How to Cut Laminate Flooring: A Complete Guide
Cutting laminate flooring requires the right tools and a little practice
Laminate flooring offers an affordable alternative to hardwood flooring—and it is easier to install. But it is important to understand how to cut laminate flooring properly. Once you have mastered this skill, the actual installation should go pretty smoothly, whether you are installing laminate in the kitchen, living room, or throughout the entire house.
Why Is It Important to Cut Laminate Properly?
If you cut a laminate wood board in half, you will see that it is not really wood at all. Laminate flooring, or laminated wood flooring, is a synthetic alternative to hardwood floors. It is manufactured by mixing wood fibers with resin and adhesives and subjecting them to high pressure to compress them into a strong plank. The bottom is covered with a melamine or plastic layer to protect the board from contact with the subfloor and to stabilize it. The top is covered with an image layer that creates the appearance of wood. The final, topmost layer is the protective wear layer that protects the board from moisture and daily wear and tear.
Cutting laminate properly is important because, if done incorrectly, it can crack or chip. With natural hardwood flooring, most imperfections can be sanded away or you can refinish the hardwood floor, but if the wood fiber core of the laminate flooring is revealed, it is more difficult to repair and detracts from the floor’s appearance.
How to Cut Laminate Flooring
Cutting laminate flooring is not complicated, and it is possible you have the right tools on hand already.
Gather Your Tools
When cutting laminate flooring, certain tools are essential to get the job done right. Luckily, most of these tools are ones you probably have lying around if you have done other DIY home projects.
Tape measure
Straight edge (a speed square works well)
Pencil
Saw
Laminate flooring saw blades
Choose Your Saw
Laminate Flooring Cutter
A laminate flooring cutter is a tool specifically designed to cut laminate flooring. It looks similar to a paper cutter that you may remember from school or working in an office. To cut laminate flooring, slide the board under the blade and pull the handle toward you to lower the blade and cut the board. This tool is best for straight or angled cuts, though certain angles may be better cut with a compound miter saw. This type of saw is easy to move and does not require power.
Circular Saw
A circular saw is a hand-held electric or battery-powered saw that can cut straight or angled cuts on laminate flooring. The user provides the stability and forward motion while the blade cuts through the material. This is a convenient option if you are only cutting a few boards, but it requires more work than other methods.
Compound Miter Saw
A compound miter saw is typically mounted on a table or on its own stand. This power saw can make standard cross cuts, but can also be turned for angled cuts. The blade can be tilted to make bevel cuts, though these are not likely needed for laminate flooring. For larger flooring jobs, a compound miter saw makes cutting laminate flooring more efficient than other tools.
Table Saw
A table saw has a fixed blade set into a table and is typically used to rip, or cut, boards along their length. So, if you are at the end of a room and all of the boards need to be ripped to a certain width, a table saw is the best option. This tool is not ideal for making cross cuts, so it likely will not be the only tool you use.
Jigsaw
If you need to make small or rounded cuts that allow your laminate flooring to go around obstacles like pipes or poles, a jigsaw is the way to go. It uses a small, thin blade that moves up and down to allow for more maneuverability than other saws.
Handsaw
Handsaws are powered by—you guessed it—your hand. While this type of saw will cut laminate flooring, it is inefficient, but it can be used in a pinch if you just have to cut a board or two.
Which Saw Is Best for Which Type of Cut?
| Saw | Type of Cut |
|---|---|
| Laminate flooring cutter | Straight, angle |
| Circular saw | Straight, angle |
| Compound miter saw | Straight, angle |
| Table saw | Straight |
| Jigsaw | Curve |
| Handsaw | Straight |
Measure the Size Needed and Make Your Cuts
If you are making a simple cross cut, you can use your tape measure to measure the length of the board you will need. You can also flip the board upside down and place the opposite end on the wall or stopping point. Mark where the underside of the board meets the next board. Cut the board to size, then flip it back over and install it.
To measure for irregular cuts, you will need to use your measuring tape and possibly mark the board in multiple spots. For basic angle cuts, you can choose the angle on the compound miter saw and move the blade into the correct position before cutting. For curves, you can make a paper template and then trace the correct line on the board before cutting.
Tips for Cutting Laminate Flooring
If the boards are chipping when you cut them, try cutting upside down.
To cut around obstacles like posts or poles, make a paper template and trace it on the board before cutting with a jigsaw.
Make sure to choose saw blades that are specific to laminate flooring to get the cleanest cuts.
If there are rough edges, use sandpaper to smooth them before installation.
If the boards chip or get gouged during installation, you can use laminate floor putty and the stain pen that are typically included in your purchase to conceal any mistakes.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Cutting laminate flooring is a very easy DIY project, given the right tools. But chances are you are not just cutting laminate for fun; it is probably part of a larger flooring installation project, and you will have to assess whether you are up to the task or need to hire a professional.
Flooring in general can be a manageable DIY project, especially if you are using laminate. One of the appealing qualities of laminate flooring, beyond being more affordable and just as beautiful as wood, is that its tongue-and-groove construction makes it easy to install. It may take some practice to measure and cut correctly, but it is definitely a candidate for a DIY project and can help you save money on laminate flooring installation cost.
Even though this is a relatively easy project to take on, it is still time-consuming, so it may make sense to consider contacting a local laminate floor installation professional. A flooring contractor will come with all the necessary tools and skills to make the project go as quickly as possible, allowing you to enjoy your new floor faster than if you were to install it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
While lots of different saw blades are capable of cutting through laminate flooring, choosing a carbide-tipped laminate flooring blade will ensure the cleanest cuts that will make installation go more smoothly and make the floor look better. Also, a blade specifically designed for laminate flooring will last longer than blades intended for other materials.
If you find that the laminate boards are chipping as you cut, you can try flipping the board upside down and cutting the backside first. You can also make a small cut to the top of the board before flipping it and cutting it from the backside. If these strategies do not work, you can place painter’s tape along the edge of the cut to prevent chipping. It is also possible that the saw blade is dull and needs to be replaced.
A utility knife will cut through laminate, but this is not an ideal tool, since it is not as fast or accurate as a saw. If you have to make small cuts or cut pieces out of a laminate board, a utility knife can be the right tool for the job.
You might be wondering, “Is laminate flooring toxic?” The product does contain formaldehyde, which is found in the resins used to bind the wood fibers together. But the chance of overexposure and adverse reactions, such as allergy- or asthma-like symptoms, is low unless you are exposed to formaldehyde in other places, i.e., if you work with formaldehyde regularly outside the home. Keep in mind, too, that many household products have the potential to pose a health hazard, such as cleaning products.