Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Flooring for Sheepshead Bay homes and co-ops
Modern Wood Flooring is a showroom at 446 Avenue P, northwest of Sheepshead Bay, open since 2002. Sheepshead Bay mixes co-ops and condos near Ocean Avenue with attached houses and waterfront blocks along Emmons Avenue. Engineered wood suits most apartments, and waterproof vinyl is the safer pick for ground floors and basements near the water.
Our showroom at 446 Avenue P is about 2 miles from Sheepshead Bay. Get directions or call (718) 252-6177 and we’ll pull samples before you arrive.
Homes and buildings in Sheepshead Bay
Sheepshead Bay filled in after the Sheepshead Bay Race Track closed and its land was subdivided. Some lots near the water became bungalow colonies in the 1920s, originally meant for warm-weather use, and a few of those small houses survive. Building picked up in the 1930s and 1940s, and after Shore Parkway opened in 1941 the last farms gave way to apartment buildings.
Today one- and two-family attached and semi-attached houses dominate the eastern and western edges, while co-ops and condominiums cluster near Ocean Avenue in the center. Emmons Avenue along the bay was widened in the 1930s and has seen new condominium buildings since the late 1990s. The neighborhood also includes Mitchell-Lama co-ops and the Sheepshead Bay-Nostrand Houses.
Within a short walk you can find a small bungalow close to street level, a wood-joist two-family house with a basement, and a co-op apartment on an upper floor of a concrete building. Each calls for a different approach to flooring.
What to plan for
- Flood risk on low blocks
- Much of Sheepshead Bay sits low, and blocks near the bay flooded during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. If your home is in a mapped flood zone, treat ground floors and basements as rooms that may get wet. Waterproof vinyl survives brief water better than wood, though any floor may need to come up after a flood so the subfloor can dry.
- Co-op alteration rules
- Many co-ops around Ocean Avenue require an alteration agreement, board approval and a specific sound underlayment before work starts. Some limit work days and hours or require a licensed and insured installer. Get the rules first, then pick a floor. A floating floor over an approved underlayment is often the simplest path. Ask the managing agent whether the board keeps a list of approved underlayments or products.
- Salt air and sand at the door
- Near the water, sand and grit come in on shoes and act like sandpaper on finishes. Mats at each entry, regular sweeping and a durable finish help. Summer humidity also matters for wood, so run air conditioning or a dehumidifier in damp months and keep indoor humidity within the range the manufacturer specifies. Pets coming in from the beach bring the same grit.
Floors that suit Sheepshead Bay
- Vinyl flooringThe practical pick for ground floors, basements and small houses near the water. Waterproof vinyl plank tolerates moisture and is easier to replace than wood if a room does flood.Browse vinyl flooring
- Engineered woodGood for upper-floor co-op and condo units around Ocean Avenue. It can float over a sound-rated underlayment on the slab and handles humid summers better than solid wood, with a real wood surface.Browse engineered wood
- Luxury vinyl tileWorks well in entries, bathrooms and kitchens where sand and water come in. Stone-look tile formats give a tile appearance without the cold and weight of ceramic over a slab.Browse luxury vinyl tile
Examples from the current catalog. We carry more than we show online.
Guides for Sheepshead Bay projects
Common questions
Do you serve Sheepshead Bay?
Yes. We are at 446 Avenue P, northwest of Sheepshead Bay, and serve all of Brooklyn. Samples can be pulled the same day.
What floor should I put in a basement that has flooded before?
Use a waterproof vinyl plank or tile rated for below-grade use, and fix drainage and moisture first. Check the product's installation instructions for moisture testing.
My co-op requires sound underlayment. Can I still have wood?
Usually, yes. Many co-ops accept engineered wood over an approved underlayment. Bring your building's requirements and compare products against them in the showroom.
Is solid hardwood a bad idea near the water?
Not on upper floors with steady humidity control, but it is a poor fit for basements and flood-prone ground floors. Engineered wood or vinyl is safer there.