Brooklyn · NYC · Nassau · Long Island
Herringbone, parquet borders & custom stairs in Brooklyn, NYC & Nassau
Gemini Floor Services installs herringbone, parquet patterns, borders, medallions, and matching stairs and rails for Brooklyn apartments, brownstones, and Long Island homes. Custom patterned woodwork in solid or engineered hardwood with careful layout on flat subfloors. Family-owned — not a franchise — licensed, insured, 5-year workmanship warranty. Brooklyn: 229 Sumter St. Call (718) 690-3435 or Nassau (516) 209-6998.
What we install (custom patterned wood & stairs)
- Herringbone — zig-zag parquet; boards of equal length/width at 90°; classic showcase pattern.
- Chevron — similar look; ends cut so boards meet in a V / arrow rows.
- Other parquet patterns — geometric layouts (basketweave / Versailles-style and related); custom cut or prefab tiles depending on product. Education: parquet flooring.
- Borders, medallions, mouldings & inlays — design elements around rooms or focal points.
- Stairs & rails — elegant stairs and rails that match the hall. Scope stairs separately on the estimate when needed.
- Materials — solid hardwood or engineered for lasting custom work. Oak and other species per job. This money page focuses on wood custom work Gemini installs. No cleaning services.
How custom pattern & stair work runs
- Free consultation & estimate — Pattern (herringbone / chevron / other parquet), borders or medallions, stairs/rails, solid vs engineered, prefinished vs unfinished. Start with Instant Preliminary Estimate for planning, then free on-site measure for a firm quote. Custom install pricing is confirmed on-site.
- Layout plan — Measure rooms, set starting lines, confirm plank size and direction. Pattern work needs a flat, true subfloor — small alignment errors throw the whole field.
- Removal & subfloor (if needed) — Tear-out and prep when the job calls for it; leveling called out on the estimate.
- Field install — Nail, glue, or float per product. Herringbone/chevron/parquet take more care and labor than straight strip — pattern labor can run about double a regular straight install.
- Borders / medallions / mouldings — Fit after or with the field per design; inlays where scoped.
- Stairs & rails — Treads, risers, and rails matched to the hall when included; often a separate line on the estimate from flat-floor pattern work.
- Finish (unfinished jobs) — Stain if desired, then polyurethane; prefer low-odor acrylic / water-based systems for occupied homes when that path is chosen.
- Walkthrough — Care notes and when traffic is OK on field and stairs.
Timeline
Job-specific factors — square footage, tear-out, borders/medallions, stairs, unfinished finish coats, and building access — change the schedule and are confirmed on estimate. We do not invent fixed day counts for custom pattern jobs.
| Scope | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Herringbone / chevron labor | About double the labor time of a regular straight installation |
| Most residential straight installs | Typically 2–4 days — context for straight work only; not a calendar for pattern jobs |
| Job-specific | Borders, medallions, stairs, tear-out, finish coats, and access change the schedule — confirmed on estimate |
Herringbone vs chevron vs borders (quick chooser)
| Herringbone | Chevron | Borders / medallions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Staggered zig-zag | Arrow / V rows (ends meet) | Frame or focal inlay |
| Cutting | Equal rectangles; alignment critical | Ends typically cut to meet | Custom fit to room / field |
| Best when | Foyers, living, dining showcase | Same showcase rooms; sharper V look | Finish a field or highlight a center |
Apartments, co-ops & buildings
- Licensed & insured; can supply insurance paperwork buildings ask for.
- Plan elevator bookings, work hours, and hallway protection up front — pattern and stair jobs run longer than strip.
- Prefinished or low-odor on-site finish helps occupied apartments.
- Brooklyn HQ: 229 Sumter St — useful for NYC access coordination.
Warranty
5-year workmanship warranty. Covers our installation workmanship as stated on the job — not product manufacturer defects beyond their warranty, flooding, or later abuse/modifications. Ask on the estimate for what’s in writing.
Who this is for
- Homes & brownstones — herringbone or parquet in foyer/living/dining; borders; stairs that match.
- Apartments & co-ops — careful layout, building-friendly scheduling, insurance docs.
- Commercial — offices and shops when patterned wood or custom trim is scoped (Gemini works residences and businesses).
What drives price (no published $/sq ft)
The live Instant Preliminary Estimate is a preliminary guide — final custom price after free on-site measure. We do not publish invented $/sq ft rates.
What drives price:
- Pattern complexity (straight strip vs herringbone / chevron / other parquet)
- Borders, medallions, inlays, mouldings
- Stairs and rails (separate scope)
- Solid vs engineered; species and grade; plank size
- Prefinished vs unfinished (+ stain/finish coats)
- Square footage and room shape
- Tear-out, disposal, subfloor leveling (pattern needs flat)
- Fastening method (nail, glue, float)
- Access (walk-up, elevator booking, co-op work windows)
Use the estimate form for a ballpark conversation, then call for on-site.
Gemini Floor Services
Owner Dyal Ramnarine
Brooklyn HQ: 229 Sumter St, Brooklyn NY 11233 · (718) 690-3435
Nassau: 220 N Columbus Ave, Freeport NY 11520 · (516) 209-6998
LI: (631) 739-8353 · info@geminifloors.com
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between herringbone and chevron?
Herringbone uses equal rectangles laid at 90° in a staggered zig-zag. Chevron looks similar but the board ends are cut so they meet in a clean V / arrow row. Both are classic parquet patterns; both need careful alignment and a flat subfloor. We’ll show samples and pick the look that fits the room on the estimate.
Can you add borders and medallions — and match stairs and rails?
Yes. We install design elements like borders, medallions, mouldings, and inlays with parquet and herringbone fields, and we do elegant stairs and rails that match the hall. Stairs are usually scoped as their own line next to the flat-floor pattern work.
Solid hardwood or engineered for patterned floors?
Solid hardwood is the traditional custom look and can be refinished over its life when the build allows. Engineered has a real wood wear layer over a stable core — often better for humidity swings, concrete, and many radiant-heat jobs. Prefab parquet tiles in engineered or other materials exist for simpler layouts; true custom cut work is a pro install. We match product to rooms and subfloor on site.
How long does herringbone or custom pattern work take?
Live guidance: herringbone / chevron labor is about double a regular straight installation because every board must line up. Borders, medallions, and stairs add time. We do not publish a fixed day count for custom jobs — schedule locks after on-site measure.
Do you publish a price per square foot for herringbone or stairs?
No. Pattern complexity, borders, stairs, species, tear-out, and subfloor work change the number. We don’t invent or post $/sq ft on this page. Use Instant Preliminary Estimate for planning, then book a free on-site measure for a firm quote.
Can you work in a Brooklyn co-op or Nassau home with building rules?
Yes. We’re licensed and insured and can provide insurance paperwork buildings require. Share elevator times, work hours, and certificate rules up front — pattern and stair jobs need that window planned. Brooklyn HQ is 229 Sumter St — call (718) 690-3435; Nassau / Freeport (516) 209-6998; LI (631) 739-8353.