Laminate Flooring - Power Tools and tips please

chika

Hello everyone!

I need help. I have bought some laminate flooring for the small room in my house. It was a bargain and as money is tight right now i thought it woud be a good plan to lay it myself. Last night I got the shock of my life - those planks are really hard to cut!

Is it advisable to use some kind of power saw to cut the planks? If so what should I ask for? Is it a better plan to hire or buy? Sorry for the 1001 questions but all help is appreciated!

Thanks

Chika

Hunnymonster

Buy a decent quality handsaw - you'll chip (and thus waste) less laminate that way - when my father & I laid my lounge, hall & kitchen floors (total 60 sq. m) - we tried both handsaw & jigsaw.

For the straightforward square and notch cuts, the handsaw was superior for control and the quality of the edge. Cut right side up with a handsaw (they cut on the downstroke of the saw, so you don't pull the face off the laminate substrate).

Jigsaw was mainly useful for odd curves and should be cut from behind (electric saws cut on the upstroke, so that would pull the face off the laminate if cut from the front - and you might scratch the face too with the flat of the saw).

ooo000ooo

I cut all mine with a jigsaw on the visible face, didn't get any bad chipping? Any cut bits would be covered by your quadrant or skirting board when your finished anyway.

Slider

Use a jigsaw fitted with a blade designed for cutting metal. The "metal" tooth profile produces almost no chipping and the blades last forever. Have done 2 lounges, 2 halls and a dining room and still on the same blade. Remember to let the blade do the work and don't push through to hard, otherwise you will never keep a straight line.

Your jigsaw only needs to be real basic, so don't spend out on anything flash.

ooo000ooo

don't forget to buy one of those flat bars for pulling the strips together and use an offcut on the hook at the end so you don't damage the groove on the bit you're trying to knock into place.

Allexie

I did my lounge, hall, kitchen and bathroom with just a cheap handsaw. Every time it got a bit blunt I just went and bought a new one (about £1.50 in Wilkinsons). Occasionally used a hacksaw for really fiddly bits.


*and I'm a girlie*

flang

ooo000ooo wrote:

don't forget to buy one of those flat bars for pulling the strips together and use an offcut on the hook at the end so you don't damage the groove on the bit you're trying to knock into place.

Depends what flooring it is.
most new flooring clips together so no glue or hammer is required.
I used a circular saw to cut our laminate but make sure its a fine cut blade otherwise it chips the edges

nordberg

B&Q sell a laminate flooring kit for a tenner. It come with a pack of spacers, a jemmy and tapping block.

I wasn't going to bother as I though I'd get by with my own tools. I bought it and am glad I did. The jemmy I would say is a necessity and the block is also useful as you can bang those stubborn bits in (end to end, not front to back) without damaging the groove. I also bought an excellent quality saw which was an investment. 11 points per inch, so it's safe to use on lamniate without chipping the finish. I spent £20 and am so glad I did. The tools will all come in handy for future projects and they undoubtedly made the job easier.

rammy007

i agree with hunnymonster said to get a decent quality handsaw and a jigsaw,we have done it with just a handsaw then most recently bought a jigsaw for a tenner from quicksave made life a lot easier,and my hubbie got a workmate to make him a tool for pulling the planks together at the wall wher it is a bit tight

mhutchuk

When you mark your line you wish to cut... rather than use a penicl line... score it with a sharp stanley type knife on the laminate (top) side. Will help reduce chipping no end...

I personally use a circular saw

Mark

gardnt1

You can buy laminate saws at a reasonable price which only cut the one way, thus giving you a clean cut and no chipping of the face. alternatively a jigsaw with laminate blades or a chop saw.