Best saw to cut laminate flooring

Installing laminate flooring yourself is surprisingly simple. In fact, the most involved part of the laminate flooring installation process is cutting the laminate flooring properly. There are many ways to cut laminate flooring, each utilizing a different tool, from a miter saw to a specialty laminate cutter.

When installing laminate flooring, one of the most important factors to consider is the saw you use for making cuts. Choosing the right saw can significantly affect the quality of your cuts and the ease of your installation. Laminate flooring is a popular option consisting of several layers of synthetic materials fused to create a durable, low-maintenance flooring surface. Laminate flooring is known for its ability to mimic the look of hardwood, stone, or tile and its affordability compared to these materials. Cutting laminate flooring can be challenging due to its thickness and the need for precise cuts to fit around corners, walls, and other obstacles. Using the wrong saw can result in rough or uneven cuts, chipping or cracking of the laminate, and frustration during installation.

Best saw to cut laminate flooring

Not every room is the same size or shape, so if you're installing laminate flooring, you'll likely need to cut it to fit. In this guide, we'll talk about how best to cut laminate flooring, including which tools you will need. Laminate flooring is multi-layered synthetic flooring made with a lamination process. It's designed to simulate real wood or stone, with a photographic effect added to the outer layer to give it this appearance. The inner layers are usually made from melamine resin and fibre board. It's easier to install and maintain than traditional hardwood flooring and is often a lot cheaper. If you have the right tools, it's actually quite easy to cut through laminate flooring, and can easily be done by people with a little DIY skill. You'll likely be cutting boards straight to fit the edges of the room, as well as curved or angle cuts to go around features such as toilets or fireplaces. The best saws to cut laminate flooring are a jigsaw, crosscut saw also called a plunge saw , or a handsaw. A jigsaw is usually the most versatile tool, as it lets you cut the flooring to fit unusually shaped objects like a toilet or pillar. For simple straight cuts, you can easily use a handsaw to cut laminate flooring if that's all you have, but for the most professional finish, you should choose a crosscut saw or table saw. If you're planning on cutting out angles or curves such as around a toilet , then you should use a Jigsaw. Make sure it has a fine tooth blade.

They will also throw up more dust and the dust from laminated floor boards is not good for you to be breathing in at all, containing many poisonous chemicals and resins that your lungs don't need or appreciate. Like many materials, best saw to cut laminate flooring, a jigsaw is the best tool for cutting curves and details in laminate flooring. Simply hold it in place and then give it a tap with a hammer to pull boards in place," says expert builder Andy Stevens.

This is a full list of the laminate flooring tools I use to install floating floors to a high professional standard. I have also included tips on how I use them for the different types of cuts needed when fitting laminate floor boards as there are better ways depending on what you are doing. Although the old saying is 'a bad workman always blames his tools' you've still gotta have the right tools for the job! Because laminate is a man made material containing glues and resins it absolutely ruins the cutting edges of normal saw blades. Blades blunt quickly and you can burn out the motor of a power saw by trying to cut laminate flooring with the wrong blade or a blunt blade. These blades will last long enough to do the job but they are really only worth buying if you are going to be doing lots of laminate flooring installations for a living because they are so expensive! They will also throw up more dust and the dust from laminated floor boards is not good for you to be breathing in at all, containing many poisonous chemicals and resins that your lungs don't need or appreciate.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more. Completing a flooring project with your own skill and expertise is something to be proud of, but trying to tackle a laminate flooring job without the right saw blade can quickly get expensive when you have to replace the chipped and damaged material. Laminate has a protective wear layer that is infused with aluminum oxide chips that can rapidly wear down a cutting blade. For perspective, these chips are commonly used to create tough, coarse sandpaper. The best saw blade for cutting laminate flooring also should have a carbide, titanium, or diamond tip to help the blade move through the rough material. To get a better idea of the blades most suitable for laminate, take a look at the products below and features to consider when shopping for the best saw blade for cutting laminate flooring. Before choosing a new saw blade, consider the type of blade, whether it is compatible with your current saw, and the blade measurements, including diameter, arbor size the shaft that holds the blade , and the number of teeth. Several different types of saws work with laminate flooring, including a miter saw, circular saw, jigsaw, and rotary tool. Each of these tools has a unique saw blade design, except for miter and circular saws, which both use a round cutting disc.

Best saw to cut laminate flooring

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? These tools will allow you to create the necessary cross cuts, rip cuts, and miters. Although there are a couple dedicated flooring saws that are designed to perform all these cuts, this term can also refer to any type of power or manual saw being used on your flooring. You'll always want to consider the blade you are using. Depending on if you're cutting wood, laminate, or vinyl flooring, you may need a special blade to avoid damaging the material or the saw.

Mccoy pottery catalog

That's because, if you don't already know how to lay laminate flooring , it's most commonly laid as a floating floor. Hugh Metcalf. I've got a laminate cutting hand saws that I only use when laying wooden and laminate floors. For simple straight cuts, you can easily use a handsaw to cut laminate flooring if that's all you have, but for the most professional finish, you should choose a crosscut saw or table saw. Our sponsors. Pencils wear down quickly and when laying dark floors you can't always see pencil lines clearly among the dust when you're cutting the boards. Have a question or comment to to add about the best tools to use when installing laminate flooring? A circular saw is a handheld or table-mounted saw with a rotating blade. A jigsaw's thin blade makes it maneuverable for even the tightest curves, while it's handheld design makes it a quick and easy tool to keep by your side during the laminate installation process. Follow the steps below to quickly and cleanly cut laminate flooring to length using a miter saw.

Installing laminate flooring yourself is surprisingly simple.

More buying guides. Have a question or comment to to add about the best tools to use when installing laminate flooring? Keeping your hands well clear, start the jigsaw and approach the edge of the flooring, cutting the shape out slowly. How do you cut curves in laminate flooring? A circular saw is a handheld or table-mounted saw with a rotating blade. List of Partners vendors. The jigsaw is the best power tool to use to cut laminate floors with for a few reasons. Looking for the right tools for laminate flooring? Laminate flooring is a popular option consisting of several layers of synthetic materials fused to create a durable, low-maintenance flooring surface. The Wood Flooring Installation Kit you can buy from places like Amazon include things like the 10mm spacers needed for the expansion gap, a pull bar like the one on the right and a tapping block. You can buy a specialty laminate cutter like the pros, but it likely isn't worth the expense if you have other common tools that can be used to cut laminate —especially if you only have a small area's worth of laminate to install. With this in mind, you need to use spacers around the edge of the room, leaving a 10mm gap to ensure that your floor doesn't warp as it contracts and expands. When operating power saws, it's a good idea to wear protective googles to ensure that your eyes are protected from dust and debris created when cutting timber. Because materials like laminate ruin saw blades instantly, I buy packs of laminate specific jigsaw blades that are cheap enough you can throw them away as soon as they are knackered. Cutting laminate flooring can be challenging due to its thickness and the need for precise cuts to fit around corners, walls, and other obstacles.