 6-mil polyethylene moisture barrier with 6-8″ sealed-tape lap joints. Pro tip: We’ve replaced too many vinyl floors that failed from slab moisture in Bay Area homes — many built on fill or near old creek beds. Even when the slab tests dry today, seasonal water table shifts can push moisture up through the concrete years later. 6-mil polyethylene sheeting is $30-50 per room and takes 20 minutes to install. Always install it over concrete, regardless of what the manufacturer spec says is “required.” Underlayment (do not replace the attached pad) IXPE/EVA acoustic pad pre-attached — do not add underlayment beneath floor. Pro tip: The attached 1mm EVA acoustic pad is part of the warranty contract, not an accessory. Adding foam, cork, or rubber underneath voids the structural integrity coverage. If the subfloor is irregular, fix that with leveling compound first — don’t stack pads to mask a subfloor problem. Installation method: Floating click-lock per Unilin Angle-Angle method. Maintain 3/8″ expansion gap at all walls and transitions. Pro tip: Check the manufacturer spec for T-mold requirements between rooms — some brands require a T-mold at every doorway, others allow continuous install up to a certain run length. Don’t skip the check. If you run one continuous floor through a kitchen into a hallway and into two bedrooms without T-molds, each room’s subfloor shifts slightly differently with seasonal humidity and thermal changes. That differential movement concentrates at the narrow door transitions, and within 1-2 years you’ll see click-lock seams crack right at the doorways — not mid-room, always at the pinch points. T-mold at each doorway absorbs the differential movement and isolates each room’s expansion from the next. Radiant heat compatibility: Hydronic radiant systems compatible up to 85°F (29°C) surface. Increase temperature gradually after install. Pro tip: The surface temperature cap is the critical number. Hydronic systems typically run below spec naturally; electric mats can exceed it if the thermostat is mis-positioned. Position the sensor in the finished floor, not in the slab, and verify with an infrared thermometer before tiling furniture or rugs on top. Daily maintenance: Sweep or vacuum daily. Damp-mop with vinyl cleaner. Pro tip: The fastest way to wear out the wear layer is tracked-in grit. Walk-off mats at every entrance plus twice-weekly vacuuming (hard-floor setting, no beater bar) in high-traffic areas buys years of finish life. The wear layer takes daily traffic; abrasive grit grinds it down prematurely. What to avoid: Avoid abrasive cleaners, bleach, ammonia, wax, oil-soaps. Do not drag furniture. Avoid latex/rubber-backed mats. Pro tip: Rubber- and latex-backed walk-off mats cause permanent yellow discoloration under SPC warranties. The rubber chemistry reacts with the wear layer over months. Use felt-backed or woven natural-fiber mats instead — and never leave any mat in place over a seam line. Furniture and pet protection: Use felt protectors under furniture legs. Wide non-marking casters for rolling chairs. Walk-off mats at exterior doors. Pro tip: If you have pets, avoid heavy wire-brushed or deeply-rustic surface textures. The deep grain grooves that make wire-brushed look authentic also trap pet hair, dirt, and grit. Vacuum can’t reach the deepest channels; over months, the floor looks permanently soiled even after cleaning. For pet homes, choose subtle-to-medium surface texture instead — still gets the wood-grain realism, skips the cleaning liability. Heavy wire-brushed SPC photographs beautifully in the showroom but doesn’t live well with dogs and cats. Frequently asked questions How do I estimate how much flooring I need? Measure your room’s length × width in feet to get square footage, then add 10% for cuts, waste, and attic stock (planks you keep for future repairs). For a 200 sqft room, order about 220 sqft. Tern covers 22.38 sqft per carton, so you’d order 10 cartons (223.8 sqft). Always round up to the next full carton. Pro tip: Don’t shortchange the 10% buffer. If you end up with 3-5 extra cartons, keep them — don’t return them. Even if you reorder the same SKU in 3 months, it’ll be a different manufacturing batch with slightly different tone and grain. It won’t match your existing floor. The extras are insurance against leaks, furniture damage, or cracks down the road. Can I install SPC myself? Yes, SPC is physically DIY-friendly — Uniclic click systems install with a $150 kit and no adhesive. But warranty depends on which brand and what mistakes get made. 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? Yes — basements are where SPC outperforms engineered hardwood and laminate most clearly. For slabs with prior water damage, we recommend going beyond the standard 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier: Layer 1 — concrete moisture epoxy applied directly to the slab (manufacturer-approved liquid-applied membrane). Allows ~25 lbs/1000sqft/24hr vapor transmission vs the 8 lbs/1000sqft/24hr ASTM F1869 requires. 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 SPC. 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 SPC compare to real hardwood? Two different products. SPC is waterproof vinyl for kitchens, baths, basements, and laundry rooms — functional flooring, not an investment. The wear layer sits over a printed image, so it can’t be refinished; when it wears out in 20-25 years, you replace it. Real hardwood investment = engineered with 3mm+ veneer. That’s 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 SPC. Caveat: engineered hardwood with 1-2mm veneer (common in budget lines) is functionally the same as SPC — can’t be refinished, lasts 20-25 years. If you’re paying hardwood prices, verify the veneer spec. We carry both categories — happy to walk through specifics based on your rooms and refinishing expectations. Do you offer samples I can take home? Yes. We loan Tern samples with a refundable deposit (cash or credit card, fully refunded when the sample comes back) for one week. Call (408) 753-3220 first to confirm we have Tern in the showroom right now — sample inventory rotates and popular colors are sometimes out on loan to other customers. If we don’t have one on-hand, we can usually order a sample from the supplier. Please return the sample in the same condition — the next customer needs to see it honestly. Showroom: 891 Laurelwood Rd, Suite 101, Santa Clara. How fast does it ship? Standard orders typically arrive at our Santa Clara warehouse in 3-7 business days. Want immediate pickup? Browse our in-stock items. Free 4-month storage available if your project starts later — buy now, lock in price, schedule delivery when ready. Local Bay Area delivery; nationwide LTL shipping; customer pickup at our Santa Clara showroom. Call or text (408) 753-3220. What’s your return policy? Kapriz orders are special orders from the supplier — all sales final. Always covered at no cost: manufacturing defects, wrong product shipped, delivery damage documented on receipt. Call (408) 753-3220 to report. Why not returnable by default: reverse freight on a pallet runs $300–800 with damage risk through 6 handoffs — Kapriz carries that exposure. Rare written exceptions: 25% restocking fee + customer pays freight. Never for opened cartons, custom orders, or discontinued runs. Pro tip: call (408) 753-3220 to arrange a sample loan before a large order — confirm the color is in the showroom (inventory rotates). What does it look like installed in a real room? Photos don’t tell the full story — daylight changes how Tern reads, and paint/cabinet pairings need real lighting to evaluate honestly. Our website shows a fraction of our showroom inventory. We carry 80+ flooring brands in person, including samples not yet listed online. Bring Pinterest references, designer drawings, or specific brand/color targets to our Santa Clara showroom — we’ll cross-check against current availability and supplier catalogs. Many designers come with clients to browse the full collection and pull cabinet + tile + flooring samples side-by-side. Don’t see what you need? Text photo to (408) 753-3220 or stop by. Will it match my cabinets? Tern pairs with cabinets across the painted-white, light-grey, oak, walnut, painted-warm spectrum. The medium grey-toned floor grounds the room without competing — buyers find it works well as the constant when cabinetry is being chosen separately. Edge cases: very saturated colored cabinets need direct comparison; bring samples to our showroom for guidance. Best way to confirm a match: bring your cabinet door or paint card to our Santa Clara showroom — we’ll compare it against Tern under real lighting. Don’t have cabinets yet? We carry Boxy Cabinetry on-site (framed, frameless, regular shaker, slim shaker, flat panel — 11 finishes from Ivory White to Black Walnut) — use Boxy door samples to dial in your cabinet + flooring combination in one showroom visit. What does the plank look like up close? Tern examined closely shows smooth low-relief surface, gentle grain-following relief, even board-to-board greige-brown register — embedded surface characteristics distinguishing mid-tier embossed SPC from printed-vinyl stock. The flowing grain pattern, naturally elegant runs directionally with low-relief embossing following the wood character. What this means: at standing eye level, greige-brown with balanced warm undertone appears as a continuous flat plane. At floor level, the long flowing horizontal grain with refined figure shows genuine surface variation. Will it look this bright in a windowless basement? The supplier’s photo was window-lit — your windowless space reads differently. Tern and its greige-brown with balanced warm undertone appear cooler under artificial light because daylight isn’t available to warm perception. Floor itself is identical; eye processing changes. Showroom sample for actual lighting check. Is this floor suited for plant-heavy interiors? Yes, it works. Tern’s greige-brown with balanced warm undertone pairs naturally with living plants in any density. Waterproof SPC core shrugs off watering and soil splashes. Leaf debris and re-potting soil clean easily. Account for: plant-heavy rooms with south-facing direct sun → UV film is practical add for maximalist greenery. Similar medium grey tones in Performer PLUS: Goose Hummingbird Kiwi Lark Mallard Pelican Pheasant Swan View full Performer PLUS collection → Similar medium grey tones from Paradigm Flooring: Abbey — Conquest 20MIL Passage — Conquest 20MIL Amazon — Insignia 20MIL Dusk — Insignia 20MIL Castle — Performer 12MIL Ivory — Performer 12MIL Skyros — Odyssey 20MIL Browse on-sale SPC flooring across all brands → Pricing and availability current as of 2026-05-11 — call (408) 753-3220 to confirm current price and lead time on Tern. { “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@graph”: [ { “@type”: [ “Organization”, “HomeGoodsStore” ], “@id”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/#organization”, “name”: “Kapriz Hardwood Floors”, “url”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com”, “telephone”: “(408) 753-3220”, “address”: { “@type”: “PostalAddress”, “streetAddress”: “891 Laurelwood Rd, Suite 101”, “addressLocality”: “Santa Clara”, “addressRegion”: “CA”, “postalCode”: “95054”, “addressCountry”: “US” }, “foundingDate”: “2003”, “founder”: { “@id”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/about/#sergey” } }, { “@type”: “WebSite”, “@id”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/#website”, “url”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com”, “name”: “Kapriz Hardwood Floors”, “publisher”: { “@id”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/#organization” }, “inLanguage”: “en-US” }, { “@type”: “Product”, “name”: “Waterproof LVP Performer PLUS SPC Tern PPPSPC2027 6mm — Paradigm”, “sku”: “PPPSPC2027”, “mpn”: “PPPSPC2027”, “brand”: { “@type”: “Brand”, “name”: “Paradigm Flooring” }, “category”: “SPC Flooring”, “material”: “SPC (Stone Polymer Core) with attached 1mm EVA acoustic underlayment”, “color”: “Tern — Warm tone, greige-brown with balanced warm undertone”, “description”: “Tern — greige-brown with balanced warm undertone. 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If boxes were stored below 50°F, let them sit 24 hours before cutting.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 2, “name”: “Prepare subfloor”, “text”: “Ensure subfloor is flat to within 3/16 inch over 10 feet. Fill low spots, grind high spots.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 3, “name”: “Test moisture on concrete”, “text”: “Test concrete slab per ASTM F2170 (in-situ probe). If moisture exceeds 90% RH, delay installation or install vapor barrier.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 4, “name”: “Install vapor barrier on concrete”, “text”: “Install 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier over concrete subfloors. Overlap seams 6-8 inches, seal with waterproof tape.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 5, “name”: “Plan layout”, “text”: “Stagger end joints 8+ inches between adjacent rows. Leave 3/8-inch expansion gap at walls, cabinets, pipes, doors.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 6, “name”: “Install first row”, “text”: “Start at the longest wall. Use spacers for 3/8-inch expansion gap.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 7, “name”: “Install subsequent rows”, “text”: “Tap end joints first, then long-side tongue into groove. Use rubber mallet and tapping block.” }, { “@type”: “HowToStep”, “position”: 8, “name”: “Complete installation”, “text”: “Remove spacers. Install baseboards to cover expansion gap. Do not fasten trim to flooring.” } ], “author”: { “@id”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/about/#sergey” } }, { “@type”: “FAQPage”, “speakable”: { “@type”: “SpeakableSpecification”, “cssSelector”: [ “.quick-answer” ] }, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How do I estimate how much flooring I need?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Measure your room’s length × width in feet to get square footage, then add 10% for cuts, waste, and attic stock (planks you keep for future repairs). For a 200 sqft room, order about 220 sqft. Tern covers 22.38 sqft per carton, so you’d order 10 cartons (223.8 sqft). Always round up to the next full carton. Pro tip: Don’t shortchange the 10% buffer. If you end up with 3-5 extra cartons, keep them — don’t return them. Even if you reorder the same SKU in 3 months, it’ll be a different manufacturing batch with slightly different tone and grain. It won’t match your existing floor. The extras are insurance against leaks, furniture damage, or cracks down the road.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can I install SPC myself?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes, SPC is physically DIY-friendly — Uniclic click systems install with a $150 kit and no adhesive. But warranty depends on which brand and what mistakes get made. 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.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”:”Will it work in my basement?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes — basements are where SPC outperforms engineered hardwood and laminate most clearly. For slabs with prior water damage, we recommend going beyond the standard 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier: Layer 1 — concrete moisture epoxy applied directly to the slab (manufacturer-approved liquid-applied membrane). Allows ~25 lbs/1000sqft/24hr vapor transmission vs the 8 lbs/1000sqft/24hr ASTM F1869 requires. 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 SPC. 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.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How does SPC compare to real hardwood?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Two different products. SPC is waterproof vinyl for kitchens, baths, basements, and laundry rooms — functional flooring, not an investment. The wear layer sits over a printed image, so it can’t be refinished; when it wears out in 20-25 years, you replace it. Real hardwood investment = engineered with 3mm+ veneer. That’s 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 SPC. Caveat: engineered hardwood with 1-2mm veneer (common in budget lines) is functionally the same as SPC — can’t be refinished, lasts 20-25 years. If you’re paying hardwood prices, verify the veneer spec. We carry both categories — happy to walk through specifics based on your rooms and refinishing expectations.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Do you offer samples I can take home?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes. We loan Tern samples with a refundable deposit (cash or credit card, fully refunded when the sample comes back) for one week. Call (408) 753-3220 first to confirm we have Tern in the showroom right now — sample inventory rotates and popular colors are sometimes out on loan to other customers. If we don’t have one on-hand, we can usually order a sample from the supplier. Please return the sample in the same condition — the next customer needs to see it honestly. Showroom: 891 Laurelwood Rd, Suite 101, Santa Clara.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”:”How fast does it ship?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Standard orders typically arrive at our Santa Clara warehouse in 3-7 business days. Want immediate pickup? Browse our in-stock items. Free 4-month storage available if your project starts later — buy now, lock in price, schedule delivery when ready. Local Bay Area delivery; nationwide LTL shipping; customer pickup at our Santa Clara showroom. Call or text (408) 753-3220.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What’s your return policy?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Kapriz orders are special orders from the supplier — all sales final. Always covered at no cost: manufacturing defects, wrong product shipped, delivery damage documented on receipt. Call (408) 753-3220 to report. Why not returnable by default: reverse freight on a pallet runs $300–800 with damage risk through 6 handoffs — Kapriz carries that exposure. Rare written exceptions: 25% restocking fee + customer pays freight. Never for opened cartons, custom orders, or discontinued runs. Pro tip: call (408) 753-3220 to arrange a sample loan before a large order — confirm the color is in the showroom (inventory rotates).” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”:”What does it look like installed in a real room?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Photos don’t tell the full story — daylight changes how Tern reads, and paint/cabinet pairings need real lighting to evaluate honestly. Our website shows a fraction of our showroom inventory. We carry 80+ flooring brands in person, including samples not yet listed online. Bring Pinterest references, designer drawings, or specific brand/color targets to our Santa Clara showroom — we’ll cross-check against current availability and supplier catalogs. Many designers come with clients to browse the full collection and pull cabinet + tile + flooring samples side-by-side. Don’t see what you need? Text photo to (408) 753-3220 or stop by.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”:”Will it match my cabinets?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Tern pairs with cabinets across the painted-white, light-grey, oak, walnut, painted-warm spectrum. The medium grey-toned floor grounds the room without competing — buyers find it works well as the constant when cabinetry is being chosen separately. Edge cases: very saturated colored cabinets need direct comparison; bring samples to our showroom for guidance. Best way to confirm a match: bring your cabinet door or paint card to our Santa Clara showroom — we’ll compare it against Tern under real lighting. Don’t have cabinets yet? We carry Boxy Cabinetry on-site (framed, frameless, regular shaker, slim shaker, flat panel — 11 finishes from Ivory White to Black Walnut) — use Boxy door samples to dial in your cabinet + flooring combination in one showroom visit.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”:”What does the plank look like up close?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Tern examined closely shows smooth low-relief surface, gentle grain-following relief, even board-to-board greige-brown register — embedded surface characteristics distinguishing mid-tier embossed SPC from printed-vinyl stock. The flowing grain pattern, naturally elegant runs directionally with low-relief embossing following the wood character. What this means: at standing eye level, greige-brown with balanced warm undertone appears as a continuous flat plane. At floor level, the long flowing horizontal grain with refined figure shows genuine surface variation.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”:”Will it look this bright in a windowless basement?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The supplier’s photo was window-lit — your windowless space reads differently. Tern and its greige-brown with balanced warm undertone appear cooler under artificial light because daylight isn’t available to warm perception. Floor itself is identical; eye processing changes. Showroom sample for actual lighting check.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”:”Is this floor suited for plant-heavy interiors?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes, it works. Tern’s greige-brown with balanced warm undertone pairs naturally with living plants in any density. Waterproof SPC core shrugs off watering and soil splashes. Leaf debris and re-potting soil clean easily. Account for: plant-heavy rooms with south-facing direct sun → UV film is practical add for maximalist greenery.” } } ] }, { “@type”: “BreadcrumbList”, “itemListElement”: [ { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 1, “name”: “Home”, “item”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/” }, { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 2, “name”: “Laminate & Vinyl”, “item”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/product-category/laminate-vinyl/” }, { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 3, “name”: “Vinyl Plank”, “item”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/product-category/laminate-vinyl/vinyl-plank/” }, { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 4, “name”: “SPC Flooring”, “item”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/product-category/laminate-vinyl/vinyl-plank/spc-flooring/” }, { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 5, “name”: “Paradigm Flooring”, “item”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/brand/paradigm-flooring/” }, { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 6, “name”: “Performer PLUS”, “item”: “https://kaprizhardwoodfloors.com/product-category/laminate-vinyl/vinyl-plank/spc-flooring/paradigm-flooring-Performer PLUS/” }, { “@type”: “ListItem”, “position”: 7, “name”: “Tern” } ] } ] }