Antique Brown SPC Rigid-Core Plank starts at $3.99 per square foot installed in Fort Myers — a warm brown wood-look floor from Alon Floors’ Space Collection. The 7.5 mm rigid core and embossed-in-register texture give it the weight and grain detail of real hardwood without any of the moisture risk. It’s a practical, grounded choice for Southwest Florida homes that need real durability.
Southwest Florida homes are tough on floors. Humidity sits high year-round, most houses sit on concrete slab, and salt air works its way through coastal properties. The 100% waterproof polymer core on this plank handles all of that without swelling or warping — ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any space that sees wet feet from the pool.
The 2 MM IXPE attached pad cushions the feel on hard slab and reduces noise transfer between floors. Snowbird and rental properties benefit from the 28-mil wear layer, which holds up under heavy seasonal foot traffic and resists the sand and grit that gets tracked in from Southwest Florida’s beaches.
| Construction | 100% Waterproof Polymer Rigid Core |
|---|---|
| Plank Width | 7” |
| Plank Length | 48” |
| Thickness | 7.5 MM |
| Wear Layer | 28 mill wear layer |
| Attached Pad | 2 MM IXPE |
| Installation Method | Float |
| Click System | Valinge |
| Edges | EIR |
Flooring Queen installs Antique Brown at $3.99 per square foot, and that price covers the full job: delivery to your home, removal of the existing floor covering, surface preparation for a standard subfloor, floating installation with Välinge angle-click, new baseboards, and transition strips where needed. Old material is hauled away when the crew leaves.
Certain conditions add to the base price. Significant subfloor leveling — common in older Fort Myers slabs that have settled unevenly — is quoted separately. Stair nosing, custom inlay borders, and intricate layout patterns are also upcharged. Call or schedule online for a free in-home measure; you’ll receive a written quote before any work begins.
Engineered hardwood gives you a real wood surface and a look that photographs well for resale listings. Where it falls short in Southwest Florida is moisture tolerance — even quality engineered wood can cup or develop mold in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any space near a sliding glass door that gets left open during a storm. Antique Brown’s polymer core is fully waterproof, not just water-resistant, so it can go anywhere in the house without that concern.
Engineered hardwood runs higher on installation cost and typically needs acclimation time before install. The Alon Floors plank installs faster with a simple float method. The trade-off: engineered wood can be lightly sanded and refinished once or twice; this SPC plank cannot. For high-moisture rooms or rental properties, the SPC wins. For a formal living area where resale finish matters most, engineered hardwood still has an edge.
| Antique Brown | Engineered Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | 100% waterproof polymer core | Water-resistant surface only |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 28-mil commercial-grade wear layer | Varies; wood veneer susceptible to scratches |
| Comfort underfoot | 2 MM IXPE pad attached; softer on slab | Warmer feel; requires separate underlayment |
| Installed price | $3.99/sq ft installed | ~$8.99/sq ft installed |
| Best room | Kitchens, baths, laundry, rentals | Formal living, dining rooms |
Keep Antique Brown clean with a dry microfiber mop for daily dust and a damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner — brands like Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner or Black Diamond Wood & Laminate are good choices. Avoid steam mops entirely; sustained heat and moisture forced into the seams can compromise the locking system over time. Skip anything acidic or abrasive, and don’t use a vacuum with a spinning beater bar set on high, which can scuff the wear layer surface. Mats at entries catch the sand and grit that does the most damage day to day in Southwest Florida homes. For technical guidance, see the World Floor Covering Association vinyl flooring guide.
Antique Brown has a 100% waterproof polymer rigid core, so standing water on the surface won’t damage the plank itself. That said, water that sits at the seams for extended periods can work under the floor and affect the subfloor below. Clean up puddles promptly and the floor holds up well.
The 28-mil wear layer is a commercial-grade rating, which puts it well above the residential standard and makes it genuinely resistant to pet claw scratches during normal activity. Cleanup is easy since the core is waterproof — pet accidents wipe up without soaking in or leaving odors trapped in the material.
Modern SPC plank in a neutral wood tone like Antique Brown is well accepted by buyers in the Fort Myers market and won’t hurt your sale. It won’t add the perceived value of real hardwood in a luxury listing, but it reads as clean, updated, and practical — which matters to buyers who know the humidity challenges here.
Yes, the 2 MM IXPE pad is factory-attached to each plank, so no separate underlayment is needed. That pad adds cushion underfoot on hard concrete slab, reduces sound transmission slightly between floors, and saves installation time. Check with your HOA or condo board, though — some require a specific total IIC rating regardless of attached pad.
Antique Brown works in virtually every room on or above grade — living areas, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms are all fair game given the waterproof core. It floats and isn’t glued down, so it’s not recommended for below-grade spaces like true basements, though those are uncommon in Southwest Florida construction.
Many Southwest Florida condo HOAs require a minimum IIC or STC sound rating for hard-surface floors, and some specify the total assembly thickness or underlayment type in their rules. The attached 2 MM IXPE pad contributes to impact noise reduction, but you should confirm your association’s specific requirement before install — some boards want documentation of the assembly’s rated performance.
When you buy LVP from Flooring Queen, our crew handles delivery, tear-out, prep, install, and trim — no subs, no surprises. One showroom in Fort Myers, one team accountable from quote to final baseboard. Call (239) 763-0770 for a free measure.
Continue exploring:
Reviewed by Jack Maya, Lead Installer at Flooring Queen — 20+ years installing flooring in Southwest Florida.
Let’s Discuss Your Flooring Project Today
