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NorPlan · May 14, 2016, 10:24 AM

We are Installing a New Floating Floor.. Curious as I just Replaced the Cutting Blade on our Mitter Saw last Fall.. Nothing Special, Just your Standard Multipurpose Blade.. My Query, Can we Safely Cut the Floating Floor pieces with the Mitter Saw or Can we expect Chipping and what not?

hkstroud · May 14, 2016, 12:54 PM

All depends on the wood and the blade. The finer the blade (the more teeth it has) the less the chance of chipping. Assuming you are talking about cross cuts, all your cuts should be going up against the wall or base board. You should not be making cuts that have to mate up with another piece of flooring, end to end. Chipping occurs when the tooth of the blade comes out of the wood. The blade of a miter saw cuts from the bottom side up. If you find you have chipping, turn the wood over with the finished side down. That way the tooth will be coming out of the wood on the bottom side.

ma0641 · May 14, 2016, 12:55 PM

I'd test a piece. Might need a 40 tooth to make a real nice cut. However, cuts should always be on the wall side, never in the middle, so even if there is some chipping, it will be hidden by the shoe mold. Is this laminate or wood?

NorPlan · May 15, 2016, 04:03 AM

Originally Posted by ma0641

I'd test a piece. Might need a 40 tooth to make a real nice cut. However, cuts should always be on the wall side, never in the middle, so even if there is some chipping, it will be hidden by the shoe mold. Is this laminate or wood?

Laminate...

hkstroud · May 15, 2016, 07:06 AM

You are not likely to have a problem with chipping. As stated you can always cut with the finish side down. You are more likely to have problem with room dimensions. Rooms are seldom perfect squares or rectangles and walls are seldom perfectly straight.

Suggestion.
Assuming you are going to run your planks the long way, measure the width of the room. Measure at each end and the center. Using the largest dimension, divide that measurement by the width of the planks. It is highly unlikely that you will come out with an even number of planks. If the remainder is less than 1/2 the width of a plank, make some starter planks by ripping some planks in half's. That will make your finishing planks greater than 1/2 width planks. That way you don't end up with little, bitty slivers of a plank when you get to the finish wall.

Snap a line down the center of the room. Lay your starting planks an equal distance from that line. That way you can adjust the width of your starting planks for wall imperfections.

NorPlan · May 15, 2016, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

You are not likely to have a problem with chipping. As stated you can always cut with the finish side down. You are more likely to have problem with room dimensions. Rooms are seldom perfect squares or rectangles and walls are seldom perfectly straight.

We started going along a Long Wall, We had to contend with a Doorway into a Walking Closet / Sump Pump Room on a Short Wall.. The other Long Wall we had to pretty much cut the boards down the middle then finish off with an approximate 36" X 30" Doorway leading out of the room.. The Hard Part was remembering to notch the right corner of a board when dealing with the Doorways.. I think we did pretty good only spoiled 2 Boards... lol...

Alty · May 15, 2016, 03:31 PM

We have laminate throughout our house, self installed. We used the mitre saw to cut to fit. No problem at all.

Get the best blade you can, that will help a lot. Go slow when you cut. Also, if there is some chipping with the practice piece, tape where you want to cut. The tape helps to prevent chipping.

We didn't have any chipping at all, and it was really cheap laminate. I think you'll be fine. :)

NorPlan · May 15, 2016, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Alty

We have laminate throughout our house, self installed. We used the mitre saw to cut to fit. No problem at all.

Get the best blade you can, that will help a lot. Go slow when you cut. Also, if there is some chipping with the practice piece, tape where you want to cut. The tape helps to prevent chipping.

We didn't have any chipping at all, and it was really cheap laminate. I think you'll be fine. :)

10-4.. The Key was to Not Rush into a Cut.. lol... Had bought a Multi-Purpose Blade last Fall.. On Sale for $28.00 + Tax.. Canadian... Took approximately 7 hrs. to do a room 25' X 13'.. With 2 Doorways..

Alty · May 15, 2016, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by NorPlan

10-4.. The Key was to Not Rush into a Cut.. lol... Had bought a Multi-Purpose Blade last Fall.. On Sale for $28.00 + Tax.. Canadian... Took approximately 7 hrs. to do a room 25' X 13'.. With 2 Doorways..

Awesome! Sounds like you nailed it. LOL! Not literally since it's a floating floor. ;)

I'm in Canada too, Alberta to be exact.

hkstroud · May 16, 2016, 05:56 AM

we had to pretty much cut the boards down the middle then finish off

You were fortunate. Suppose you had ended up with 3/4 in gap to fill in.
That's the importance of planning ahead.

NorPlan · May 16, 2016, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

You were fortunate. Suppose you had ended up with 3/4 in gap to fill in.
That's the importance of planning ahead.

Oh Absolutely, We had actually measured a Board on Display so we'd have a Heads Up what to expect and if there was a possibility of as you say 3/4" Gap... The entrance into the Room(34" X 30")was on that long wall for the last row.. lol..