Hardwood floors in New York apartments, brownstones and stores take a beating. Most of them can be brought back by sanding and refinishing, without replacing a single board. NYC Floor Pro has served New York City since 2011, with over 30 years of hands-on flooring experience. We sand, stain and finish floors in Manhattan homes and commercial spaces, including large flagship stores.
Refinishing services
Sand and refinish Back to bare wood
We sand the floor down to bare wood, stain it if you want a new color, and seal it with a durable finish. This is the right service for a worn finish, deep scratches, water marks, or a color you want to change.
Buff and coat A lighter refresh
If the finish is dull but the wood is in good shape, a buff and coat can be enough. We buff the surface and apply a fresh coat, with no full sanding. See our buff and recoat page.
Staining and color changes You choose, on your own floor
Refinishing is also the time to change the color, or to keep the natural color of the wood. We do not pick a color for you. You choose 3 to 4 options from the Duraseal stain chart, and you can browse the Duraseal stain gallery to get ideas. We then apply samples on your floor, and you make the decision once you see them on your own wood.
Stain samples applied on a floor so the client can compare them in the real room and light before deciding.
Herringbone, chevron and parquet Pattern floors
We refinish pattern floors, including walnut herringbone and parquet. For new pattern floors, see our herringbone and chevron page.
Stairs Sanded and finished with the floor
Stairs can be sanded and finished along with the floors so the whole space matches.
Finishes we use
In Manhattan we only use commercial-grade water-based finishes from manufacturers like Bona and Loba. Water-based finishes are a good fit for apartments because they have less odor than oil-based products.
Gloss level Your preference
The gloss level is a matter of preference, but most people choose satin. A lower gloss shows fewer imperfections and is easier to maintain.
What refinishing costs
Refinishing starts at $5.50 per square foot. Many things affect the cost: the size of the project, whether you want a stain or the natural color, whether the space is furnished or empty, and how many phases the project is split into. We give an estimate after seeing the floor.
Recent refinishing projects
Tiffany & Co. Midtown West flagship, 8th and 9th floors
Sanded and finished about 8,000 square feet of wide plank engineered oak across the 8th and 9th floors, with a natural water-based satin finish.
Bucherer 1888 Madison Avenue flagship, overnight work
Sanded and stained about 10,000 square feet of walnut herringbone with a neutral stain and a satin Bona Traffic HD water-based finish. The work was done overnight in phases, so the store could reopen the next day.
Parquet floor Midtown West
Refinished a parquet floor in its natural color with a satin finish.
More commercial work is on our Manhattan commercial flooring projects page.
How a refinishing job works
- Estimate. We look at the floor and measure the space.
- Sand or buff. We decide with you whether the floor needs a full sanding or a buff and coat.
- Color and finish. You pick 3 to 4 stain options from the Duraseal chart, or keep the natural color. We apply samples on the floor and you decide. You also choose the gloss level.
- Sanding, and staining if you chose a color.
- Finish coats, with time between coats.
- Walkthrough and care instructions. We never walk away until you are happy.
Refinishing in Manhattan buildings
Co-op and condo rules apply to refinishing as well. Flooring projects need management approval, not board approval, and the managing agent usually asks for a certificate of insurance. We are licensed by the DCA as a home improvement contractor and carry all necessary insurance, including $5 million in umbrella coverage. Once the agreement to move forward is signed, we issue the certificate. Many buildings also limit work to weekday daytime hours, so we plan around your building’s rules.
Common questions
1. How much does floor refinishing cost in NYC?
Refinishing starts at $5.50 per square foot. The final cost depends on the size of the project, stain or natural finish, whether the space is furnished or empty, and how many phases the project is split into. We give an estimate after seeing the floor.
2. Should I sand and refinish, or just buff and coat?
A buff and coat suits a floor whose finish is dull but whose wood is in good shape. If the finish is worn through, the floor has deep scratches or water marks, or you want a new color, it needs a full sanding. We tell you which one your floor needs at the estimate.
3. Can you refinish a floor in a store without closing it?
Often, yes. We phase the work overnight so the space can reopen the next day. The Bucherer 1888 flagship on Madison Avenue, about 10,000 square feet, was done this way.
4. Do you refinish herringbone, chevron and parquet floors?
Yes. We have refinished walnut herringbone at Bucherer 1888 and a parquet floor in Midtown West.
5. What finish do you use?
In Manhattan we only use commercial-grade water-based finishes from manufacturers like Bona and Loba. The gloss level is your preference. Most people choose satin because the lower gloss shows fewer imperfections and is easier to maintain.
6. How do I choose a stain color?
You choose 3 to 4 options from the Duraseal stain chart. We apply samples on your floor, and you decide once you see them on the actual wood. You can also keep the natural color.
7. Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We are licensed by the DCA as a home improvement contractor and carry all necessary insurance, including $5 million in umbrella coverage. We issue the certificate of insurance once the agreement to move forward is signed.
8. Do you refinish floors outside Manhattan?
Yes. We serve all of New York City.
Request an estimate
Call 718-316-5330 or email nycfloorpro@gmail.com. NYC Floor Pro, 238 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022. Also see our hardwood floor refinishing service page and our Manhattan installation page.
