Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably familiar with the term “laminate flooring.” Laminate flooring is a popular choice for many homeowners because it’s affordable and durable. But, before you can install laminate flooring in your home, you need to cut it to size. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to cut laminate flooring with a circular saw. Keep reading for tips and tricks!
What is a circular saw?
A circular saw is an electric saw that has a round blade. A circular saw can cut through thin pieces of wood, metal, drywall, and masonry. You can use it to make straight or curved cuts.
How to cut laminate flooring with circular saw step by step:
Step #1.
Plan your cut. Plan out where you want to cut your laminate flooring by placing it on top of the subfloor and tracing it with a pencil. When you’re done tracing your piece of flooring, measure the length and width of the resulting rectangle.
Step #2.
Layout your laminate flooring on top of the subfloor. Make sure that the top side of the flooring is facing up in order to get an accurate measurement for cutting.
Step #3.
Layout your laminate flooring on top of the subfloor. Make sure that the top side of the flooring is facing up in order to get an accurate measurement for cutting.
Step #4.
Extend the line from the starting point out to the number of inches you measured in step 2. For example, if you measured 6 inches in step 2, you would extend the line 6 inches in front of the starting point to mark where your cut will begin.
Step #5.
Place a straightedge or pencil at your mark for where your cut will end, then draw a vertical line out to the length of your flooring in inches.
Step #6.
Make sure that the top side of your flooring is facing up as you did in step 2, then place the edge of your ruler on top of the line for where your cut will end and draw a horizontal line to mark where you’ll begin cutting.
Step #7.
Place your laminate flooring down on top of the subfloor.
Step #8.
Turn your circular saw on and make sure it has a new blade in it.
Step #9.
Place the edge of your laminate flooring against the line where you will make your cut, then press down lightly to secure it in place while you turn on your saw with one hand.
Step #10.
Carefully cut through your flooring using even pressure as you begin the saw, then continue to apply pressure and push the saw forward (away from you) until you reach the end of your line. You can use a scrap piece of laminate flooring or a scrap piece of wood to help push the blade through if your flooring is hard to cut through.
Step #11.
Once you’ve finished making your first cut, use the lines on the subfloor as a guide for making other cuts. If you need multiple pieces of laminate flooring that are all the same length, just measure from the end of one piece to where you should mark your next cut, then mark these spots with a pencil. This will save you time later on when you have to repeat the same length for multiple pieces.
Piece of laminate flooring cut to size through the subfloor
Step #12.
Use your circular saw to cut along the line that you drew at the start of your cut. Your flooring will now be the right width, but it may not be the right length.
Step #13.
Place your flooring down on top of your subfloor to check its fit. If it doesn’t reach all the way across, you’ll need to turn off your saw and use your square or straightedge to extend that line forward until it reaches the edge of your subfloor.
Step #14.
Once you’ve verified that you have the right length, make your cut.
Step #15.
Use your straightedge or ruler to draw a line three inches back from the edge of your newly cut piece of flooring, then make one more cut to separate this new piece.
Step #16.
Clean up the saw’s blade after each cut by running it along with a damp cloth. This will help prevent the blade from getting too hot and melting your laminate flooring.
Tools:
- Circular saw
- Straightedge, ruler, or measuring tape
- Pencil
- Measuring tape or ruler (if you need to make multiple cuts that are the same length)
A Video Guide On How To Cut Laminate Flooring With Circular Saw?
Now you have learned how to Cut laminate flooring with a circular saw.
Safety tips for using a circular saw:
- Always wear protective eyewear when using a circular saw – wood chips and metal filings can go flying off as you’re cutting! In addition, safety goggles are great if sawdust gets in your eyes as well as preventing any debris from getting into your mouth or nose.
- Make sure that both hands are used when operating a circular saw – this will give you better control over its movement during use to prevent accidents from happening. Don’t ever try holding the handle with one hand and the saw with the other – this will cause it to wobble and lead to inaccurate cuts.
- Keep your fingers away from the blade of a circular saw at all times – wood chips and metal filings can get flung into the air while you’re using a circular saw, so make sure that you don’t place your hands in front of or under them if they do come loose. Be mindful of where your fingers are when making a cut!
- Wear appropriate clothing when working with a circular saw – in addition to wearing a pair of sturdy work boots, long pants should be worn over any shorts you may plan on wearing during installation. These types of materials have been shown to reduce injuries when getting struck by flying debris from sawing.
FAQs:
How do I measure for cutting laminate flooring?
You can use a measuring tape or ruler to measure out your cuts. Remember that it’s very important that you take into consideration the thickness of the saw blade when measuring. If you don’t, then your cuts will end up being too short and won’t fit together properly.
Is this task difficult?
Circular saws are relatively easy to use, but they do require some power behind them in order to complete cuts correctly. So make sure you have the strength needed to push down hard on them or get an extra pair of hands if necessary!
Conclusion:
Cutting laminate flooring can be a bit of a daunting task to take on, but with the proper preparation and tools, it won’t be too difficult. Just make sure you have all of your equipment in order before heading out to do this job. If you’re not confident doing it by yourself, don’t forget that you can always ask for help or hire someone to do the installation for you!
If you have any questions about how to cut laminate flooring with a circular saw, feel free to leave your questions in the comment section below. And don’t forget: sharing is caring – if this article helped you out at all, please help spread it by emailing it over.
