When cutting wood flooring, you want clean, sharp edges without any surface chipping or cracking. Bad cuts will affect the overall appearance of your finished flooring and can be expensive to repair. Each type of flooring material has slightly different cutting recommendations so it’s important to read the flooring manufacturer cutting instructions before you start your project. Whichever cutting method you choose for your flooring project, make sure to use a sharp blade for all your cuts. Below are different ways to cut wood flooring to achieve a professional-looking result.
Utility knife
Thin manmade flooring can be cut with a utility knife. This method takes patience and involves using a straight edge and a sharp knife to score through the surface of the flooring until you make a deep groove, then snap the plank at the groove. Place masking tape along the edge you are cutting to prevent chipping. Softer flexible vinyl plank flooring can be cut effectively with a utility knife.
Floor cutters
There are laminate floor cutters and shears specifically designed for cutting laminate and vinyl planks and some cutters can also cut engineered wood flooring as well. Keep in mind that floor cutters are a single use tool and can only cut across the width of the plank and not the length of the plank.
Power tools
The most popular method of cutting wood flooring is using a power mitre saw for precise cuts and a jig saw for cutting shapes and curves. For cuts along the length of a plank, use a table saw, jig saw or circular saw. When using a circular saw, cut with the good side of the plank down to reduce chipping. All other saws, cut with the plank’s good side up. Be sure to use a blade designed specifically for your flooring material to prevent chipping. Also, use a crosscut blade for cutting across the grain of wood and use a rip-cut blade for cutting along the grain of the wood. To keep your cuts clean and sharp, replace the blade often.
Find the right tools from trusted brands at your local TIMBER MART for a professional finish to your wood flooring project.
