Homeowners get to choose from a variety of finishing options when it comes to flooring. One of them is Laminate flooring, also known in the US as floating wood tile. The multi-layered synthetic flooring product often simulates wood or sometimes stone material. People looking to try a floating floor that uses dry installation are fond of laminate flooring material. We are going to look at how to cut laminate flooring without a saw in this article.
For those looking to just get to the meat of the question without scrolling through the article – I’ll save you time and say that I have used the EZ Shear Laminate Cutter and it’s the only thing I will use from now on to cut laminate. It is super easy to work with and makes clean precise cuts almost every time. It is worth every penny as it doesn’t create any saw dust and clean up is simple. I used this on my master 700+ sqft master bedroom and it performed fantastically. Now, on to the rest of the article.
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Unfortunately, laminate flooring does not come in the size of your room, they come in planks. You may be required to cut your planks into different shapes to fit on your floor and match your design. Based on the pattern you wish to have on your floor, you will be required to make some notches, straight or curved cuts to cover the entire surface.
The most crucial part about installing laminate flooring is cutting the material into proper shape. Making that precise cut can be hazardous and expensive in the end. Cutting laminate for beginners has always been a costly process especially when there are more waste and mistakes made. It is important to know the hard plastic coating on the laminate chips easily.
There are different standard tools that you can use to cut through the laminate surface. When it comes to cutting laminate flooring, most people always go for tools such as the flooring saw, hand saw, miter saw, circular saw, table or plunger saw, jigsaw and crosscut saw, for specialty straight or curved cuts. Saws may not be the best tools to use when you want perfectly straight crosscuts with no chipping.
Saws that use specialty blades can be effective but quite expensive. Also, if not properly used, saws can produce a lot of dust waste. If you are operating on a tight budget, then it is best to go for an alternative solution. There are plenty of standard options you can choose from and still get satisfactory results. For you to get a perfect job done on your floor, it is important to choose the right cutting tool.
In almost all suggestions on the best tools for cutting laminate flooring, different types of saws often dominate the lists. In the event that you can’t get access to a saw, then you will need to go with the best alternative tool for your project. With the right techniques and skills you can get precise and rip cuts by using tools such as:
- Utility knives
- Scissors
- Shears or Cutters
The advantage of using alternative laminate cutting tools is that they produce no dust during the process. If what you are looking for is a safe and easy to use tool for this kind of job, then the above list will suit your needs.
The difficulty that you are likely to experience when using a saw to cut laminate flooring is the risk of chipping the surface. Working with this material can be frustrating especially when you are not getting precise and straight cuts.
After damaging a couple of saw blades and boards, I learned that this type of flooring materials is harsh and tough to cut or shape. For this reason, you need to find a way on how to cut laminate flooring without a saw and still get
Determining the best way to cut laminate flooring takes into consideration a number of factors including the weight, structure and shape of the product you wish to get in the end.
The tool that I have found to be more efficient and effective for this task is the laminate floor cutter. With a cutter all you need to do is to apply pressure on the handle. Similar to a paper cutter, the laminate flooring cutter produces crosscuts. You will need to go through the following steps to get the best results:
- Mark the length of the crosscut
- Draw a visible line on the back of the board
- Lay marking tape on the cut line
- Feed in the plank facing up
- Line up blade of the cutter with the marked line
- Press down the handle to slice the plank in two
The laminate floor cutter is best for straight cuts. You use utility knives and scissors to achieve rip or curved cuts. The best thing about laminate flooring cutters is that they are commonly available.
For me I started with the EZ’s Shear Sharpshooter siding and laminate flooring cutter. I used this incision tool on my (800 square foot) master bedroom and the results were flawless. With this versatile, light-duty cutter, I was able to cut materials up to 9” in width.
Important tips for cutting laminate flooring without a Saw
When cutting laminate flooring, it is best that you cut the material from the backside to minimize chipping of the surface. It is easier to damage this type of flooring by making the wrong incisions. Cutting laminate flooring without a saw requires one to learn some techniques that most professionals apply to get quality cuts.
Before making the cut, one technique experts use is to set the planks parallel with the length of the room. The last board may not fit, so a cut will be required. The first step will be to mark the point that fits and cut off the excess material.
It is important to consider the fact that laminate flooring requires an expansion space of about ¼” to prevent it from buckling. Laminate expands and contracts with change in humidity and temperature.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are different cutting tools you can use for your laminate flooring project. Cutting laminate flooring without a saw can help a lot against chipping the coating of the laminate surface. With the right cutting technique and tool, you do not have to worry about getting chip-free edges. Go for a tool that allows you to make chip-fee edges and comes with a functional design that prevents airborne dust and the hassle of electrical cords.
