How to Cut Laminate Flooring

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When you move into your first home, it’s not uncommon to find laminates throughout the house. From the kitchen floor to the bathroom and even in bedrooms, laminate is a popular choice for affordable and durable flooring. Laminate flooring is affordable, easy to install, and requires minimal maintenance. However, as you grow as a homeowner and develop your personal style, you may want to redecorate and update your home with new flooring. Laminate isn’t exactly a high-end material, so if that’s something that you desire then read on! If you have laminate floors throughout your home then we have tips on how to cut laminate flooring so that you can start removing it from various rooms in your house.

How to Cut Laminate Flooring

Cutting laminate flooring is a simple process, though you should always use the correct cutting method to ensure that your laminate is cut cleanly and you don’t damage your flooring. Laminate flooring is made up of a few different layers, including vinyl, paper, and a plastic core. Cutting laminate is best done on a table saw that has a laminate blade, but if you don’t have access to table saws then you can also use a skill saw and/or a rotary tool. You can also use a razor blade to score the laminate and then snap it apart. While this method is less accurate and will require more cuts, it’s a much easier and cheaper alternative to buying specialized equipment.

What You’ll Need

When cutting laminate flooring, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need before you start. You’ll need a table saw, skill saw, or rotary tool depending on where you’ll be cutting the laminate. Additionally, you’ll want to wear the appropriate protective gear such as goggles, gloves, and ear plugs. If you’re using a table saw, then you’ll also want a partner who can help you if the table saw jams or binds. You’ll also want to have a few tools on hand as well, such as a ruler, a pencil, and a clamp.

Cutting Laminate Using a Skill Saw

A skill saw is a manual saw that’s great for cutting laminate flooring. It’s inexpensive, easy to use, and requires very little setup. When cutting laminate flooring with a skill saw, set the depth of the blade so that the teeth are just barely under the surface of the laminate. This will allow you to cut the laminate without cutting into the subfloor. You’ll want to use a push motion when cutting laminate with a skill saw instead of a slicing motion. The skill saw is designed to push the material away from you, so you don’t want to push the tip of the blade towards the laminate. When cutting laminate with a skill saw, it’s best to cut the laminate in a single pass. If you need to make more than one pass, then you’re likely trying to cut too much material at once.

Cutting Laminate with a Rotary Tool

A rotary tool is a handheld electric spinning tool that’s great for cutting laminate flooring. It’s easy to use, inexpensive, and can often be used without any additional blades or attachments. When cutting laminate with a rotary tool, you’ll want to reduce the speed of the tool to around 10,000 RPM. This will allow the tool to slowly cut through the laminate without digging into the subfloor. When cutting laminate with a rotary tool, it’s best to make multiple passes. Cutting the laminate in one pass is likely to cause the tool to bind and stall, which means you won’t be able to finish the cut. When cutting laminate with a rotary tool, you can use a guide to help you keep your cut straight. Simply clamp the guide to the laminate and line up the rotary tool against the guide.

Cutting Laminate with a Razor Blade

Using a razor blade to cut laminate flooring is an inexpensive method that can be done without any additional tools. However, it’s a time-consuming and tedious process that may prove difficult for novice DIYers. When cutting laminate with a razor blade, it’s best to score the laminate first. To do this, place the blade at a 45-degree angle against the laminate and press down firmly. Next, lift the blade from the laminate and turn the blade 90 degrees so the blade is perpendicular to the laminate. Once you’ve scored the laminate, you can use your hands to gently snap the laminate apart. When cutting laminate with a razor blade, you’ll want to make multiple passes with the blade to ensure that you don’t snap the blade in half.

Conclusion

Cutting laminate flooring is a straightforward and easy process. Whether you use a skill saw, rotary tool, or razor blade, you can cut laminate quickly and easily. Remember to always wear the proper protective gear when cutting laminate flooring to prevent injury, and choose the best cutting method for the type of laminate flooring you have. Once you’ve cut the flooring, you can start removing it from the rooms in your house. Laminate flooring is easy to replace, so if you’re looking to redecorate but don’t want to remove the entire floor, you can simply replace it with a new laminate flooring.

In case you are not sure how to install laminate flooring, find your local tradesman.


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