Which Side To Cut Laminate Flooring

Wear goggles a dust mask and gloves.

Which side to cut laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring is layered like plywood and the top layer usually consists of a coating of hard plastic. This means that the face side of the laminate the side that matters will get a clean cut and any cutting blemishes will be on the bottom side. Remember that you have to place spacers around the walls otherwise the laminate might expand in time and create issues. It s much easier to cut the trim around doorways than it is to cut the flooring to match the moulding s irregular shape.

After a laminate flooring cutter the next best crosscutting tool for laminate flooring is a sliding miter saw capable of making 12 inch crosscuts. This will form the first plank in the second row beginning back at the right side of the room. If you took accurate measurements and used our tips to cut the planks you shouldn t have any issue while laying it into position. If needed take a plank of flooring and a section of the underlayment and lay it finished side down next to the door s moulding.

Place the tile on a stand or hold it steady with clamps. You can use either a sliding model or a non sliding model just make sure the blade is large enough to cut the entire width of the laminate flooring in one pass. Fit the final cut piece into the first row of flooring and secure the tongue and groove end joint as before. A pull bar is particularly handy at the end of a row.

Most laminate boards are wider than 5 inches so a standard miter saw won t work. This coating chips easily so you need to cut laminate flooring boards with care. To cut laminate flooring measure and mark the laminate s surface so you know where to cut then use a circular saw or a handsaw with at least 18 teeth per inch to make straight cuts. While many saw blades cut on upstrokes laminate blades cut on downstrokes meaning the spikes are turned downward.

A miter saw is nice because all you need is a simple little mark and the saw will do the rest of the work this is the ideal tool and can cut perfect 90 degree cuts or any other angle up to 50 degrees for most saws. Cut the plank to length with a circular saw or jigsaw. You need the sliding action of a sliding miter saw to cut the full width of the plank. Use a pencil or chalk to mark where the line you want to separate the board.

How to cut laminate tile. Once cut the flooring will just slip under it leaving a more finished look. Using a miter saw. Rather than sawing the laminate the cutter chops it using a tough blade and a long handle used to exert downward force.

Retain the cut off end. This is one of the tools every professional uses to cut laminate floor boards to length and is the key to how to cut a laminate floor.