How to Cut Laminate Flooring Without a Saw

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Laminate flooring is one of the most popular choices in many homes across the world. It’s durable and affordable and requires very little maintenance. If you’re a DIY enthusiast and want to install laminate flooring in your house, you’ll need to cut it to cover different areas.

However, if you don’t have a saw or just don’t want to use one, cutting your flooring can be difficult. That’s where this guide comes in as it contains an easy step-by-step method to cut laminate flooring without a saw.

How to Cut Laminate Flooring Without a Saw

While you can cut laminate flooring with a jigsaw, a circular saw, and other saw types, you don’t necessarily need to use these cutting tools. You can use the following tools and steps to cut your flooring without a saw.

Supplies You’ll Need

  • Measuring Tape
  • Masking tape
  • Marker
  • Ruler
  • Utility Knife/Laminate Cutter

Step 1: Take Measurements

Take the measurements using a measuring tape and grab the marker and ruler to make a straight line on your laminate flooring where you need to make the cut. 

Double-check the measurements before marking your flooring because it doesn’t matter how clean your cut is if you’re following a marked line with the wrong measurements.

Step 2: Make Cuts

Once you have marked your laminate flooring, you’ll need to place masking tape on top of it to prevent chipping. After that, you can use any of the following tools to make precise cuts.

Utility Knife

Cutting laminate with a utility knife is possible. The only downside is that you’ll need to replace the tool when it becomes dull during the cutting process. I recommend you use a Linoleum Knife (carpet knife) that comes with a curved blade, as it’ll require less effort to make cuts.

Keep in mind that a utility knife won’t be cutting all the way through the laminate flooring. It’ll score the flooring’s laminated side and then you’ll need to snap it off at that line. 

While it can cause some chipping on the bottom side, the top side of your flooring will remain intact. Better yet, you can also use a carpet knife to make rip or curved cuts.

Razor Blade

You can also use a razor blade to cut laminate just like a utility or carpet knife. The process is pretty much the same as you’ll only need to score the laminate side of the flooring. However, using this tool can be very dangerous, especially if you’re using just the blade without the frame.

We recommend you wear safety gloves if you want to use this tool. Additionally, use a ruler as a guide while making cuts even if you have marked your laminate. That’s because it’s difficult to handle a razor blade due to its extremely sharp edge.

Laminate Floor Cutters

The best way to cut laminate without a saw is to use a laminate floor cutter. It’s a specialized tool that’s designed for cutting laminate and it’ll save you a lot of time and energy. There’s no skill required to use this tool and it’s also completely safe even for beginners.

A laminate floor cutter works just like a paper cutter or a tile cutter, but it’s bigger in size. All you need to do is to place your laminate beneath the cutter and push the handle down to make a precise and straight cut.

You also won’t need to deal with any dust that a saw generates during the cutting process. On the downside, this type of cutter is usually expensive and you can’t use it to make curved cuts.  

Step 3: Remove Tape

Once you have cut your laminate using the desired tool, you can remove the masking tape. After that, you can start installing your flooring wherever needed.

Tips for Cutting Laminate Flooring

Use the following tips if you are planning to cut and install laminate flooring in your house.

  • When using the laminate floor cutter, cut the flooring from the bottom side to minimize the chipping of the surface.
  • Score the laminate by placing the flooring face up if you’re using a carpet knife or razor blade.
  • You’ll need some practice to make precise cuts using a carpet knife and razor blade. I recommend you try cutting a spare piece to get quality cuts.
  • Always buy 10 percent more material than required to account for mistakes and waste. It’ll also help you make future repairs using the same lot of materials.
  • Buy your laminate flooring several days before starting the application process. That’s because laminate contracts and expands and a window of several days will allow it to acclimate to the temperature and humidity level of your house.
  • Don’t forget to include an expansion gap of at least 1/8 inches across your room’s perimeter where you’re planning to install your laminate to account for the contraction and expansion of the material.

Once you’re done with all of your cuts, consider staining your flooring.

How to Make Curved or Rip Cuts in Laminate without a Saw

The easiest way to make curved or irregular cuts in flooring is to use a contour gauge. It’s an invaluable tool that allows you to take precise measurements of irregular or round objects. A contour tool comes with a series of thin plastic slices/teeth that are held together in a frame.

All you need to do is to push the comb side of the contour gauge against an irregular surface. As a result, each plastic slice will adjust to the point of contact and you’ll have the exact outline of the object. Then you can place the tool on your flooring and use a marker to draw the outline.

You can also use paper to make a template if you don’t have a contour gauge. Just place the paper against the object and make a crease where you want the laminate’s edge to go. Use scissors to cut the paper along that crease and place it on your flooring to draw the shape.

Once you have marked your flooring, you can use the carpet knife or razor blade to make an irregular or curved cut.

FAQs

Should You Place Laminate Flooring Face Down While Cutting?

Typically, you should cut laminate flooring from the bottom side because the laminate side is vulnerable to chipping. However, it also depends upon the tools you’re using to make cuts. For example, if you’re using a laminate floor cutter, you’ll need to place your flooring face down. 
On the other hand, if you’re using a carpet knife or razor blade, you’ll need to place the flowing face up to score the laminate as these tools won’t cut it all the way through. To minimize chipping while using these tools, consider placing masking tape on top of the laminate.

Can You Use a Dremel to Cut Laminate Flooring?

Yes, you can use a Dremel to cut laminate flooring. But you’ll need to choose the right type of Dremel tool as the standard one designed for crafting purposes won’t be suitable for this job. You can go with a side cutter Dremel tool such as DSM20 to quickly and easily cut laminate.

Track Saw vs Circular Saw: Which is Best for Accurate Woodworking Cuts

Final Words

There are different tools you can use to cut your laminate flooring without a saw. The tools that I have mentioned will help you cut the laminate efficiently and they’ll also minimize the risks of chipping. 

Better yet, you also won’t need to deal with the dust that a saw generates while cutting laminated flooring. Use the tool that suits you best and follow the right cutting techniques discussed in this guide to make smooth and chip-free cuts.

An expert at home repair, remodel, and DIY projects for nearly 40 years. His first experience came in completely restoring an antique home. Completely redone from the inside out, and restored to its original form, the home is a featured design by renowned Southern California Architect Cliff May, considered to be the father of the California Ranch Home. Now Dennis spends his time on fine woodworking projects and tool comparisons.