Installing new laminate flooring can transform a room, but for many DIYers, the project hits a snag at the first doorway or floor vent. Those tricky, irregular shapes can seem intimidating, often leading to wasted planks and frustrating gaps. But fear not! With the right approach and a few key flooring tools, making perfect cuts is easier than you think.
This guide will walk you through the professional techniques for cutting laminate flooring around obstacles, helping you avoid common beginner mistakes and achieve a clean, seamless look.
Safety First: Protect Yourself
Before you make a single cut, let’s cover the essentials. A successful project is a safe one.
- Eye Protection: Always wear safety glasses. Sawdust and small chips of laminate can easily fly into your eyes.
- Hand Protection: A good pair of work gloves will protect your hands from splinters and sharp edges.
- Hearing Protection: Jigsaws and other power tools are loud. Use earplugs or over-ear defenders.
- Dust Mask: Cutting laminate creates fine dust that you don’t want to inhale. A dust mask is a must.
- Tool Safety: Read and understand the manual for your power tools. Ensure blades are sharp and guards are in place.
Tools & Materials You’ll Need
Gathering your gear beforehand makes the whole process smoother. Here’s what you’ll want on hand for cutting laminate.
Tools
- Tape Measure: For accurate measurements.
- Pencil: For marking your cut lines.
- Combination Square or Speed Square: For marking straight, square lines.
- Jigsaw: This is your primary tool for making curved or complex cuts. Use a fine-tooth, downward-cutting blade for a cleaner top surface.
- Oscillating Multi-Tool (or Handsaw): Essential for undercutting door jambs.
- Tapping Block and Pull Bar: For locking the planks into place without damaging them.
- Utility Knife: For scoring and minor adjustments.
Materials
- Laminate Flooring Planks: Have a few extra on hand for practice cuts.
- Scrap Piece of Flooring & Underlayment: You’ll use this as a guide for undercutting.
- Painter’s Tape: Can help reduce chipping when you cut.
- Wood Glue: For securing small, tricky pieces if needed.
Step-by-Step Guide: Making the Perfect Cut
We’ll tackle the two most common obstacles separately: doorways and vents.
Part 1: Cutting Laminate Around Doorways
The secret to a professional finish around a door frame is to undercut the jamb and slide the plank underneath it, rather than trying to cut the plank in a “U” shape around it.
Step 1: Set Your Cut Height Take a scrap piece of your laminate flooring and lay it upside down on the subfloor next to the door jamb. If you are using underlayment, place the scrap flooring on top of a piece of scrap underlayment. This stack will act as a perfect height guide.
Step 2: Undercut the Door Jamb Rest your oscillating multi-tool blade (or a flush-cut handsaw) flat on top of your scrap flooring guide. Carefully cut horizontally into the door jamb and casing. Work slowly, letting the tool do the work. Cut all the way across the jamb.
Step 3: Measure and Mark Your Plank Lay the full plank you intend to install next to the opening. Slide it into position until it touches the door jamb. Mark on the plank where it needs to be cut to fit the length of the wall on the other side of the doorway.
Step 4: Make the Cut and Install Cut your plank to the correct length using your jigsaw or miter saw. Now, carefully slide the notched end of the plank under the freshly cut door jamb. It should fit snugly. Use your tapping block or pull bar to lock it into place with the adjoining plank.
Part 2: Cutting Laminate Around Floor Vents
For floor vents, registers, or other fixed obstacles in the middle of a room, you’ll be cutting a hole out of the plank itself.
Step 1: Position and Mark the Plank Lay the plank alongside the vent, keeping it aligned with the previously laid row. Using your square, mark the start and end of the vent opening onto the plank.
Step 2: Mark the Depth Now, measure the distance from the edge of the last laid plank to the vent. Transfer this measurement to the width of your plank at the marks you just made. You should now have a perfect rectangle drawn on your plank that matches the vent opening. Remember to account for the 1/4-inch expansion gap on all sides of the cut! Your vent cover will hide this gap.
Step 3: Drill Pilot Holes Drill a hole inside each corner of the rectangle you drew. Make these holes large enough for your jigsaw blade to fit through. These holes will allow you to turn the corners cleanly.
Step 4: Cut Out the Opening Insert your jigsaw blade into one of the pilot holes and carefully cut along your marked lines from one hole to the next. Applying painter’s tape over your cut lines first can help minimize chipping for an even cleaner result.
Step 5: Install the Plank Fit the plank into place. The cutout should align perfectly over the vent opening with a small expansion gap around it. Lock the plank into the previous row using your tapping block.
Finishing Touches & Cleanup
You’re almost there! A clean finish makes all the difference.
- Install Covers: Once the plank is in, you can place your floor register or vent cover over the opening. It will hide the expansion gap and give a polished look.
- Add Molding: Install transition strips in doorways and quarter-round or shoe molding along the baseboards to cover the expansion gaps around the perimeter of the room.
- Clean Up: Use a vacuum with a soft-bristled attachment to clean up all sawdust from the floor surface, paying close attention to the seams between planks. A microfiber mop can be used for a final dusting.
By taking your time and following these steps, you can confidently tackle any obstacle. Those once-dreaded cuts will become a satisfying part of your DIY flooring project, proving that you have the skills to achieve a truly professional-grade installation. Happy building