How to Cut Laminate Flooring

It’s possible to complete a laminate floor fitting job with a variety of saws. Some saws are easier to work with than others, but there are a few saws that will do the job. There are alternative cutting tools besides saws you can use as well.

One thing you should take note of is that you’ll probably need a jigsaw if you need to cut any curves or unusual shapes in your flooring. You’ll probably also need a drill and a flat wood drill bit if there are radiator pipes in the room.

Circular saw

You can use a circular saw to make straight cuts in laminate flooring. You’ll need to be careful to cut in a perfectly straight line while you’re working. Go slow and steady for the best results.

 

Mitre saw

One of the best ways to cut laminate flooring is with a Mitre saw. These saws are designed to cut perfectly straight lines at any angle required. They also feature a fence to help you achieve a perfectly angled cut. 

 

Table saw

Table saws can also cut perfectly straight lines at any angle you need. They also have a fence to help you achieve highly accurate cuts.

 

Jigsaw

If you need to make any curved or irregular cuts in your flooring, you’ll probably need a jigsaw. Jigsaws are designed for freehand cutting irregular shapes. You can also use them for straight cuts, but good straight cuts can be more difficult to achieve.

If you cut laminate flooring with a jigsaw, make sure you use a sharp blade with fine teeth for the best results.

 

Laminate flooring cutter

It is possible to buy purpose built laminate flooring cutting tools. These tools allow you to cut perfectly straight, chip free cuts in laminate flooring. They’re the best tool for cutting laminate flooring, but it might be easier to use a saw instead. 

 

Handsaw

If you don’t have a power saw and you don’t want to invest in either a power saw or a laminate flooring cutter, it is possible to use a handsaw. This might be a good idea for a small project. Use a handsaw with at least 18 teeth per inch so you don’t chip the laminate flooring as you make your cuts. Having a new saw will mean your blade is sharp and will make sure you make a clean cut.

The other tools you need for cutting laminate flooring are measuring tools and markers. You might also need a power drill. 

It’s essential you’re able to make accurate measurements and marks on your laminate flooring before you cut it. This is what makes the difference between having a perfectly aligned floor and one with visible imperfections.

The essential tools you need to cut laminate flooring are:

• Measuring tape
• Marking pencil
• Combination square

Another tool you might want to invest in is an angle finder or a profile gauge. These are particularly useful if you need to measure around pipes or other irregular features in your room. Other woodworking tools, such as clamps, chisels and vices, can be helpful as well.

Spacers for an expansion gap around the edge of your flooring are another purpose designed tool that might help.

Power drill

Radiator pipes are a common obstruction when laying laminate flooring. 

If there are any radiator pipes obstructing your flooring, you can use a wide, flat wood drill bit to create holes for them. It is possible to use a jigsaw as an alternative, but a power drill with a suitably sized drill bit is the easiest option.

Before you start any work, inspect the room and plan how you will lay your floor.

First, you should decide which direction to lay your laminate boards. This is a design consideration that comes down to personal preference.

The second thing to consider when you’re planning how you will cut laminate flooring is the width of the final row of boards. The final row of boards will always need to be cut to the right width so that it fits in the space available. You should generally avoid having a row of boards that is less than 60 mm wide.

To check this will not be the case:

• Measure the width of your room and divide this by the width of your boards.
• Work out how wide the final row will be.
• If the final row of boards will be less than 60 mm wide, plan to cut your first row of boards thinner to increase the width of the final row.

Another thing to know before you start to cut laminate flooring is that you should always leave a gap of 6 mm (¼ inch) around the entire edge of a laminate floor to allow it to expand and contract with atmospheric conditions. Plan to include this. 

Laminate floors are normally laid with an underlay, often after the use of a self-levelling compound, and this is also something to consider.

It’s also a good idea to practise cutting on scrap pieces of wood before you make any cuts in your laminate flooring.

Safety precautions for laminate floor cutting

Before you use any cutting equipment, make sure you have all the safety equipment you need.  

Here’s all the safety equipment you need to cut laminate flooring: 

• Protective eyewear
• Hearing protection
• Safety gloves
• Dust mask

Step 1. Install the flooring in rows, cutting each row to the right width

As you install your laminate flooring, you will work your way across the room. Remember to start with an expansion gap of 6 mm (¼ inch) at the side at which you start and along the lengthwise edge.

When you reach the end of the row, you’ll need to cut the final board to the right length. So, how do you cut laminate flooring to the right length?

Here’s how to cut laminate flooring to the right length:  

1. Lay the board over the gap so it’s touching the wall and lying on top of the last fitted board.
2. Measure the overlap and add 6 mm (¼ inch) to make your total cut length.
3. Double check your measurements.
4. Use your tape measure and a pencil to mark your total cut length on the other end of the board.
5. Use your combination square and pencil to draw a 90-degree line across the board, on the finished face.
6. Cut along the line using your saw, with the finished face upwards.

Remember to take great care when cutting and use the right technique to get a neat cut.

 

Minimum board lengths and joint spacings for laminate flooring

The final board in a run should be at least 300 mm in length, and joints should be at least 200 mm apart.

Step 2. Cut the final row to the right width

The last pieces in the final row will all need to be cut to the right width. So, how do you cut laminate flooring to the right width?
Here’s how to cut laminate flooring to the right width:

1. Lie the piece so it’s facing the right direction and exactly on top of the board in the previous row.
2. Hold another piece so it is 6 mm (¼ inch) away from the wall and lying on top of the piece you will cut.
3. Use your pencil to mark a line along the entire length of the edge of this board on the board you will cut.
4. Cut along the line using your saw.

It will help if you place 6 mm (¼ inch) spacers along the edge of the wall while you are making your measurements at this stage.
In some cases, the first row will also need to be cut to the correct width before you start. You should always measure your room and plan ahead to make sure that your final row of boards will be at least 60 mm wide. 
 

Step 3. Drill holes for radiator pipes

To create holes for radiator pipes as you lay your floor, you need to find the centre of the pipe and drill a hole:

1. First, the board should be cut to the right width.
2. Hold the length of the board so it’s touching the adjacent board and butted against the radiator pipes.
3. Use your combination square to mark a line across the board at the centre of the pipes.
4. Lay the board so it is 6 mm (¼ inch) away from the wall, and mark where the centre line of the pipe intersects with the last line you drew.
5. Drill a hole at the point. The hole should be 12 mm (½ inch) too wide to allow for expansion of the board.

Other curved or irregular edges will need to be handled differently. A profile gauge and a jigsaw are often useful for these.