Can I refinish my 60-year-old fir floors in a Vancouver character home or are they too thin?

In most cases, yes — 60-year-old fir floors in a Vancouver character home can absolutely be refinished, and the results are often stunning. Douglas fir was the standard flooring material in Vancouver homes built from the 1920s through the 1960s, and those original planks were typically milled at 3/4 inch thick. Even after one or two previous refinishings, there is usually enough wood remaining for another careful sanding.

The key factor is how much material has already been removed. A full sand-and-refinish takes off roughly 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch per pass, so a floor that started at 3/4 inch can handle several refinishings over its lifetime. Your flooring professional will measure the remaining thickness above the tongue-and-groove joint — if there is at least 1/4 inch of material above the tongue, the floor is a strong candidate. In homes across Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, East Vancouver, and the older neighbourhoods of New Westminster, refinished fir floors are one of the most sought-after features in the real estate market.

Fir is a softwood, which means it behaves differently from oak or maple during refinishing. It dents and scratches more easily, and aggressive sanding with a drum sander can leave visible waves and swirl marks. An experienced refinisher will typically use a lighter touch with the drum sander and may finish with an orbital sander to achieve a flatter, smoother surface. This is not a project for a DIY approach — fir's softness makes it very unforgiving of inexperience with heavy sanding equipment.

One consideration specific to Metro Vancouver's climate is that 60-year-old fir floors have been expanding and contracting through decades of seasonal humidity changes. You may see gaps between boards, especially during drier summer months. A skilled refinisher can fill smaller gaps with a wood filler mixed with sanding dust to match the floor's colour, though larger gaps (over 1/8 inch) are often better left unfilled since filler will crack as the wood continues to move. Some homeowners embrace the character gaps as part of the home's heritage charm.

For finish, water-based polyurethane is the most popular choice for fir refinishing in Vancouver. It dries clear without the amber yellowing that oil-based poly produces — this matters because fir already has a warm, golden tone that deepens with age. Expect to pay $3.50 to $7 per square foot for a professional sand-and-refinish on fir, with costs toward the higher end if extensive board repairs, gap filling, or staining are involved. A typical 800-square-foot character home main floor runs $2,800 to $5,600.

Before committing, have a refinishing professional inspect the floors in person. They will check for thickness, nail integrity, water damage, and any areas where boards may need replacement. In some older Vancouver homes, sections near exterior doors, kitchens, or bathrooms may have moisture damage from decades of Metro Vancouver rain tracked indoors — those individual boards can often be replaced with salvaged fir to maintain the original look. If your character home floors pass inspection, refinishing them is one of the best investments you can make — it preserves the home's original charm while adding genuine value. Vancouver Floor Installers can match you with a refinishing specialist experienced with heritage softwood floors at no cost.

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