Sanding and Refinishing Wood Floors in Gramercy Park and Murray Hill Apartments
Posted November 12, 2026
How our sanding and refinishing packages bring older apartment floors in Gramercy Park and Murray Hill back to bare wood and a new finish.
Call (908) 232-6600 or book a virtual consultation to review samples and specifications for your project.
Gramercy Park and Murray Hill have many prewar apartment buildings, and many of their apartments still have their original wood floors. After decades of use, a floor like that often needs a refresh rather than replacement. Our sanding and refinishing packages take the floor back to bare wood and give it a new colour and finish.
This guide explains the three packages in our store and what each one includes, so you can choose before work begins.
Refinishing Instead of Replacing
Every package starts the same way. Our pages describe the first step as sanding the floors bare to restore them to new-like condition. That removes the old finish, surface wear and much of the discolouration that builds up over the years in a busy apartment.
Once the wood is bare, you choose a colour and a finish system. In a prewar apartment, that is a chance to keep the original floor and its patina of history while changing its tone, from a natural look to a warm brown such as Brun Caramel. Our buffing and refinishing guide explains when sanding is needed.
The Gold Package: Stain and Water-Based Finish
Our Gold colour package pairs a colour stain with three coats of water-based finish imported from Germany and Sweden. The stain is a penetrating, semi-transparent stain formulated to seal, colour and protect bare wood, and it is a blend of oil and resin that gives a soft, satin sheen.
Its pages note that it can receive a topcoat in two hours, and that it is compatible with water-borne and oil-modified finish systems. Colours include Noyer Spécial and many others. It suits owners who want a classic stained floor with a durable, clear topcoat.
The Platinum Package: Zero VOC Oil
The Platinum package uses hard wax oils, natural oils and water-based products imported from Italy and Belgium. Its pages state that the oil contains 0% volatile organic compounds and no water or solvents, and that it protects and colours wood in one layer.
There are 40 colours of oil, such as Fumée, which may be combined or used with pre-treatments. The system is a two-component oil with an accelerator and cures in 7 days. For an apartment where people want a low-odour, eco-friendly option, this is a strong fit, and its page lists white oak, red oak, pine, hickory, walnut and maple.
Have an older floor that needs a refresh? Send us photos and we will suggest a package and a colour.
The Diamond Package: Diamond Oil and Pre-Treatments
The Diamond package is described on its pages as a designer and architect favourite with unlimited customisations. It uses Diamond Oil Active, which gives colour and finish in one product, with a low, matte sheen and a surface its page calls non-slip, water repellent and durable.
The oil has a solid content above 90% and suits all species of wood. Colours include Gris Sable, Naturelle, Brun Caramel and Gris Béton. Its page notes that once a floor is first finished, it is easy to restore and revive as needed, which helps in a hallway or kitchen that sees daily wear.
Lyes and Pre-Colours
Diamond and Platinum work can include pre-treatments, which our pages list as lyes, reactive stains and pre-colours. A lye is applied to bare wood before the oil and changes its tone. Our store lists white, grey and antique lyes, as well as white and grey driftwood lyes.
For example, Diamond Oil with antique lye and Diamond Oil with white lye combine a pre-treatment with the oil colour. Pre-treatments are how a refinished oak floor can be taken to a paler or greyer tone without a heavy stain on the surface.
Living With the Work: Drying and Curing
Timing matters in an apartment you live in. Our oil pages, such as Gris Sable, state that the surface will be touch dry within minutes, moisture resistant within 48 hours and fully cured within 6 days of application, and that wet cleaning should be avoided during the curing period. The Platinum two-component oil cures in 7 days.
Plan furniture moves and deliveries around those dates, and let your building know the schedule in advance. After curing, regular care keeps the finish looking good. Our Naturel oil is a good starting point if you want the wood to look as close to raw as possible.
Book a virtual consultation to review stain and oil colours for your apartment.
Quick Answers
What does sanding and refinishing include?
Our packages start by sanding the floors bare, then apply your chosen colour and finish, as described on pages such as Naturelle Diamond Oil.
Is there a zero VOC option?
Yes. The Platinum and Diamond oils are described as containing 0% volatile organic compounds.
How long before I can clean the floor?
Our oil pages say to avoid wet cleaning during curing. Diamond Oil is fully cured within 6 days.
What is a lye pre-treatment?
A lye is applied to bare wood before the oil to change its tone, as with antique lye.
Plan Your Floor
Every package in this guide is listed in our store, and we can help you choose a colour and finish for your apartment floors.
Call (908) 232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com, or book a virtual consultation. Browse our collections: Herringbone, Chevron, Wide Plank, Parquet.
About The Author
Joe Avila has worked in wood flooring for 26 years. He is NWFA certified (CSI, CI, CWFI, CFS) and teaches NWFA continuing-education courses for architects, designers and flooring professionals. Luxury Wood NYC, a Huggins Wood Floor Specialist brand.
Related Reading
Oil, Lacquer or Urethane: Choosing a Wood Floor Finish for a New York Home
How to Know When Your Wood Floor is Ready for Buffing, Refinishing or Replacing
A Wood Medallion for the Foyer: Carnegie Hill and Sutton Place
British Collection Oak Herringbone for Upper East Side Apartments
Solid or Engineered: Choosing the Right Wood Floor for a New York Home
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