How to cut an already laid laminate

Distinctive features of the laminate

Not so long ago, laminate flooring celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The material is very durable and can be laid in almost any room in the apartment, since there are various modifications of this material on the market.

The main danger to laminate flooring has always been water. However, flexible laminate can be installed in the bathroom, and even in the bath, as it is not afraid of temperature changes and is resistant to moisture.

Other distinctive properties of laminate flooring include the following:

• Highest strength properties.
• The richness of colors and patterns of the laminate allows it to be used in warehouses, apartments, and private houses with luxurious furnishings.
• The material is quite cheap, especially when compared in price with a parquet board.
• Thanks to the constantly emerging modifications, laminate can truly be called the king of flooring, as soon there will be invulnerable material samples that will not be afraid of moisture, fire, or chlorine.
• Laying the laminate is quick thanks to the locking system.
• No need to prepare the space under the laminate.

These and many other positive properties of the material make it quite widespread and loved everywhere.

How to trim an already installed laminate to avoid ruining your entire floor?

Laminate is simply an ideal flooring material with many positive qualities. It is strong, durable, easy to install and has even more distinctive properties.

That is why laminate flooring is used most often. But when laying it, there are some difficulties that can ruin its appearance enough in an instant.

How to trim an already installed laminate to ruin your entire floor?

There are often times when the laminate is being laid. The client wishes to change the position of the boards, or add something to the interior, which will require cutting the laminate boards.

This is not as easy as it seems. However, experienced craftsmen cut the laminate with a regular angle grinder, and in the event that it is necessary to cut an already laid laminate, an angle grinder is also used.

Cutting the laminate is done in several stages:

• the first stage involves drawing cut lines with a pencil;
• then the master goes with the help of an angle grinder the first pass along the lines, without cutting through the material to the end;
• the third stage is the final one, when with the help of an angle grinder the material is cut to the end and unnecessary parts are removed.

Experts say that only an experienced master can do such an operation. it is extremely difficult to cut off already laid laminate slabs without spoiling the appearance of the floor.

Therefore, it is worth thinking a hundred times before laying a laminate floor. Otherwise, it will then be extremely problematic to cut out sections of the material yourself.

Do not forget that laminate is a composite material that, under physical impact, partially changes its structure on certain layers of the material. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to cut through an already laid laminate, and when cutting, part of the material turns out to be outside.

Only an experienced craftsman will cut the already laid laminate, as they say, at his own peril and risk.

Rules and sequence of actions

The very order of laying the laminate depends on the type of lock and the chosen method, but in general, the work goes step by step.

• The film is spread on a dry, even base, it is put on the walls a little, and fixed there with masking tape. After laying, it is cut and wrapped in a gap. As already said, this is optional.
• A backing is definitely needed. It is spread along the wall from which to start laying. If the substrate consists of several pieces, the joint is glued with tape. It is not worth covering a lot, since you cannot walk on it.

What the laminate is laid on: any type of substrate

We begin to lay the laminate. We turn the short side to the window. So the joints are less visible. Don’t forget about the gap between the edge of the board and the wall. We put gaskets there.

We put the first board, resting it against the lining (from the end and along the long side). The spike looks at the wall, a groove is turned into the room.

How the next board is connected depends on the shape of the lock. They are of two types. Lock and Click. Locks of the first type are encountered less and less, but let’s talk about them too.

With a Click type lock, the laminate joining method is as follows. We take the second board, put the end spike into the groove, placing the element to be installed at a slight angle. We lower the bar. When it almost reaches the floor, you should hear a click. This means that the lock is closed, the board is in place.

Laying of the lock laminate depending on the type of lock. How to properly snap laminate flooring
The Lock type is inserted in a different way. We put the second board close to the already installed one, slip it, tapping on the end with the palm of our hand. If it comes in tight, take a special tool (Z-shaped bar, special stop) or a piece of laminate, insert it into the groove and knock, ensuring that there are no gaps.

The difference in the docking of different types of locks
So we lay out the first row. The last board is usually trimmed. Do not forget that there should also be a 3 mm gap to the wall. To fit this piece tightly, you will definitely need a Z-bar.

The main thing is to ensure that there are no gaps and not damage the lock. How you do it is your choice.
The second row begins with a board of a different length. Its length depends on the chosen scheme, but the procedure is the same. You just need to dock on the long side. Insert the end lock first, positioning it so that the lock is close to the edge. When we connect the long side, the side lock “rides like on rails”.

How to lay your own laminate: the last piece in a row

Then everything is typed by analogy.

The last row usually requires cutting to length. Unfold the bar with a spike from the wall, push it against the gaskets, mark where to cut. Since the geometry of the premises is rarely ideal, it is better to try on the spot, and put marks both at the beginning and at the end.

That’s all, actually. You know how to lay the laminate yourself and do it right.

Tips for faster, more comfortable styling

Laying the laminate is more convenient and faster when you start several rows at once. With an offset of 1/3, three rows (or more) can be laid in parallel. With a 1/2 offset, lay two planks long, and start two more rows. 1/2 and whole. And then lay it like this. with a ladder, and the number of steps is not less than three, but more can be. Depends on the size of the room.

Laying multiple rows at once is easier

Why is that? This sequence of laying the laminate makes the locks easier to snap into place. Minus. the amount of waste is growing, albeit slightly.

How to arrange difficult places

How to lay the laminate is, in theory, understandable. If the laminate is already available, you can practice in a small area. then it will become clearer. But there are always some problem areas in the rooms that you don’t immediately understand how to do. In any case, there are two such areas. pipes and a door frame. How to lay the laminate in these places so that you can not find fault? In principle, this is not difficult. You need a ruler, a drill with crowns, a hacksaw for wood and pads that will close the gap at the pipes.

Don’t do that

Nuances

Before installing laminate flooring, bring packages indoors, unpack and inspect. Sometimes it is not visible in the packages that the material is wet and swollen. This occurs during transportation. If this is observed, it is better to replace it immediately.

The unpacked laminate should remain indoors for several days. Lay it in even piles on a flat surface. In a few days, he will take “operational conditions.” That is, it will warm up to room temperature and acquire room humidity.

How to lay the laminate yourself: some tools will be needed

It is imperative to remember that when laying the laminate, it is not placed close to the wall, but a gap of about 8-10 mm is left. This gap is needed to compensate for thermal expansion. There must be a gap, otherwise the laminate will swell. To make it easier to maintain the gap, during the laying of the laminate, spacers of the required thickness are installed between the planks and the wall. These can be cuttings from the same laminate. For the house, it goes just 7-8 mm thick. Please note that there should also be a gap of 7-10 mm around pipes, columns or ledges.

After the last row has been laid, remove all the gaskets. Laminate flooring decreases / increases in size with changes in humidity and this gap gives it room for these changes. The gap will then be closed with a plinth, but it must be fixed to the wall.

Laminate laying procedure

Before putting the laminate flooring on our own, we remove everything from the room. The floor must be completely dry and clean. It is impossible to put laminate on a wet screed. Even moisture resistant. Before starting work, everything is thoroughly cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.

Measuring tools are needed most of all

To work, you need the following tools and materials:

• Wood saw or angle grinder with suitable disc.
• Hammer, Z-plate, or laminate trim. It is more convenient to work with the plate.
• Square, ruler, tape measure, pencil, knife.

How to cut laminate flooring at home

You can cut the laminate with a hacksaw, angle grinder, jigsaw, but the most even cut is obtained with a miter saw. There is also a special machine for cutting laminate, but not everyone has it. Any of the listed tools will do. If cutting off exactly is generally problematic, take the most inexpensive miter box. But wide enough to fit the board. You can make a miter box with your own hands from three boards, knocked down in the form of the letter P.

How to properly lay laminate flooring. methods and layouts

Laminate is becoming more and more popular. It is inexpensive, beautiful, easy and quick to fit. This is all true. How to lay the laminate yourself, do it correctly and beautifully, and we will discuss. If you have any questions. ask.

Adjacent to the door frame and sill

In order for the laminate flooring near the door frame to lay beautifully and without gaps, it is advisable to lay it with the frame already installed. If you have not installed the doors yet, there is time to get busy while the laminate is “lying down”. When installing, the box should be made a little shorter. a saw blade should fit between it and the floor. If the box is already standing, you can cut it.

How beautiful to arrange a joint with a door frame

When laying, the laminate is slipped under the racks, so there will be no gap. But how to arrange the joint of a laminate with a different coating is a whole separate topic. And if the doors open onto a corridor with tiles, there are additional methods for joining laminate and tiles. The simplest and most obvious is the nut. They are different, so there are already a lot of options. If you don’t like the sills at all, there is a cork expansion joint. It is almost invisible.

What is required besides flooring

The first thing to remember is that you can only lay the laminate on a dry and level surface. Smooth is with a difference of no more than 2 mm by 2 meters. And the drops should not be sharp. Only in this case the locks will not part. That is, before you lay the laminate, check how even your floor is. If necessary, align, bringing to a satisfactory state.

Second. A backing is placed under the laminate. There are about a dozen types of substrates for laminate, and it is needed for two purposes:

• to compensate for existing irregularities;
• to reduce the “resonance” of the floor.

Types of substrates and their main properties

Can be installed without a backing? It is possible if the base is close to ideal. But life will be very uncomfortable, as every step echoes, even in slippers. The neighbors below are not happy about this. Can the substrate be laid in two layers? Better not. Usually this is done “for warmth”, but it does not get warmer from this, and the locks are loaded more than usual, since due to the larger layer (it becomes softer) the floor sags more. Some locks can withstand it, some do not. It’s not worth the risk. Better to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Under the substrate. immediately on the concrete floor. it is also recommended to lay a plastic wrap. It is waterproofing. These are the recommendations of the manufacturers, as well as advice based on experience. This film will protect you in case of leakage. It also prevents the laminate from absorbing moisture from the base, which is important for the inhabitants of the first floors and private houses.

How to replace one plank of laminate without dismantling the entire floor

For work, you need a special tool:

• angle grinder, circular saw or renovator;
• Chisel, hammer, stationery knife;
• Glue a moment on wood and something heavy;
• Ruler and pencil.

In time, it will take the master about an hour to replace a separate board. It will be possible to walk on the new lamella in a day.

Disassembly instructions for laminated flooring:

The first step is to free the room from furniture. Or move it to the other side of the room. And if there is built-in furniture? You can cut the laminate with an angle grinder along it. Or unwind and remove the cabinets, if you wish, save the entire lamellas. Next, remove the plinth around the entire perimeter. When snapping off a whole row, it will interfere in any way. Cashing is removed from the door.

• Hook the edge row through the gap between the laminate and the wall and lift the planks. For this, a special Z-shaped bracket is used. You can also pry the laminate with a chisel or screwdriver and try to lift it. As a rule, the locks will open themselves at an angle of 45 degrees;

• If re-laying is planned, be sure to sign the planks of the removed row. This will prevent tangle when reassembling. For example, write the number “1” on the back. Then disassemble the end locks and put the strips in a heap;
• Gently snap off the next row by slightly lifting the lamellas. We sign it with the number “2”. And so on to the end of the room or to the desired board.

Tricks How to Replace Hardwood Floor Boards with Rockwell Versacut Mryoucandoityourself

Sometimes you need to disassemble a laminate with plastic locks at the ends. such as 2-Lock, 5G, Megaloc and so on. To avoid damaging the connection, do not lift the laminate plank up. The bar must be slowly moved to the side.

Removing laminate flooring at the door is not always easy. Often, the first lamella of a row is pressed against the door frame. In this case, it is not possible to raise the entire strip. Try to immediately snap off the last bar in this row. You can always lift it up a little and try to pull it out of the locks. Next, you need to move this strip from under the door towards the removed lamella.

How to remove a laminate from a floor without damaging it, properly disassembling a laminate

You can disassemble the laminate no more than 2-3 times. It is necessary to carefully dismantle the planks so as not to damage the laminate locks. Their integrity is very important when re-styling.

Only a strong lock guarantees a tight connection after the next assembly. Remember, frequent disconnection of the lamellas will lead to loosening and breakage of the latches. Next, we will look at how to disassemble laminate flooring quickly and correctly. To use the cover again.

However, think carefully before removing your laminate flooring. After all, minor defects (scratches and gaps between the strips) can be eliminated without disassembly.

• How to carefully disassemble all laid laminate without breaking the locks
• Disassembly instructions for laminated flooring:
• How to replace one plank of laminate without dismantling the entire floor
• Sequence for installing a new bar:

How to carefully disassemble all laid laminate without breaking the locks

So, you still decided to dismantle the floor. Do you want to put this laminate in another apartment, in the country, replace the plank.

Pay attention to the following nuances:

• Lamella connection type. Conventional Click type locks (the most common) are easy to snap open. You just need to raise the planks at an angle of 45 degrees and smoothly disconnect;

If the seams are covered with a sealant, or glued together. you will have to break the locks. Damage is indispensable in this case. Or, as an option, try to drip a solvent into the joint or heat it with a construction hairdryer. Well, it is almost impossible to put back the previously glued laminate;

• We’ll have to remove the skirting board throughout the room. It is good if it is fixed with self-tapping screws. After all, skirting boards can also be glued to the wall;
• It is not always easy to pull the slat out from under the door.. Planks are often trapped in a door frame.

All these features are very important to consider before starting to disassemble the laminate. And there will also be a lot of garbage, dust and you will have to take furniture out of the room.

Where to start removing laminate flooring? It is always advised to dismantle the planks from the last laid row (this is more convenient). But how do you find it? Only the one who laid the laminate knows this. But even if it wasn’t you, there is no need to guess. over, there may be a built-in wardrobe or a kitchen. In fact, the slats snap off from either side.

Sequence for installing a new bar:

• Mark in advance the boundaries of the cut with a pencil on an old board. A rectangle is drawn in the center of the plank. From its corners, a mowing line is drawn to the corners of the lamella (not reaching 2-3 cm to the end). This indentation is done so as not to damage the locks when cutting;

• Now you need to cut out the drawn shape. Cut out the rectangle immediately. Further, from its corners, they cut the mowing line to the corners of the board, just barely reaching the edges. If you are cutting laminate flooring with an angle grinder, use a diamond wheel;
• There are gaps of 2-3 centimeters in the corners. They are neatly finished off with a chisel to the edge of the bar;

• Next, we take out the cut parts of the damaged plank from the locks. They pry on with a chisel and take out;
• After removing the trim pieces, the floor surface must be vacuumed. It is important that sawdust does not interfere with laying another lamella evenly;
• At the new plank, the end locks (at the edges) and the long bottom latch on the back are cut off. There remains 1 lock for insertion into a row. Perhaps you have plastic mounts on the sides. In this case, the latches are not cut off at the ends;

• Along the entire perimeter of the removed lamella, the locks are abundantly coated with glue;

• A new bar is inserted into a row with a whole lock at an angle of 45 degrees. Then it is gently lowered onto the glue;

• You need to press the board well to the floor. And so that the bar is reliably glued on top, a load is placed. Depending on the type of glue, you can walk on it after 12-24 hours.

As you can see, removing the laminate from the floor is not so difficult. You can do this task yourself. You can even take it with you when you move to another apartment. But it is important to understand that the latches always suffer from frequent disassembly.

How to lay laminate flooring with your own hands: methods and schemes

How to make the floor reliable, beautiful, easy to install and at the same time inexpensive? These seemingly incompatible qualities are combined in the laminate. This is why this flooring is being used more and more often. Nevertheless, in order for the floor to serve for a long time, you just need to know the intricacies of the technology. For example, before laying the laminate, you need to check how even the base is. The maximum permissible deviation is no more than 1-2 mm per meter of surface. Only under this condition will it lie tightly, will not bend and creak. If the differences are greater, the lock may even break or crack the board.

If the base has irregularities that exceed the permissible dimensions, it must be leveled. For cement floors, everything is simple. a leveling screed is poured. They begin to lay the laminate after the solution has gained at least 50% strength.

Laying the laminate is only possible on an even base.

If an old wooden floor is used as a base, it must be removed according to technology, then a full-fledged cement floor should be made, with all the necessary layers (bedding, hydro and thermal insulation, a reinforcing belt and a screed). You can install a heating system into this floor, and lay the floor covering on the warm floor. Only in this case it is necessary to use special types of laminate that tolerate heat well. The cost of such a floor is high, and it takes a lot of time to install it. Therefore, this is not always done. If the logs and boards are not damaged, you can level the wooden floor with plywood, and lay the laminate on it.

When leveling a wooden floor, all strongly protruding fragments are cut off with a plane or with the help of scraping, the cracks are sealed with putty. Sheets of plywood are laid on the prepared old wooden floor (it is used more often, although you can put any sheet material with a flat surface). They are fixed with self-tapping screws to the floor: around the perimeter after 15 cm, in the middle in a checkerboard pattern.

The joints of the sheets are shifted. they should not coincide (see the photo below). This way the load is transferred more evenly. One more thing. leave some gaps between the sheets. they should not be fitted closely to each other. Wood changes dimensions depending on humidity and temperature. And these gaps will give the necessary freedom to avoid “humps” and distortions.

Laying plywood on a wood floor underneath laminate flooring is a common way to prepare a subfloor during renovations. If the wood has not been damaged, and the plywood is laid flat, does not “play” and does not bend, such a base will serve for years

This is what an old wooden floor looks like, prepared for laying laminate.

Replacing laminate flooring with a circular saw

Drill holes in each corner of the damaged board 1-1.5 cm from the edges to avoid damaging adjacent boards. Then make holes along the long sides of the laminate board every 25 cm as shown in the picture.

Preparing to dismantle a damaged laminate board.

Use a pencil to draw a line connecting the holes. Adjust the cutting depth of the circular saw to match the thickness of the laminate, otherwise you will damage the subfloor.

Cut along the line you marked, starting in the middle. Use a knife to cut the short sides of the laminate board. Remove the inside of the old board.

Laminate cutting.

Remove any remnants of damaged laminate flooring and thoroughly vacuum the area. Make sure adjacent boards are in good condition, otherwise you will have to remove them too.

Using a sharp knife, cut off the bottom of the lock at the new laminate board, both on the long and short sides.

Apply wood glue around the perimeter of the laminate board and place it in place. Use a clean cloth to wipe off excess glue and place a weight on top to hold the board in this position.

Replacing laminate boards.

How to replace a laminate board

In some cases, it is impossible to solve laminate problems in the form of chips, scratches or water damage using a repair kit, there is only one way out. replacing the laminate board. This is easy to do if you use the right tools and techniques. In our step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to replace one laminate board.

There are several ways to replace damaged laminate flooring. A simpler, but at the same time, longer method is to dismantle the laminate. Start on the wall closest to the damaged board. Remove the skirting board and disassemble the floor covering until you reach the problem area. After replacing the damaged board, you must restore the disassembled covering and fix the skirting board in its place.

If for some reason you cannot remove the skirting board or if the damaged laminate flooring is in the middle of the room, you can try to replace it without thoroughly disassembling the floor covering. This technique is more complicated, but if you are familiar with doing repair and construction work with your own hands, you can easily cope with this task.

To replace your laminate board, you will need the following:

Materials: Tools:

New laminate board.	A circular saw.
Wood glue.	Drill.
Cutter.
Rubber hammer.
Roulette.
A vacuum cleaner.
Protective glasses.

Advice:

• Remember to vacuum clean the surface before installing new laminate boards.
• New laminate boards must be of the same brand as the existing ones. Do not stack boards of another brand.
• Wear safety glasses when cutting laminate.

Time:

• 2 hours per board.

Repair and prevent damage to laminate

Laminate is resistant to wear, but sooner or later various defects may appear on it. scratches, chips, cracks, bulges. The likelihood of such problems increases when the technology of laying the floor covering or the basic rules of its operation is violated. In this article, we will show you how to repair your laminate flooring with your own hands. By following our instructions, you can restore the attractive appearance of your flooring and protect it from further deterioration.

Repairing scratches with a special putty

Use a putty knife to fill the scratches on the laminate with the paste. We recommend that you practice on unnecessary trims of your laminate board before attempting to do so on your flooring to ensure that the paste matches your laminate well in color. Remove excess paste with a clean cloth and let the repaired area dry for a couple of hours.

Repairing scratches with crayons

Vacuum the scratches and paint over with crayon. Then, using a dry cloth, remove excess wax from around the scratch and buff off the repair. If you are not satisfied with the result (the scratch is deep enough), you can try filling it with putty.

How to fix scratches on your laminate

Whether you have moved furniture without using special underlays, or have dropped a heavy object on the floor, and scratches instantly appear on your laminate. Sooner or later, this can happen even with the most seemingly careful handling of the floor covering. There is nothing fatal about this. you can easily restore the appearance of the laminate if you carefully read our step-by-step instructions on how to remove scratches on the laminate. However, if the scratches are too deep, the only correct solution may be to replace the damaged boards.

If you want to avoid scratching your laminate flooring, you should place special “rugs” under the furniture legs when moving it. Also, make sure your shoes are perfectly clean before walking around the house, as grains of sand and dirt adhering to the sole can cause many small but unsightly scratches. Clean laminate flooring regularly using only the products recommended by the manufacturer.

Before purchasing a laminate repair kit, you must ensure that you are able to fix scratches using these products. Carefully assess the damaged area to be sure that repair is possible, otherwise it is worth considering replacing the damaged board with a new one. The easiest way to remove scratches on your laminate flooring is to use wax crayons (for small scratches) or a special putty (for deeper scratches). You will also need the latter when repairing laminate chips.

To mask scratches on your laminate flooring, you need the following:

Materials: Tools:

Laminate repair kit.	Putty knife.
A vacuum cleaner.

Advice:

• Make sure the repair kit matches the color of your flooring.
• If the scratches are too deep, you will have to replace the damaged laminate boards.

Time:

• 15 minutes to patch up a few scratches.

Scratched laminate.

Replacing the laminate by parsing the flooring

Carefully remove the skirting board on the wall closest to the damaged board. Work with great care not to damage it, otherwise you will not be able to reuse the skirting board after the project is completed.

Dismantling the skirting board.

After you have removed the skirting board, you need to dismantle the laminate, board by board, until you reach the damaged area. To disconnect the boards, each of them should be raised 45 ° until their ends are released from the grooves.

Disassembling the laminate.

When you get to the problem area, you will have to replace the damaged boards with new ones. Work with great care when stacking new boards and try to avoid gaps between them. Continue with the rest of the laminate and install the skirting board in its original place.

How to eliminate gaps between laminate joints

Sometimes, either due to poor installation, or due to changes in temperature and humidity, laminate boards move from their original position or change their volume. As a result, gaps are formed between them. In addition to the fact that such gaps severely degrade the appearance of the flooring, over time they can lead to delamination or cracking of the laminate. To avoid such problems, we recommend that you follow our guidelines for floor surface preparation and laminate installation. Our tips will help you avoid mistakes during the installation process, which means that such unattractive gaps will not appear on your laminate.

First, the acclimatization of the laminate prior to installation is of great importance. Failure to comply with this requirement is one of the main reasons for the appearance of gaps between the boards. We recommend that you bring your laminate packaging into the room at least 48 hours prior to installation. Many “craftsmen” who take on this job neglect the preparatory steps and end up with similar problems.

DIY: Removing a section of laminate flooring with a multi tool

Secondly, the base of the floor must be completely flat. Laminate manufacturers only guarantee the proper quality of the flooring if this requirement is met. We advise you to use a spirit level to check the flatness of the surface and fill the self-leveling screed if necessary. In addition, it is necessary to eliminate all microroughnesses of the floor in advance.

If the gaps between the laminate boards still appear, you have two options for solving the problem:

• fill the gaps with a special compound with wood filler or dismantle the floor covering;
• part or all, prepare the surface properly and re-lay the laminate.

Repairing a laminate without disassembly is permissible only if the gaps formed in it are very small. To disassemble your laminate flooring, you must start by removing the skirting board. Then remove the laminate boards one by one until you reach the problem area.

Dismantling the skirting board.

Dismantle problem boards and check their condition. Pay particular attention to the grooves and ridges. If the boards are in good condition, you can reuse them. If they are damaged, you should replace them with new ones, otherwise you will face the same problems in the long term.

Re-laying the laminate.

To protect the room from heat loss, smooth out unevenness of the subfloor and reduce sound transmission, it is necessary to use a special underlay for laminate flooring when laying the laminate. The underlay comes in both rolls and sheets of various thicknesses, so you can easily find the material that suits your needs.

It is important to correctly connect the laminate boards during installation, otherwise gaps between their joints will appear very soon. Clean the ridges and grooves of all laminate boards, removing dust and possible debris. Make sure you are laying your laminate in a perfect straight line. Stop if you notice the slightest shift, as it will only get worse as you continue to work. Do not use boards with defects. cracks, curvatures, etc.

Taping laminate boards to close the gap.

If the gaps are larger than 2.5 mm, there may be a problem with the air humidity. Laminate is sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, so you must acclimate it prior to installation and maintain a constant room humidity after.

To eliminate gaps, you can fasten the laminate boards together by applying glue to the grooves. Be sure not to glue the laminate to the base of the floor. It should, however, be remembered that using this method, you cannot, if necessary, disassemble the laminate without damaging it.

Gap between laminate boards.

One of the simplest solutions to this problem is to mechanically “close” the gap. Try to hide it by hitting the board several times in the direction of the slit with your rubber-soled boot. If the gap does not close, you have no choice but to fill the gaps with colored paste (using a syringe) or re-lay the laminate after leveling the base.

Tip: Do not use too much force or you may damage the laminate. Also, wash your shoes thoroughly before trying to fix flooring problems.

Closing the gap by force.

In our case, this method was crowned with success, since the problem was not caused by poor laying of the laminate, but by a change in air humidity. Since there are many situations in which we cannot control the humidity and air temperature in the room, every owner of a laminate flooring needs to take note of this easy solution to the problem.

Eliminated gap between laminate boards.

Choice of cutting tools for laminate flooring

The main characteristics that a tool for cutting a laminate at home should have are:

• the convenience of use
• compactness and low weight
• the possibility of obtaining an even cut, without cracks and chips

The last point, the meaning of which is not to spoil the appearance of the laminate board after cutting, is decisive for most DIYers. However, its significance is still exaggerated. In any case, chips up to 5 mm in size on the finished coating will not be noticeable. defects along the edge of the panels will disappear behind the skirting boards.

So what are the best tools for cutting laminate flooring??

Construction knife tool

A regular construction knife can also be used to cut laminate flooring. For example, if you are almost finished with your flooring, there is only one board left to cut, but the angle grinder suddenly breaks down. There are no other tools at hand, but cutting needs to be done urgently. Then a construction knife will come to the rescue. Place a ruler on the front side of the laminate board, and make a deep cut along it with a knife. While holding the board on one side of the cut, press down on the other side. Laminate must break, just like ceramic tiles when hit by a tile cutter.

Hacksaw tool

Laminate flooring can be successfully cut with a regular hacksaw for wood. But this will have to expend energy, because its teeth are large enough and will bite into the laminate, and not cut it out. Smaller teeth on a hacksaw for metal. this is what you need to use for cutting.

A hacksaw is very often used for cutting with small amounts of work. In construction teams, this method is not used, due to the increased time costs and labor intensity.

Jigsaw tool

The best result in cutting laminate can be achieved by using a jigsaw for this purpose. It is a lightweight, very easy-to-use tool that will quickly be approached by any newbie master. Even a woman or a teenager. Cutting with a jigsaw is carried out at high speeds, which avoids damage to the structure of the fiberboard. If you act at the same time quickly, confidently, then the cut will turn out to be almost perfect.

The main thing in using a jigsaw is the choice of the file. Modern tools are usually initially supplied with special files for cutting laminate. They are distinguished by a special shape, pitch and way of setting the teeth. However, ordinary metal files. narrow, with small teeth will cope with this business just as well.

In order not to damage the decorative surface, the cutting line is applied (with a pencil or chalk) to the wrong side of the laminate board. It is laid on a table (chair) with the wrong side up so that the part that is planned to be cut is in a suspended state. They fix the laminate lying on the table with one hand, and quickly cut off the excess part with the other.

Tool Angle grinder (angle grinder)

The angle grinder is a handy tool, indispensable in the DIY’s drawer. It can cut almost anything, including laminate. For a beautiful edge, without cracks and chips, when cutting, you need to turn the laminate board with its front surface. In this case, discs are used for metal, concrete or ceramic tiles.

The disadvantage of using an angle grinder (and a circular saw too!) Is the large amount of dust that will be generated when cutting laminate. Also, this action can be accompanied by the smell of burnt wood. Therefore, you need to do cutting on an open balcony or on the street.

Circular Saw Tool

A neat cut along the edge of the laminate can be obtained using a circular saw with a metal disc. A circular saw is more difficult to work with than a jigsaw, so it requires some skill. If you have them, then it will be possible to cut the laminate quickly, evenly, practically without chips.

The laminate board is laid on a hard surface with a pattern upward, fixed. You need to cut carefully, with slight pressure, moving the disc along the drawn line, trying not to slow down in one place.

Laminate Cutter Tool

Laminate cutter, on the other hand, allows you to cut at a professional level. Most often, this tool works like a guillotine. a knife, which, with the help of a handle, is lowered onto the surface of the laminate and cut into it. The cutter operates easily, without chipping or noise. You don’t need to use force or skill to use it. Perhaps this is the easiest tool to use, allowing you to get excellent results in any conditions.

Since this cutter is used exclusively for laminate flooring, it only makes sense to buy it for professional installation. For finishing several rooms of an apartment, this option is considered impractical.