Before you’ve even begun to consider laying your flooring, there’s a lot you’ll need to prepare. Choosing the style and shade is fun but thinking about the rest can be trickier. Measurements, tools, getting it laid are all the bits of this DIY job you might be dreading and so the last thing you need is chipped flooring. If you’re wondering how to cut waterproof laminate flooring, keep reading for all the tips you need to ensure your flooring fits right and looks seamless.

Top Tips

1. Measure twice, cut once. A good tip to ensure you avoid mistakes and end up with wasted wood. Mark and measure where you want to cut the boards with a chalk or pencil.
2. Remember to always leave an expansion gap around the edges of the room and around radiator pipes.
3. If you are able to work outside - this is ideal, but if you have to cut your laminate indoors, put down an old bed cover or polythene sheet to catch sawdust and wood chips – this will make it much easier to clean up.
4. When using power tools, be sure to take your time. Not only do you want to avoid an accident, you don’t want to chip your planks. The best and safest cutting technique is to cut downwards.
5. Wear a dust mask while cutting to avoid inhaling any dust. They are available cheaply from hardware stores.

Tools

Mitre Saw

One of the most commonly used, a mitre saw is a great option when looking for a tool to cut your laminate flooring. It is fast and can even cut multiple boards if they are stacked together. Less convenient is the dust they create and the expense of such a saw. Purchasing a mitre saw is worth it if you plan to do a variety of DIY jobs in your home.

Circular Saw

A circular saw is great for cutting different angles, it can cut in any direction and so is great for rooms with unique shapes and for when you need to cut around pipes. Disadvantages of this tool is that you will need additional tools and they will make a lot of noise. If you’re not familiar with using power tools this one can be particularly awkward to use.

Jigsaw

A jigsaw is one of the safest saws to use and is relatively easy to handle. They can cut any shape needed so it is great for multiple jobs around the house, not just your flooring installation. While this tool is quieter than other saws and tends to create less mess, it is one of the slowest saws on the market, so you’ll find that you will burn through many blades and it can be difficult to cut a perfectly straight line.

Table Saw

No other saw can cut laminate flooring lengthwise better than this tool and they are extremely accurate too. If this tool isn’t already in your tool shed, you will likely not want to purchase it as it isn’t as good at creating cross cuts.

Steps

1. Lay a full piece of laminate flooring on top of the second to last piece and measure the amount of overlay.
2. Use a pencil to mark on the unfinished woodside of the plank at the required length.
3. Place the plank on the stand or clamp and secure it.
4. Cut along the marked line then use a damp cloth to remove the pencil marks.
5. Sand all cut edges with grit sandpaper.
6. For pipes, measure the length and width to the center of the pipe.
7. Make a mark on the laminate piece where the center of the piece would be.
8. Use a hole saw about ½” in diameter larger than the pipe diameter to create an opening for the pipe.
9. Cut the laminate piece in half across its width through the center of the hole.
10. Fit the piece around the pipe, and use glue suitable for laminate to attach the pieces together.

We hope this simple guide on how to cut waterproof laminate flooring has helped you feel more at ease with carrying out this DIY job. Now you know how best to cut your laminate flooring, you can explore all of our waterproof vinyl planks.