If your not going to replace the casing you will have the issue of the gap at the bottom by going to a thinner floor (plus no padding). Not sure what you would do about that other than change the door casing if you want to go with the thinner floor. Not much else in the way of options. Casing style dependent you may be able to cut it back further and use a base block.

Check with the manufacturer of the flooring you want to use. Some allow additional acoustic pad under their product as required in some buildings. Maybe that could make up the difference.

Good morning Meg,

We're happy to hear that you are considering our Black Series SPC for your home! While I am not an installer by any means, I do want to inform you that if you plan on replacing your flooring with any GAIA flooring, you should never add any additional underlayment aside from the recommended 6 mil black plastic for moisture protection. Any other added padding will likely lead to deflection in the floor and cause damage or even breakage to the locking mechanisms over time.

In conclusion, while we would love for you to install GAIA in your home, if you are not able to do so without adding extra padding, I wouldn't recommend proceeding with our SPC. I hope this helps!

Best regards,

GAIA Customer Care

Thank you @Gaia Flooring Inc. I have turned my attention to your nearwood collection. I’m hoping to find a color that I like.