Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Flooring for Bensonhurst houses and condos
Modern Wood Flooring is a showroom at 446 Avenue P, just east of Bensonhurst, open since 2002. Bensonhurst is mostly attached and semi-detached houses plus newer multi-family buildings. Engineered wood and vinyl plank handle most of it well, and solid hardwood is still a good fit in older houses built on wood joists.
Our showroom at 446 Avenue P is about 1.5 miles from Bensonhurst. Get directions or call (718) 252-6177 and we’ll pull samples before you arrive.
Homes and buildings in Bensonhurst
Most Bensonhurst houses are attached or semi-detached and date from the 20th century. They are built of brick, stucco and stone, and many were later refaced with aluminum siding. Fully detached houses are more common toward the west, near Dyker Heights. Two-family layouts are typical, with a finished or partly finished basement below. Upstairs floors in these houses are usually wood joists with a board or plywood subfloor.
After rezoning in the 2000s, many small houses were replaced with three-story brick apartment buildings and multi-family condominiums, some nicknamed Fedders houses for their air-conditioner sleeves. These buildings have newer subfloors and simpler room layouts than the older houses beside them.
Older apartment buildings are scattered through the neighborhood. The West End line runs elevated over New Utrecht Avenue and 86th Street, where many buildings have stores on the ground floor and apartments above, often reached by a single stair. In those buildings, rules about flooring and underlayment are set by the owner or the condo board, and they vary from building to building.
What to plan for
- Floor height in newer units
- In post-2000 buildings the existing floor is often a thin product over plywood or a slab. Replacing it is simpler than in older houses, but door clearances, thresholds and cabinet toe-kicks were set for the original floor. Check the total height of the new floor plus underlayment against those clearances before you order, especially if you plan to go over the old floor.
- Walk-ups above the stores
- Apartments above stores on 86th Street and New Utrecht Avenue often have narrow stairs and no elevator, which limits how easily long cartons can be carried up. Plan delivery and staging with your installer. Ask the owner or condo board about underlayment requirements before choosing a floor, since sound rules vary by building. Measure the tightest stair turn before choosing extra-long planks.
- Two-family houses, two sets of needs
- If you live on one floor and rent the other, you may want different floors for each. Owners often put engineered or solid wood in their own unit and vinyl plank in the rental, where water and scratch resistance matter most. Staying in the same color family on both floors keeps the house consistent if you ever combine the units.
Floors that suit Bensonhurst
- Engineered woodWorks over both the wood subfloors in older houses and the slabs or plywood in newer buildings. Its layered core stays stable through dry heated winters, and it gives owner-occupied floors a real wood surface.Browse engineered wood
- Vinyl flooringA practical choice for rental units, basements and kitchens. Vinyl plank is water-resistant or waterproof depending on the product, floats over most flat subfloors, and is easy to repair one section at a time.Browse vinyl flooring
- Luxury vinyl tileGood for bathrooms, entry halls and basement laundry areas where you want a stone or ceramic look. Tile-format vinyl is warmer underfoot than ceramic and lighter, which helps over an existing flat floor.Browse luxury vinyl tile
Examples from the current catalog. We carry more than we show online.
Guides for Bensonhurst projects
Common questions
Do you serve Bensonhurst?
Yes. Our showroom at 446 Avenue P is just east of Bensonhurst, and we serve all of Brooklyn and the other boroughs.
What flooring suits a Fedders-style condo?
Engineered wood or vinyl plank usually fits these buildings, as long as the finished height works with existing doors and cabinets. Ask the board about underlayment rules first.
Should both units of my two-family house get the same floor?
You can, but many owners pick something tougher for the rental floor. Bring room sizes for both units and we can quote each option.
Do you install?
We work with your contractor, or we can refer an installer we have worked with for more than five years. Call (718) 252-6177 to talk it through.