Gravesend, Brooklyn
Flooring for Gravesend houses and apartments
Our showroom at 446 Avenue P sits on Gravesend's northern edge, and we have been here since 2002. Gravesend is mostly one- and two-family houses with basements, plus apartment buildings along Ocean Parkway. That mix calls for real wood on the main floors, waterproof vinyl below grade, and slab-friendly products in the apartments.
Our showroom at 446 Avenue P is less than a mile from Gravesend. Get directions or call (718) 252-6177 and we’ll pull samples before you arrive.
Homes and buildings in Gravesend
Gravesend is one of Brooklyn's original towns, but most of its houses date from the 1920s, when many one-family homes went up. During the Depression a lot of them were split into two-family houses, and that layout is still common: separate floors, separate kitchens, and a basement that often holds laundry, storage or a finished den. Most of these houses are brick or frame on wood joists, so upstairs floors usually sit on a board or plywood subfloor.
The northeast section, roughly between McDonald Avenue, Kings Highway, Ocean Parkway and Avenue U, has seen many older houses replaced or enlarged since the 1970s, first with large Spanish Colonial-style homes and later with newer custom houses. These often have open plans, long sightlines and big kitchens.
Apartment buildings line Ocean Parkway, and the neighborhood also includes co-op developments built on concrete. To the south, Gravesend runs down toward Coney Island Creek, Gravesend Bay and the Belt Parkway, where the ground is lower and basements on some blocks can take on water in heavy storms.
What to plan for
- Basements in two-family houses
- Gravesend basements are below grade and can take on moisture through the slab and walls, even when they look dry. Solid hardwood is a poor fit there. Waterproof vinyl plank or tile is the usual choice, often with a vapor barrier underneath. Check the product's moisture limits, and fix any active water problem before new flooring goes in. A dehumidifier helps keep the space within the product's limits year-round.
- Long open rooms in rebuilt homes
- Large rebuilt houses often run one floor through the living room, dining room and kitchen. Wide, long boards suit those spaces, but long runs of floating floor need the expansion gaps and transitions the manufacturer specifies. If you want one continuous look into the kitchen, compare water-resistant engineered wood and vinyl plank side by side. Choose the transition strips at the same time as the floor.
- Lower blocks toward the creek
- Some blocks closer to Coney Island Creek and the Belt Parkway sit lower than the rest of the neighborhood. If your house is in a mapped flood zone, choose basement and ground-floor flooring that can tolerate getting wet or is reasonable to replace. The city's flood maps show which zone your address falls in. A floating vinyl floor can often be lifted to dry the slab beneath, which is harder with glue-down.
Floors that suit Gravesend
- Vinyl flooringThe practical pick for Gravesend basements, rental floors in two-family houses and kitchens. Waterproof vinyl plank tolerates moisture that would damage wood, and it can float over a slab without glue.Browse vinyl flooring
- Engineered woodGood for main floors in rebuilt or enlarged homes. Wide engineered planks stay more stable than wide solid boards through humid summers and dry heated winters, and they go over wood subfloors or slabs.Browse engineered wood
- Solid hardwoodStill a strong option on the upper floors of 1920s houses with wood joists and board or plywood subfloors. It nails down, can be refinished many times, and fits the traditional rooms in these houses.Browse solid hardwood
Examples from the current catalog. We carry more than we show online.
Guides for Gravesend projects
Common questions
Where is your showroom in Gravesend?
We are at 446 Avenue P, Brooklyn NY 11223, near Ocean Parkway and McDonald Avenue. Hours are Sunday 10 to 4, Monday through Thursday 10 to 5:30, Friday 10 to 2:30, and we are closed Saturday.
What flooring works in a Gravesend basement?
Waterproof vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile is the usual answer, installed according to the manufacturer's moisture instructions. Avoid solid hardwood below grade.
We rent out one floor of our two-family house. What should go in the rental unit?
Many owners choose vinyl plank for rental floors because it resists water and scratches and can be repaired in sections. Our guide on flooring for rental apartments covers the tradeoffs.
Can I get a quote quickly?
Yes. Bring your room sizes and we will send a quote within one business day. Samples can be pulled the same day.