How to cut laminate flooring at home. What is better to cut laminate: jigsaw, saw or saw blades? Fitting laminated panels

Laminate is the most common floor covering today, which is made from compressed material - fibreboard (fibreboard). Appearance The laminated board is defined by a decorative layer, usually imitating the surface of wood, although other options are possible. The board itself consists of 4 layers, sealed (“laminated”) in protective film, due to which the material got its name.

The material is quite simple to install, so its installation can be done by both professionals and ordinary home craftsmen who try to do everything with their own hands whenever possible. The technology is such that the laminate must be cut at the time of installation. Accordingly, the question arises: How to cut laminate so that the cut is neat and without chips?

About laminate

From practice it is clear that it is almost impossible to adjust laminate slabs to the size of the room; they need to be cut to the required size. You need to determine which saw to cut the laminate so that the cut is even.

To do this, it is important to study the structure of the material being processed.

• The first, lowest layer of the product consists of unrefined paper. It protects against moisture penetration. Sometimes an additional substrate is added under this layer, which is intended for sound and heat insulation, but this makes the price of the product higher.
• The next layer is made of high-density fiberboard and the greater its density, the better the fixation between the panels.
• Then comes a layer of decorative paper, which can depict imitation of various types of wood, stone, sand, marble and other natural materials.
• Most upper layer colorless and consists of acrylic resin . Through it, the decorative pattern on the panel is clearly visible. It is its thickness that affects the wear resistance class of the laminate and its service life.

Laminate flooring can be classified into residential and commercial. The latter has increased durability of the protective coating and is intended for rooms with increased “human traffic”.

Sawing tool

When processing any structure, it is imperative to use tools that are suitable specifically for the given composition of the material. After all, it is impossible to cut ceramic with a jigsaw. floor tiles, and with a glass cutter - hardware. Likewise, the best cutter for one raw material cannot be useful for another.

Any professional or just an “amateur” probably knows that to cut a laminate board you need special tool to ensure that the structure of the material is not damaged.

These tools include:

• jigsaw;
• a circular saw;
• hacksaw;
• laminate cutter.

Jigsaw

What is the best way to cut laminate? The best cuts are obtained using a jigsaw. A jigsaw file for laminate must be designed for working with wood.

Advice!
Before making a cut, you need to draw a cut edge on the laminated side of the board with a pencil, then cut the protective film with a paint knife.

The board should be placed face down on a flat surface and secured. When cutting, it is very important not to make sudden movements, in order to avoid the formation of chips and damage to the structure of the material. A neat cut can be made both transversely and longitudinally.

Saw

In order to get a neat cut of the laminate board, you can use a manual circular saw with a disk for metal, called a “grinder” As in the previous case, the board must be laid on a flat surface with its front side, securely strengthening it. Carefully lower the grinder disk and draw along the line marked with a pencil.

If neither one nor the other tool is available, you can use hand saw or a hacksaw for metal. Using this method you need to work with the utmost care. And the whole process takes quite a long time. This method is not easy and the cut is not of sufficient quality.

It can justify itself only with small volumes of work.

Cutter

To cut large volumes of laminate, you can use a special cutter that looks like a sharp blade that is lowered onto the material using a handle. Using this method, laminate can only be cut in the transverse direction. The cutting line is very accurate. This method is convenient for those who install laminate flooring on an ongoing basis, since the price of the tool is very “decent”.

What saw to use to cut laminate?

If the tool has already been selected, then you need to decide on its components. Jigsaw files for laminate differ in shape, pitch and method of setting the teeth, as well as in blade material. The quality of installation also depends on the quality of cutting the material elements. If you try to cut laminate with a file not intended for this purpose, there is a high probability of leaving multiple chips on the edge of the workpiece.

If there is no special file for a jigsaw on laminate, you can use any file with fine teeth and a narrow blade. For figured or curved cuts, the narrower the canvas, the more accurate the cut will be.

The wood saw should have the tops of the teeth pointing in the opposite direction. Thanks to this, the possibility of chipping is eliminated when sawing the material from the front side and will eliminate the “turning” of the decorative layer outward. The evenness of the cut is affected not only by the size of the teeth, but also by the speed at which the panel blade is cut, as well as the quality of the metal from which the laminate saw is made.

If the farm has circular saw, it can also be adapted for cutting laminate.

Instructions for cutting laminate using a circular saw look like this:

• It is important that saw blades for laminate have fine teeth;
• A mark is applied to the front side of the laminate board at the intended cut location;
• After which, the bar is installed on the machine in a horizontal position and with the pattern down.
• The edges of the bar must be held tightly with your hands and slowly pushed away from you in the direction of the rotating disk.
• When using saw blades for laminate flooring, you need to be very careful not to injure your hands. The sleeves of the worker's outerwear must be buttoned, and the disc is covered with a special casing.

The complexity of the entire cutting process is that the laminate saw blade is not designed for curved cutting. But an electric jigsaw can handle this task quite easily. Using this tool, you can make any shaped cut.

When cutting laminate with a hand-held circular saw, it is important to know that the disk on it rotates from bottom to top; therefore, if it is not sharp enough, torn edges will remain on the material. To avoid this, when preparing the board for cutting, it should be placed face down.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a little about what professionals use to cut laminate flooring. People who face daily similar work, most often use a special laminate cutting machine in their practice. It has a very sharp blade that makes a precise and even cut. With its help, professionals can cut large volumes of material very quickly.

This tool is almost indispensable for craftsmen involved in professional flooring installation. To make the whole process more visual, you can view photo and video materials on this topic.

Laminate floors are perhaps at the peak of popularity today. Laying laminated material can be done on your own. For this you need: desire, accuracy and a little free time. To perform installation, you need to purchase materials and a set of tools. Here the question arises: what tool is needed for installation and how to cut laminate flooring at home.

Sometimes it is difficult to choose just one type of lamellas, there is such a huge variety of colors, textures, decors with various patterns, reliable imitations: natural wood, natural stone, metal and even reptile skin. As practice shows, diversity appearance lamellas are not a factor influencing the cutting of the material. Therefore, in most cases, cutting yourself will not cause any difficulties.

You can carry out all the installation work without purchasing specialized tools, using the existing stock of equipment in your home pantry. Today we will look at what tools are needed for cutting panels and how to cut laminate when installing it yourself.

The laminated panel should be cut in such a way that there are no torn marks or damage left at the cut site, so that the cutting line is smooth and straight. To perform the task, tools specially designed for this purpose are used, which we will look at, and also talk about how this is done.

A few tips to help you make a quality cut:

• laminated boards can be cut well even using the well-known hand hacksaw, but it will take longer, and you have to try to make the cut clear and without burrs;
• so that the edge of the panel after trimming is free of frays, cracks and chips, you can use any saw, but it must have fine teeth;
• if the cut is of poor quality - if there are cracks or chips at the end, such a lamella will need to be hidden with the bad side under the baseboard so that the defect is not noticeable;
• you should not rush into cutting; first you need to take accurate measurements, draw the direction of the cut on the board and check again that everything is done correctly;
• to achieve a good cut on the front side of the panel, when cutting, place it horizontally on a support, with the front surface up;
• When cutting, do not use too much force so as not to break off the edge of the board.

A hacksaw is used for cutting laminated panels in the absence of electric, more precise tools without large volume works Here you need to try to get an even and high-quality cut without damaging the edge or deviating from the intended course. What kind of saw can you cut laminate flooring with? Cutting can be done with any saw that satisfies the quality of sharpening.

But this tool is not one of the best tools for sawing laminate flooring when there is a large amount of work to be done. Technically, a hacksaw can handle a large number of panels, but it is not so easy to achieve normal cut quality throughout the entire work.

Let’s say right away that this is the most optimal and quick way trimming the lamellas, after all manual method quite labor-intensive and inaccurate. If you intend to continue to perform any kind of renovation work around the house, it's worth having an electric jigsaw in your arsenal.

With the help of this electrical appliance It is easy to make a cut along or across the lamellas, at any angle. There are devices that will allow you to make cuts located at the same distance from the edge of the board, even without marking.

Even with a single cut, such a tool shows excellent result. The answer to the question of what is better to cut laminate with a shaped cut line becomes clear: with a jigsaw. This tool helps you achieve the rounded cuts needed when meeting with heating pipes. To do this, you just need to choose the right file with fine teeth, which will improve the quality of the cut.

Of course, this tool also performs straight cuts efficiently. Dignity electric jigsaw is that even a novice builder can achieve excellent results with it.

The disadvantages of the device include

• noise during operation;
• a lot of dust is generated.

Note that other power tools also have these disadvantages.
How to properly cut laminate flooring with a jigsaw:

1. The tool is equipped with a file with a fine reverse tooth. If one is not included with the jigsaw, you will need to purchase one. This is the answer to the question of which jigsaw file should you use to cut laminate flooring.
2. Markings are applied to the panel that requires trimming. The cutting line is drawn on back side panels.
3. The board is laid on a solid base with the decorative surface up, after which trimming begins along the intended line.

How to cut laminate flooring with a circular saw

Not everyone will buy such a tool, but those who have it will enjoy working with it.

Advantages of the device:

• high speed;
• It is possible to work with several lamellas at once.

The power of the cutting device is much higher than that of other power tools. Therefore, if you are choosing the best way to cut durable and hard commercial-grade laminate, then you should choose a circular saw.

The sequence of actions when working with a circular saw for cutting laminated boards:

• select a disc for the circular device with small teeth;
• on decorative surface mark the boards for cutting;
• The boards are placed upward with a decorative layer, one after another, on the machine, holding the panel by the edge, and slowly direct it forward towards the rotating disk.

Extreme caution must be used when operating a circular saw as it may cause injury to your hands.

Is it possible to cut laminate flooring with a grinder?

Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t work with an angle grinder without experience. First, you still need to learn from unnecessary boards.

There are different discs for the device: for working with wood, for metal, etc. When cutting laminate with a grinder, experts advise using a metal disc that has small and thin teeth, this will help avoid the formation of cracks on the board.

There are discs specifically for working with laminate; you can purchase them in construction stores. Its format is 160 mm, has 48 teeth.
Before cutting, the lamella is placed on a solid base with the pattern facing upward and fixed. The saw should be lowered smoothly and slowly to avoid damage to the panel.

Guillotine for laminated boards

This is a new special small machine designed to mechanically act the blade on the laminated material by pressing the handle of the device. The machine is easy to use and does not require enormous user effort.

If you are asking the question of how to cut laminate flooring at home, then you should consider this tool. Compared to a hacksaw, it works much faster and better, and when compared with electric grinder and a circular saw - it is much cheaper and easier to maintain. The machine does not require a source of electricity. The tool does not generate dust, sawdust, does not allow chips on panels and works without noise.

This best option for the home handyman who has set himself the task of decorating all the floors in the apartment with laminated parquet.
This laminate cutting tool should be used as follows:

1. a lamella is placed on the base of the cutting device - horizontally;
2. a line of markings applied to the board is drawn directly under the cutter;
3. the handle goes down to the laminated board, resulting in a neat and clear cut made by the cutter.

This device is capable of cutting large quantity panels quite quickly and efficiently. A practical and useful tool that is worth purchasing for professional installation of laminate flooring.

What is the best way to cut vinyl laminate when installing?

Vinyl or PVC laminate is gaining popularity due to its remarkable qualities: water resistance, wear resistance, ease of installation, variety of decor. This material is easy to care for and is not at all afraid of water. Most often these are flexible panels similar to linoleum.

How can you cut vinyl laminate at home? There is no need to use the previously listed tools here. Vinyl tiles easy to cut with a stationery knife, that's it good decision for them.

How to choose the right tool

Here it is worth taking into account two determining circumstances:

• properties of panels, scope of work;
• technical characteristics of the tool.

For example, what should you use to cut laminate flooring at home? There is no point in purchasing expensive, powerful electrical equipment; this amount of laminated board will perfectly help you cut a machine called: guillotine. When finishing commercial laminate gender large area In the office, it makes sense to choose a circular saw.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to increase the technological gap near the wall, which was left insufficiently large by mistake. How then to trim the laminate against the wall to increase the size of the gap? An example of using a jigsaw to solve this problem is given in the video:

Whatever tool you choose, not everything depends on it. You must act carefully, slowly, carefully taking measurements and drawing marking lines for cutting. You should not apply too much force to the board while cutting, so as not to break off the edge.
We wish you good luck!

If there is a material, then there is a way to adjust it to the required parameters. Laminate flooring was no exception. In fact, you can cut the laminate yourself, but without knowing some of the nuances, you can render the material unusable.

For correct installation laminate, you will have to resort to sawing it, having first learned how to cut laminate.

As a rule, sawing lengthwise is used when laying the edge elements so that the gap between the laminate and the wall is 10 mm. This requirement helps to avoid later unpleasant creaking flooring.

With the growing popularity of laminate, the list of tools for cutting it increases, and the buyer himself chooses which saw is best to make the cut.

Let's look at the most popular methods.

Cutting with an electric jigsaw is rightfully considered the most popular and in a quality way. Nuances:

• We select a special saw with fine teeth for sawing wood.
• It is worth moving the jigsaw smoothly across the material at high speeds.
• The plank must be laid on a hard surface with the face down, but if the teeth of the saw are located with the teeth down, then with the face up.

Bulgarian

A grinder is the best way to cut laminate. Nuances:

• To avoid cracks when sawing, you should choose discs for metal rather than wood, or you should buy a special disc for sawing laminate.
• The laminate strip is placed on a hard surface with the pattern facing down. The cutting itself should be done slowly and smoothly so that the disc does not get stuck in the bar.
• When the grinder and the laminate come into contact, a specific smell appears.

If you don’t have a grinder or an electric jigsaw at hand, you can use a hacksaw. However, it is more suitable for sawing off small pieces, but cutting along the plank with a hacksaw is a rather long and labor-intensive process. Nuances:

• It is worth avoiding cutting laminate with a hacksaw with large teeth, as this will lead to damage to the material, chips and scratches.
• Preference should be given to a hacksaw for metal. It has a narrower canvas.
• The material can first be rubbed with paraffin, which will somewhat strengthen the base and prevent the formation of chips.
• The cut must be made on a hard surface.
• The front side of the material should be down.
• Additional pressure should be avoided when sawing.

Note! Working with a hacksaw with a thin blade is more labor-intensive, but what is important is not the time spent on the work, but the result.

Special tool

Laminate can not only be sawed, but also cut. For this purpose, there is a specially designed tool-machine for cutting laminate. Outwardly, it is very similar to a paper cutting tool. A laminate cutting machine is a support with a blade, work with which begins by pressing the handle of this mechanism. This tool helps to make an even cut, while it does not make noise and prevents the formation of dust, sawdust and, most importantly, chips.

However, it is worth noting that its purchase will cost 2,000 rubles, and this is not entirely advisable for one-time use. If you are engaged in laying laminate flooring professionally, and this is your profession, then, of course, this machine is the first thing that is worth purchasing.

Another important nuance machine - they can only make cross cuts, but for longitudinal cuts it is still better to use a grinder or an electric jigsaw.

The choice of a tool for cutting laminate should be taken seriously, since this material It is a pressed structure coated with an acrylic resin film, and improper handling will cause the panel to become deformed and chipped.

Measure a thousand and one times before cutting. The cut mark is placed on the back of the plank using a simple pencil. If the mark is needed on the front part, it is recommended to first apply masking tape.

It is also worth considering what the width of the cut will be; it may vary depending on the tool used.

Note! Don't despair if the cut itself isn't quite straight. This is not a reason to throw away the plank; unevenness can be covered with a plinth. If scratches occur during the cutting process, they can be masked using a special paste for laminate flooring.

Any woodworking involves the appearance of wood dust, sawdust and debris. It is not recommended to cut laminate flooring in the room where it will be installed directly. It is worth allocating another room for this work.

Before laying the laminate, you need to carefully prepare the surface to avoid the possibility of various grains of sand getting into the locks of the laminate and under the material. The laminate itself should be wiped with a damp cloth. This procedure will subsequently help to avoid squeaking of the laminate and increase its service life.

Video

This video shows how a laminate cutter works.

The decision to decorate an apartment or house using such flooring is made by hundreds of people every day. Beginners usually have no question about how to do the installation, since the laminate manufacturer provides detailed instructions and offers everything you need Consumables. But to decide how to cut the laminate - home handyman it can be difficult.

Full list of available tools

Today it is not difficult to purchase laminate of any strength class. Differences in the material may be in the thickness, quality and strength of the protective and decorative coatings. There is also a difference in the main board, which provides rigidity.

They produce both laminate according to the classical scheme, from MDF coated with several layers using lamination technology, and solid-structure vinyl finishing material, which has only one outer protective layer.

A complete list of how to cut a board the right size() for laying flooring, looks like this:

• hacksaw for metal;
• wood saw;
• jigsaw;
• construction or stationery knife;
• knife for plastic;
• grinder, also known as an angle grinder;
• a circular saw;
• special guillotine for laminate;
• blade cutter.

Each of the devices differs in both accessibility, convenience and speed of operation. The decision on the best way to cut laminate is made based on the requirements for the volume of work, the quality of the resulting cut, as well as the accuracy of processing. If we are talking about minor repairs and you want to know how to cut laminate flooring at home, the list will be significantly shortened.

Hacksaw for metal and saw for wood

One of the home craftsman's tools. It is found in almost every apartment or house; you can borrow it from your neighbors, or, in case of emergency, buy it at the nearest hardware store.

A hacksaw for metal allows you to get a clean cut without tearing off the decorative coating. And if you decide to use a wood saw, it is advisable to choose a tool for gardening, designed for trimming branches and twigs. Job hand tools looks like that:

• use a pencil or marker to mark the cutting line;
• if you need a right angle cutting, it is recommended to use a carpenter's marking angle;
• first the decorative and protective covering. This must be done carefully, causing minimal damage to the edges.

Then the MDF board is cut with a saw or hacksaw. These tools are the most common option when deciding how to cut laminate flooring at home.

Jigsaw

Using a power tool allows you to achieve high speed and, with a certain skill, a quality cut. But when working with a jigsaw, you should follow some rules.

1. To make it convenient to work, markings are made on the front side of the laminate board. To ensure that there is no tearing of the decorative coating when cutting, choose a saw with a reverse tooth direction. Standard – picks up the material from below and can damage the upper layers of the laminate.
2. If it is not possible to use a saw with a reverse tooth direction, markings must be done with back side boards. In this case decorative coating will remain intact along the edges of the cut.
3. At zero feed and high speeds, you can use special saws with straight teeth.
4. If you want to achieve very high accuracy and clean passage of material, it is recommended to use special thin saws for curved cuts.

They work with a jigsaw according to the expected pattern: they draw a cutting line depending on the type of saw and go through the material. The advantage of using a power tool is that you can make long cuts, for example, along a wide strip. This will require care or support along which the sole of the jigsaw will move.

Video on how to cut with a jigsaw.

Knives

A construction or stationery knife works quite well successful tool for cutting laminate. This should be done according to the following scheme:

• after marking the future cutting line on the front side, install a support, preferably metal corner or a ruler;
• With strong pressure, the blade is drawn along the laminate along the support.

It is necessary not to move the support and make several passes of the knife until the blade passes more than half the thickness of the laminate board. After this, it is broken with a slight swing. It is not recommended to use excessive force so as not to deform the edge with a decorative coating.

A plastic knife (along with a construction knife and a stationery knife) looks like the answer to the question of what is best for cutting. This material is quite plastic and easily lends itself to a steel blade. Special knife on plastic thanks to the curved tip allows you to make a deep pass without excessive pressure, helping to maintain a straight direction.

Grinder or angle grinder

A rarely used tool. It’s quite simple to work with – mark the cutting line and go through it with a disk. But there are also disadvantages. The laminate burns, dirt can form on the edges of the cut, the grinder is noisy and quite dangerous to use. In order to do the work quickly and at the same time efficiently, skill and experience are required.

A circular saw

A hand-held circular saw has an impressive list of advantages. Among them:

• ability to adjust cutting depth;
• high purity of processing;
• acceptable noise level;
• relatively low hazard indicator, controllability;
• no smoke or dirt is produced - only small sawdust.

To operate a manual-grade circular saw, you don’t need much skill. The recommended course of action for beginners includes installation reliable support for moving the sole of the tool and working on the table.

By adjusting the plunge of the saw blade, you can cut laminate without damaging the surface of the workbench or other support. The main disadvantage of a circular saw is that not everyone has such a tool; it is irrational to buy it specifically for laying laminate floors.

Guillotine and blade cutter

Two tools that are specialized. These devices work like this:

• A strip of laminate is placed into the guillotine, with the cutting line directly under the blade. After this, pressure is applied to the working body using a long handle. The disadvantage of the guillotine is the short cutting length; difficulties may arise when cutting a wide board at an angle;
• A blade cutter is similar to a photographic cutter. Used hybrid technology– both scissor and guillotine. The advantage of a blade cutter is the ability to make long passes of material, which, with some skill, will allow you to process certain dimensions of boards lengthwise.

Guillotine and cutter are professional tools. They provide extremely high cleanliness and precision of cuts and allow processing great amount material with stable quality.

But the main drawback professional tool– it is expensive and can only perform one, precisely designated operation. Therefore, it makes no sense for a home handyman to look for such devices for a one-time repair.

In practice, you can lay a laminate floor yourself using a hacksaw. And if the performer’s hands are strong and resilient enough, a construction or stationery knife will show high speed, cleanliness and precision of processing. Such a tool is sure to be found in any apartment or the nearest hardware store.

The process of cutting laminated coating, although quite simple, requires compliance certain rules. For achievement best result It is recommended to use a power tool with high power. A jigsaw will allow you to cut out parts of various shapes and sizes, and will also prevent the edges of the lamella from fraying.

To ensure that the process of cutting laminate is simple and the cut is neat, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. The lamellas should be cut at maximum speed of the power tool.
2. It is advisable to go through the laminate cutting line in one go. Stopping and slowing down can cause minor unevenness, as well as chipping and other damage to the laminate flooring.
3. The pendulum mechanism of the jigsaw should be turned off.
4. When cutting, you must use saw blades for laminate flooring. In the case where the required saw blades missing, you can use a file with small teeth.
5. When choosing and purchasing a file, it is important to take into account the shape of the parts being cut. Thin files are ideal for cutting round shapes, while wide blades are great for straight lines.
6. Reliable fastening of the panels will prevent the appearance of roughness and nicks on the cut.
7. When positioning the teeth of a jigsaw file, the top of the lamella should be laid front part down. Cutting in this way will prevent damage to the laminated layer. In the case where the teeth are located in the opposite direction, the laminate must be cut with the front part facing up.
8. For best results, press the material along the cut line.

Fast and confident cutting of laminate will ensure the aesthetics of the finished elements, and will also reduce the processing time of the panels.

How to choose a saw blade for cutting laminated panels

Many manufacturers offer laminate files in their product range, which are made from a special bimetallic alloy. They are distinguished by small teeth and sharpness, and also have increased strength and flexibility. The most popular blades for cutting laminate with a jigsaw are blades from the Bosch and DeWALT brands. File Bosch T101B is the standard saw blade for laminated panels. It will provide excellent results when cutting both along and across the lamella.

For sawing out shaped parts, the T119BO file is an excellent solution. It is distinguished by a narrow blade and a special shape that prevents the saw blade from getting caught on bends. If you don’t have the required sawing blade at hand, the best way out will be used narrow models for metal with fine teeth.

When choosing a saw, it is important to consider the type of shank, which must match the clamping device of the power tool used.

A jigsaw will help you cut out various shaped elements and provide an even cut without chips on the laminated layer. Working with the tool is quite simple, thanks to which even a novice master can cope with the task. The use of special files will make the process of cutting laminate precise and convenient.