Park Slope, Brooklyn
Flooring for Park Slope brownstones and co-ops
Modern Wood Flooring is a Brooklyn flooring showroom at 446 Avenue P, open since 2002, serving Park Slope along with the rest of the borough. Park Slope is mostly row houses, brownstones and prewar apartment buildings. In the houses, solid hardwood or refinishing the original floors often makes sense. In apartments, engineered wood over the slab usually fits best.
Our showroom at 446 Avenue P is about 4.5 miles from Park Slope. Get directions or call (718) 252-6177 and we’ll pull samples before you arrive.
Homes and buildings in Park Slope
Much of Park Slope lies within the Park Slope Historic District, designated by the city in 1973 and extended in 2012 and 2016. With about 2,575 buildings, it is New York's largest landmark neighborhood. The side streets are lined with brownstone and brick row houses, many built after Prospect Park was completed, and the 1880s and 1890s brought large Victorian mansions to Prospect Park West.
Six- to eight-story apartment buildings stand on the avenues and some side streets, with stores below on Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Avenues. Through the mid-20th century many houses were split into apartments and rooming houses, and many were later converted back to one- and two-family homes.
That history shows in the floors: original plank or parquet in some rooms, patches and layered coverings in others. Row houses sit on wood joists, and apartment buildings sit on concrete. Parlor floors and upper floors in the same house may have been laid at different times, in different woods or widths.
What to plan for
- Original floors in row houses
- Many Park Slope row houses still have original wood floors, sometimes with inlaid borders, under later layers. Parlor floors may differ from upper floors, and patches where partitions once stood are common. Check board thickness and condition first. Refinishing and patching with matched wood keeps the original character; replacing makes sense where floors are thin or badly damaged. Inlaid borders are worth protecting where you can.
- Walk-ups and floor-throughs
- In a walk-up or floor-through, materials go up by hand on narrow stairs, which affects board length and delivery planning. Many condo and co-op units in converted houses still need board approval. Wood-joist floors carry footstep noise to the unit below, so an impact-reducing underlayment is worth considering even where it is not required. Book the delivery for a time when the stairs can be kept clear.
- Patterns that suit older rooms
- Herringbone and chevron suit many row house parlors and prewar apartments, and the pattern helps disguise walls that are not quite square. Pattern floors take more labor and produce more waste than straight plank, so order extra. Engineered herringbone can be glued over a slab, while solid herringbone usually goes over a wood subfloor. Plan where the pattern starts so it looks centered from the main doorway.
Floors that suit Park Slope
- Solid hardwoodFits row houses and brownstones on wood joists. Solid oak can match original floors when you patch or extend rooms, and it can be refinished many times over the life of the house.Browse solid hardwood
- Engineered woodThe usual choice for prewar apartment buildings with concrete floors. Engineered wood, including herringbone, can be glued to the slab or floated on a sound-rated underlayment where a building requires it.Browse engineered wood
- Luxury vinyl tileUseful in bathrooms, garden-level kitchens and laundry rooms where water is a concern. Vinyl tile gives a stone or tile look and is warmer underfoot than ceramic, and it is easier to install over an existing flat floor.Browse luxury vinyl tile
Examples from the current catalog. We carry more than we show online.
Guides for Park Slope projects
Common questions
Do you serve Park Slope?
Yes. Our showroom is at 446 Avenue P in south Brooklyn, and we serve Park Slope and the rest of the borough. Samples can be pulled the same day.
Should I refinish or replace my brownstone's floors?
If the boards are thick enough to sand and mostly sound, refinishing and patching is often the better path. Our guide on refinishing versus replacing brownstone floors covers what to check.
What works in a prewar co-op on Prospect Park West?
Engineered wood over the building's required underlayment is the most common answer. Start with the alteration agreement, since many boards specify sound ratings.
Can new boards match my original floors?
Bring a board or a photo and compare species, widths and finishes in the showroom. Old wood has aged color, so plan for a close match rather than an identical one.