Hardwood Floor Staining and Custom Color in NYC

Custom stain colors, color matching and specialty finishing techniques for fine wood floors in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the surrounding region, with low and zero-VOC options.

Call Joe Avila at 908-232-6600 or book a virtual consultation to start your color samples.

Color is the most personal decision in a wood floor, and the hardest to get right on site. New York City Wood Floors, a Huggins Wood Floor Specialist brand, develops stain colors on your own floor, matches existing colors after repairs, and offers specialty techniques from fuming to ceruse. Every staining project is led by Joe Avila, an NWFA certified installer, sander and inspector.

What Our Staining Service Includes

• A water pretreatment, called water popping, to help the stain take evenly.
• The extra sanding steps needed to prepare the floor for stain, done with Lagler Trio sanders.
• The stain of your choice.
• Unlimited sample options, so you approve the color on your own floor before we stain the room.

Staining is $3.49 per square foot, added to the cost of installation or refinishing. Browse our stain colors, see custom finishing prices on our pricing page, or estimate your project with our cost calculator.

Low and Zero-VOC Staining

Traditional stains give off strong fumes, and with them you should plan to be out of the home for 48 to 72 hours. Our low and zero-VOC options make it possible to stay. Our Platinum Package uses zero-VOC stains and finishes with custom color matching. Water-based finishes dry in 4 to 6 hours, while oil-based finishes need 12 to 24 hours before light foot traffic.

We also specialize in luxury oil finishes, including Rubio Monocoat, Woca Denmark, Osmo and Ciranova. Learn more about our eco-friendly sanding and refinishing.

Want to see colors on your own floor? Book a virtual consultation.

Custom Finishing Techniques

• Wire brushing: a texturing technique that removes some of the soft grain of the wood.
• Bleaching: creates a mild white-washed look, or tones down reddish or pink colors showing through lighter stains.
• Fuming: a graying effect caused by a natural reaction with the tannins in certain woods.
• Ebonizing: a graying or blackening effect from a natural reaction with the tannins in certain woods.
• Pre-coloring: dyes used before finishing to create very deep color or textured looks.
• Dyes: for woods that are hard to stain evenly, or for looks stain cannot reach, such as black floors.
• Ceruse: an old woodworking technique that makes the grain a different color from the rest of the wood, for a two-toned look.
• Lye pre-treatments: applied before staining or finishing to give some woods a white or gray driftwood color, which can then be finished naturally or coated with another color.

Color Matching After Repairs

When boards are replaced after water damage or wear, the whole room is sanded and refinished so new and old boards share one color and sheen. We match existing stain colors on site. See our wood floor repair and water damage service.

Quick Answers

Can I stay home while my floors are stained?

With our low and zero-VOC options, yes. Traditional stains usually mean being out of the home for 48 to 72 hours.

How much does floor staining cost in NYC?

Staining is $3.49 per square foot, added to the cost of installation or refinishing.

How do I choose a stain color?

We provide unlimited sample options on your own floor, so you approve the color before the room is stained.

What is water popping?

A water pretreatment that opens the wood grain so the stain takes more evenly.

How long until I can walk on a stained floor?

Water-based finishes dry in 4 to 6 hours. Oil-based finishes need 12 to 24 hours before light foot traffic.

Call 908-232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com, or try our cost calculator. See all of our wood floor services.