If you’re looking to install laminate flooring in your home, you’ll need to know how to cut laminate flooring properly. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful new floor.
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Tools Needed
To cut laminate flooring, you will need a few tools. These include a saw (ideally a circular saw), a measuring tape, a level, and a pencil. You will also need something to protect your floors from sawdust, so make sure you have a drop cloth or tarp handy. With these tools, you should be able to cut your laminate flooring relatively easily.
Jigsaw
A jigsaw is a type of saw used to make curved or irregular cuts in thin material, such as laminate flooring. Jigsaws can be handheld or mounted on a stand, and usually have a reciprocating blade that moves up and down at high speeds.
To use a jigsaw, you first need to mark out the area you want to cut. Then, clamp the laminate flooring in place and set the blade of the jigsaw to the correct depth. Once the blade is in place, turn on the jigsaw and guide it along your marked line. When you’re finished cutting, unplug the jigsaw and remove the blade.
Tape Measure
A good tape measure is an important tool to have on hand when you’re planning a laminate flooring installation. It’s also useful for measuring rooms and estimating the amount of flooring you’ll need to purchase. Look for a tape measure that is at least 25 feet long and has a locking mechanism to keep the blade in place while you measure.
Pencil
You will need a pencil to mark your cut line on the laminate plank. Use a pencil that will show up on the color of your laminate. A regular #2 pencil or mechanical pencil with lead that is at least 2mm in diameter will work. Alternatively, you can use a chalk line to snap a straight line on the face of the plank before you make your cut.
Safety Glasses
Safety is paramount when working with any type of power tool. Always wear safety glasses when using a power saw.
Measuring and Marking the Laminate Flooring
In order to cut laminate flooring, you will need to first measure and mark the laminate flooring. You will need to use a tape measure to measure the length and width of the room. Once you have the measurements, you will need to mark the laminate flooring. You can use a pencil or a pen to mark the laminate flooring.
Measure the length and width of the room.
Use a tape measure to determine the length and width of the room. To find the square footage, multiply the length by the width. If the room is not square or rectangular, you will need to divide the room into smaller sections in order to get an accurate measurement of the square footage.
After you have determined the square footage, add 10 percent to that number to account for waste. For example, if the room is 100 square feet, you will need 110 square feet of laminate flooring.
Once you have determined how much laminate flooring you will need, you can begin measuring and marking the flooring for cutting.
Measure and mark the center of the doorways.
Laminate flooring planks are usually cut with a power saw, but for doorways and other areas where the full width of a plank cannot be used, you will need to cut the planks to size. To do this, you will need to measure and mark the center of the doorways.
1. Measure the width of the doorway and subtract half an inch. This is the width that you will need to cut your laminate planks.
2. Mark the center of the doorway with a pencil on the underside of one of the flooring planks.
3. Place the plank on a cutting board or other surface that will protect your flooring from scratches.
4. Use a straight edge to draw a line from each end of your pencil mark to the edges of the plank.
5. Cut along these lines with a power saw to create two new, smaller pieces that can be used in your doorway.
Measure and mark the corners of the room.
Measure and mark the corners of the room.
Using a tape measure, measure the length and width of the room. Make a small mark at each corner with a pencil.
At each mark, measure and mark the distance from the wall to the nearest obstruction, such as a doorframe, HVAC register, or baseboard. Be sure to include any molding or trim in your measurements. Draw a line from corner to corner at each measurement.
Cutting the Laminate Flooring
The laminate floors are one of the most popular types of floors, which are usually used in the homes. It is easy to cut and install the laminate floors.
Cut the flooring along the doorways.
Use a utility knife or other sharp blade to score the face of the laminate along the doorways. You’ll want to make several passes with the blade to ensure you cut through the material. Once you’ve scored the face, use a straight edge to snap the laminate along the scored line. You can then use a saw or other cutting tool to finish trimming the material along the doorways.
Cut the flooring along the walls.
To start, you need to cut the laminate flooring along the walls in the room. You can use a handsaw or a power saw for this, but make sure that the blade is designed for cutting laminate. Once you have cut along all of the walls, you will need to cut out any areas where there are obstacles in the room, such as pipes or fireplaces. Again, you can use a handsaw or a power saw for this.
Cut the flooring around the corners.
Start by measuring and marking the laminate planks for cutting along the walls that are parallel to the floorboards. For cutting around obstacles like pipes, use a hole saw. You will also need to use a hole saw for cutting rounded corners. To make the cuts, clamp the laminate plank to a worktable so that the cut line is hanging over the edge. Use a fine-toothed blade in a circular saw to make slow, steady cuts along the line.
Installing the Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a great way to get the look of hardwood floors without the high price tag. Laminate flooring is also very durable and easy to care for. If you’re considering laminate flooring for your home, here’s what you need to know about installing it.
Remove the baseboards.
Use a pry bar or hammer to gently remove the baseboards from the wall. Be careful not to damage the drywall or painted surfaces. If the baseboards are difficult to remove, you may need to score them with a utility knife first. Once the baseboards are removed, use a putty knife to scrape away any old paint or caulk from the top of the baseboard and the wall.
Install the flooring under the doorways.
Now you are ready to install the flooring under the doorways. The best way to do this is by using a jamb saw. A jamb saw is a hand held power tool that looks like a small circular saw. It is specially designed to cut through door jambs without damaging the surrounding wall or trim.
If you do not have a jamb saw, you can use a handsaw or a utility knife, but these methods are more likely to damage the surrounding wall or trim.
To install the flooring under the doorways:
1. Measure the distance from the edge of the doorway to the edge of the nearest laminate plank. Add 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) to this measurement to allow for expansion.
2. Mark this distance on the underside of the plank using a pencil or chalk. This will be your cutting line.
3. Place the plank against the doorjamb with the cutting line lined up with the edge of the doorjamb. Use one hand to hold the plank in place while you use your other hand to operate the jamb saw.
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Install the flooring along the walls.
Start by installing the flooring along the walls. It’s important to leave a small gap between the flooring and the wall to allow for expansion. Use a spacer to make sure you leave the right amount of space. We recommend using a 1/4″ spacer.
Once you have installed the flooring along the walls, you can start working on the rest of the room. We recommend starting in the middle of the room and working your way out. This will help ensure that your flooring is evenly distributed.
If you need to cut your laminate flooring, be sure to use a sharp blade. A dull blade will cause the laminate to chip and crack.
Install the flooring around the corners.
In general, you will install the laminate flooring around the edges of the room first. This means that you’ll need to cut the boards to fit snugly around obstacles like doorframes, pipes, and corners.
It’s important to make sure that you measure the boards correctly and that you cut them straight. Otherwise, the boards won’t fit together properly and there will be gaps in your floor.
To make sure that your cuts are precise, it’s a good idea to use a mitre saw or a jigsaw. Both of these tools will allow you to make clean, straight cuts. If you don’t have either of these tools, you can still cut the laminate boards with a handsaw; however, it will be more difficult to get precise cuts.
Once you’ve cut all of the boards that you need, you can start installing them around the edges of the room. Begin by tapping two boards together at one end. Then, press down on the tongues of both boards so that they snap into place. Continue snapping the boards together until you’ve completed one row.
Finishing the Laminate Flooring
You’ve installed your laminate flooring and it looks fantastic! The next step is to finish the flooring by adding molding around the perimeter of the room. This will give your room a polished, finished look. Adding molding to laminate flooring is a simple process that anyone can do. In this article, we’ll show you how to cut and install molding around laminate flooring.
Replace the baseboards.
The final step is to replace the baseboards. To do this, first measure the length of each wall and cut the baseboards to size. Next, predrill holes into the baseboards and secure them to the wall with screws. Be sure to countersink the screws so that they are flush with the surface of the baseboard. Finally, touch up any scratches or scuffs on the baseboard with paint or wood putty.
Install the molding.
If you’re installing your laminate flooring in areas where it will meet other types of flooring or where it will be visible from the outside, you’ll want to install molding to give it a finished look. You can use quarter-round molding, T-molding or baseboard molding for this purpose. Most laminate moldings can be installed using finishing nails or floor adhesive.
