The process of installing laminate flooring looks simple enough for a beginner to handle. You need to prepare the floor properly, choose an underlayment, and assemble the flooring according to the instructions. However, nuances can start to appear during the installation process, which are difficult for a beginner to anticipate. This affects both the time taken to complete the work and the quality of the installation.
For this reason, you should focus on the preparation stage to ensure the flooring is high quality, does not make any unpleasant noises, and lasts a long time. This guide will teach you everything about the tools and methods for cutting laminate.
- Features of Cutting Laminate
- Laminate Cutter/Saw Table of Tool Effectiveness
- Jigsaw for Laminate Installation
- Guillotine or Laminate Cutter
- Handsaw for Cutting Laminate
- Circular Saw for Cutting Laminate
- Miter Saw and Table Saw
- Summary: Which Tool to Use for Cutting Laminate?
- Before You Begin
- Equipment You Will Need
- Practical Tips for Cutting Laminate
Features of Cutting Laminate
Cutting laminate is the most challenging part of its installation. It is a rather monotonous job that requires preparation and constant precision.
Laminate consists of high-pressure compressed wood fibers and synthetic resins. Determining the location and volume of the upcoming work is crucial to making cutting the planks comfortable.
Estimate the Amount of Laminate You Need to Install
The amount of work you have to do directly affects which tool you should choose. Buying many tools is unnecessary if you are renovating a small room. You can manage the job with a jigsaw or a hand saw. However, if you plan to install laminate throughout the entire house, a hand saw is not a recommended option.
Choose a Comfortable Place to Work
Let’s take a closer look at why location matters. For example, if you have a miter saw in the garage, you might think that the garage is the best place to work. However, you would need to move the board to the garage each time to make a cut and then carry the finished piece back. Poor planning always affects the quality of work. It will be difficult to stay focused, which is incredibly frustrating if you need to install laminate in multiple rooms.
The same problem applies to those renovating apartments. It’s too time-consuming and inconvenient to go outside whenever you need to trim a few planks. In this case, it’s better to choose portable and quieter tools.
Consider Time Investment
Calculate how much time you want to assign for installing the flooring. Some tools may be more efficient in terms of speed than others, but the quality of the cut will be roughly the same.
Consider Dust
Laminate has a multilayer structure. When cutting, you are simultaneously cutting through three layers:
- The top layer is covered with a durable film that flakes and crumbles (especially if the jigsaw blade is not sharp enough).
- The paper layer has a wood texture. It cuts pretty quickly but can leave frayed edges.
- The bottom layer is made of compressed wood fibers. It can be cut with any sharp tool without difficulty, but it produces a lot of fine dust.
Working with any wood materials inevitably involves mess, sawdust, and dust. For this reason, cutting laminate in a different room is preferable to where you are installing it. Sawdust and fine dust can get into the locking joints, ventilation, and any gaps, making them difficult to clean later. The debris will be everywhere and often sticks to shoes, soiling the underlayment beneath the laminate.
Ensure You Are Comfortable While Working
When installing laminate flooring, you’ll need to do a lot of cutting, which can quickly tire your back if you continue working on the floor. Cutting the planks on a table, workbench, or sawhorse is more convenient. Pay attention to this point if you have a lot of work, as you will tire quickly.
You must frequently bend over and work on your knees when lying on the floor. To make this work more comfortable, you can buy knee pads.
Know the Thickness of Your Laminate
Thicker laminate (over 10 mm) is much harder to cut than thinner laminate. Some tools are simply not suitable for this, and not every laminate cutter can handle the increased load.
Evaluate the Space Where You Need to Lay Laminate
Installing flooring in a non-standard room (with arches, bay windows, or niches) will always be a bit more challenging than installing flooring in a simple-shaped room. Some tools are unsuitable for cutting boards into specific shapes and may not meet your needs.
Set Up Additional Lighting
It is very common to need additional lighting during the renovation process. You can set up a work light on a tripod and direct it at the right angle. This will allow you to illuminate dark corners during measurements or immediately see defects when cutting laminate. Additional lighting makes the job easier and significantly reduces the likelihood of mistakes.
Tools for Cutting Laminate
The following six tools are often recommended for cutting laminate.
- Jigsaw
- Circular Saw
- Miter Saw
- Handsaw for straight cuts and Coping Saw for curved cuts
- Table Saw
- Specialty Flooring Cutters
For the convenience of readers, below are the pros and cons of each tool for cutting laminate.
Need help choosing the right tool for your project? Here’s a detailed list of 12 Best Saws for Cutting Laminate Flooring.
Laminate Cutter/Saw Table of Tool Effectiveness
| Parameter | Jigsaw | Guillotine Cutter | Handsaw | Circular Saw | Table Saw | Miter Saw |
| Noise | Medium | Low | Low | High | High | High |
| Dust/Sawdust | Moderate | Very Low | Low | Very High | High | High |
| Power Source | Electric | Manual | Manual | Electric | Electric | Electric |
| Cutting Speed | High | High | Low | High | High | High |
| Straight Cutting Accuracy | High | Medium | Medium | High | High | High |
| Ability to Cut Curves | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cutting quality | High | High | Medium | High | High | High |
The table clearly shows that laminate can be curved only with a jigsaw. These statistics assume the use of adequately selected cutting discs and blades.
Jigsaw for Laminate Installation
The jigsaw is a versatile tool for cutting wood. This tool can cut laminate, quartz vinyl, parquet boards, and cork flooring with high precision. If you have purchased expensive laminate, investing in a jigsaw is justified. You won’t need a powerful tool for cutting planks up to 8 mm thick—400 watts will be sufficient. If you bought laminate thicker than that, consider a tool with 500-600 watts of power.
Advantages of a Jigsaw
- Versatility of use
- Cutting speed
- Smoothness of cut
- Low noise level (won’t disturb neighbors)
- Relatively low price of the tool
Disadvantages of a Jigsaw
Requires purchasing special blades. They dull quickly during use.
- T101B: This blade is for straight cuts, with teeth pointing upwards. It should be used to cut the backside of the laminate. Cutting on the front side is possible but requires greater precision.
- T101AO: This blade may be needed for curved cuts, such as around utilities, arches, and columns.
If you are worried about choosing the right blade, look for a universal cutting blade. The quality of the laminate cut with this blade is good in 95% of cases, except when you need to cut the laminate to tile joints.
To learn more about the most effective blade types, check out Best Jigsaw Blades for Cutting Laminate Without Chipping.
Guillotine or Laminate Cutter
Using a guillotine is simple, even without any prior experience. The laminate plank is placed on the base, with the guillotine blade and handle positioned above. You achieve a relatively straight cut through the laminate by pressing down on the handle.
The guillotine can cut both the short and long edges of the plank. The cutting process occurs in several steps for long edges, gradually moving the entire plank under the blade. Be aware of the guillotine’s specifications for cutting laminate, as there may be thickness limitations.
A guillotine is most convenient for laying laminate over large areas. It produces no dust or chips, so you can measure and cut planks directly in the room. It is especially useful in combination with a jigsaw, which can handle curved cuts.
Advantages of a Guillotine
- Does not require electricity
- Fast cutting speed
- Low noise and dust
Disadvantages of a Guillotine
- Cannot perform curved cuts
- Will not be able to cut thick coating.
Handsaw for Cutting Laminate
There are handsaws for metal and wood. For cutting laminate, you need a handsaw with a crosscut (or combination crosscut/rip) blade for wood.
Given the availability of power tools, using a handsaw for laying laminate is inefficient and labor-intensive. It’s recommended only if you need to install flooring in a small area.
Advantages of a Handsaw
- Versatility of the tool
- No need for electricity
- Low noise and dust
- Low cost
Disadvantages of a Handsaw
- Low cutting speed
- Labor-intensive
- Challenging to complete the entire job
- Cutting precision is only suitable for areas hidden by baseboards
Circular Saw for Cutting Laminate
A circular saw is an electric or battery-powered tool with a rotation speed of about 6000 RPM and a power of 1000-1600 watts, twice the power of a jigsaw. It is another versatile power tool with a convenient grip, designed for cutting boards, beams, paneling, and particleboard.
The blade rotates on an axis, with the teeth moving from bottom to top. Therefore, it is better to mark and cut the laminate from the back side of the board to avoid chipping on the front side.
Due to the high rotation speed of the blade, a lot of fine dust is generated. It is probably one of the noisiest and most dust-producing tools for laying laminate. If you are reading this article, you likely have limited experience with laminate installation and power tools. It is crucial to work very carefully with a circular saw, as it is one of the most dangerous types of power tools.
A mini circular saw with the same principle of operation can be used to cut laminated parquets. The tool produces less noise and dust but is less versatile for other repair tasks.
Advantages of a Circular Saw
- High cutting speed
- High precision cuts
- Versatility for various repair and finishing tasks
Disadvantages of a Circular Saw
- High noise and dust levels
- Challenging to complete the entire laminate installation cycle
Miter Saw and Table Saw
A miter saw is the best tool for making clean and precise cuts on laminate. It is excellent for cutting planks at an angle.
The setup consists of a horizontal base to which a lever with a circular saw blade is attached. The cut is achieved by lowering the saw onto the workpiece. A miter saw is not very convenient for making longitudinal cuts along the length of the board. For this purpose, a table saw is more suitable.
Advantages of a Miter Saw
- High-quality cuts
- Fast cutting speed
- Ideal for large volumes of work
Disadvantages of a Miter Saw
- High cost of the tool
- Requires a dedicated workspace
Summary: Which Tool to Use for Cutting Laminate?
As you can see, there is no single best tool for cutting laminate. Different tools are better suited for different situations. You can use a circular saw for long cuts or a jigsaw if you need to work with curved shapes. The most important thing is to choose a tool you find comfortable using.
Before You Begin
- Install New Blades: Install new blades on all your tools before beginning. This will help prevent chipping on the flooring’s face.
- Use a Permanent Marker for Marking: Marking cuts with a pencil is inconvenient, as the line can be too faint. A water-based marker can easily be wiped off if accidentally touched. Use a permanent marker for clear and lasting markings.
- Mark on the Face of the Laminate: Make your markings on the face of the laminate to avoid confusion.
- Leave an Expansion Gap: Always leave a gap of ⅛–¼ inch between the floor and the wall. This is a necessary expansion gap provided by the manufacturer.
- Plan the Layout Correctly: Ensure that the last plank is bigger than 8 inches. If you have a very narrow piece left, you will need to trim the edge of the board at the opposite wall.
- Wait for the Laminate to Adapt: The laminate should lie in the room for at least 48 hours before installation. Wood can change size depending on the room’s temperature and humidity, so it’s essential to wait until these conditions stabilize.
- Wear Safety Gear: Always wear safety glasses and a respirator when cutting laminate.
Equipment You Will Need
- Electric jigsaw (or hand saw, miter saw, circular saw).
- Replacement blades.
- Protracter.
- A tape measure.
- Permanent marker.
- Construction vacuum cleaner.
Additional Accessories
- A sawhorse or a table specifically for cutting laminate.
- A board and two clamps to clamp the planks (if you’re working with an electric jigsaw). The clamps help hold the planks in place while sawing.
- A work light.
- Office knife.
Ensure Work Safety
When cutting laminate, a lot of fine dust remains in the air. If it gets into your eyes or respiratory system, it can cause inflammation or allergies. Make sure to use the following gear.
If you have back or joint problems or if you need to lay a lot of laminate, you can prevent any additional harmful health effects.
- Use knee pads when measuring and laying the planks.
- Use a lifting belt when moving boxes of laminate. The belt reduces the load on your back muscles and decreases the compressive force on your spinal discs.
Practical Tips for Cutting Laminate
- Use a New Blade: When cutting any wood product, it’s essential to use a new blade. Rubbing the blade with candle wax can help it last longer.
- Secure the Board Well: Use clamps to firmly hold the board in place to prevent damage during cutting and to avoid accidental injuries.
- Take Your Time: Don’t rush the process. Avoid pressing too hard on the blade. Let the saw do its job.
- Replace Blades Timely: Dull blades will chip the decorative surface, resulting in a less clean cut. Replace blades as soon as they become dull.
- Aim for Straight Cuts: Round holes for utilities are more challenging to cut than square ones. Use straight cuts where possible. Most of them will be hidden under decorative covers.
- Support the Plank: At the cut’s end, support the plank’s suspended part to prevent it from breaking under its own weight.
- Keep the Work Area Clean: Frequently clean up sawdust and dust instead of waiting until the job is completely finished.
Your first attempts at cutting laminate may not be perfect. Don’t get discouraged; you’ll quickly master this skill.
Final Thoughts
Cutting laminate may look simple, but it’s the step that most affects the final look of your floor. Mistakes here are hard to hide and easy to regret. That’s why choosing the right tool, setting up a clean and well-lit workspace, and using fresh blades are just as important as the cutting itself.
There’s no universal solution.
- Use a jigsaw for curved cuts and detailed work.
- A guillotine works great for clean, straight cuts with no dust.
- A miter or circular saw is best for large areas and precision.
- Handsaws are only practical for very small jobs.
Think through your space, volume of work, and comfort. Don’t rush, and prioritize safety—from knee pads to respirators. A bit of prep up front will save you from crooked seams, chipped edges, and hours of rework.
Once you get a feel for the material and your tools, cutting laminate becomes fast, smooth, and satisfying—even for a beginner.
