Cutting laminate flooring is not an easy task especially if you are not an expert. Again, you might be an expert but you do not have the right cutting tools that will help you complete the task easily and more efficiently.
When it comes to cutting laminate flooring, most people think that a miter saw and a jigsaw are the best for the task. However, there are other effective cutting tools that will equally give you amazing results. Would you like to know them? Check them below.
- Miter Saw
A miter saw will be very useful when you want to make cuts at specific angles. With this saw, you can easily cut at 90 degrees or up to 50 degrees. You can use either a sliding or a non-sliding model. The blade should be long enough to cut the whole width of the laminate flooring with just a single pass.
- Miter saws are the most convenient when cutting boards
- Suitable for cutting multiple boards
- Provides very straight cuts
Major Drawbacks of Miter saws
- They are a bit pricey
- Not suitable for ripping a board lengthwise
- Table Saw
The best cutting tool you should think of when making rip cut on the floor is none other than a table saw. What you will love about it is that it is very fast and accurate as compared to other types of saws. Again, it is the only saw you can you to cut a laminate floor lengthwise.
Benefits of using a table saw
- They are the best when you want to make very straight cuts
- Very accurate and fast when ripping a board lengthwise
Major drawbacks of table saws
- They are only suitable for cross cuts
- Very noisy
- Circular Saw
A circular saw is a great tool when cutting a laminate floor but you will also require to use other tools such as a square. You can also combine it with a workbench. However, you need be very cautious because it create a lot of mess on the newly installed laminate floor. It is therefore advisable to keep a broom and a dustpan near you so that you can remove the dust immediately. Another thing is that you will need to mark the board fist every time before cutting.
Benefits of a circular saw
- You can use it to cut in any direction irrespective of whether you want to make parallel or perpendicular cuts.
- Fast and effective
Drawbacks of a circular saw
- Creates a lot of dust
- They are very loud.
- Jigsaw
A jigsaw allows you to makes some special cuts such as AC/Heating vents which are usually made on the floor. Apart from that, a jigsaw is the best tool for making crosscuts. However, as compared to a circular saw, it is a bit slow. You will also need to replace the blades frequently to boost the performance.
When cutting a laminate floor, you will require to use fine or medium toothed blades. Always ensure that the exposed side is facing up when cutting.
Benefits of a jigsaw
- Jigsaws are not only easy to use but are also safe. This means that they can be used by anyone.
- If you want to cut different shapes, a jigsaw will be the best tool to use.
- They are quiet and less messy as compared to other cutting tools.
Major drawbacks of jigsaws
- They are very slow
- Not easy to cut a straight line using a jig saw
- Flooring Cutters
There are flooring cutters which are specially designed for cutting laminate flooring. They function similarly to a large paper cutter. The most outstanding thing about them is that they make no dust. They are also available in different styles and designs but they all work the same.
Benefits of flooring cutters
- They are easy and safe to use
- Provides clean cutting without dust
Drawbacks of flooring cutters
- They are only suitable for cross cuts
- Not easy to find in local hardware stores
The Bottom Line
If you have been struggling to cut laminate flooring, it means that you need to try different tools. The above tools will make your work easier but you need to know how each of them works. The good thing about them is that they are very easy to use.
