What kind of power tools to help with laminate flooring install?

Question

In your Opinion, what is the best kind of power tool I should get to help me out with my basement laminate floor installation?
Thanks
alot.
jamie

Answer 1

Jigsaw

Answer 2

We have installed a few thousand square feet and I have found a table saw is the best tool for me. I have a cheap (less $100) one which is light to carry, easy to move around. You can respectively free hand cut your lengths, so I do not use a guide or fence, your lengths are on the end which is covered up by trim and should not be a tight fit. I will use one hand as a guide and use the other hand to run the board through. A table saw will also help for inside corners as well. On occassion I use a dremel/rotozip for cutting holes if in the middle area of a piece of laminate. A chop saw / miter saw isn't bad but most laminate we have laid is too wide for a standard 10" saw so you either have to cut it twice or have a slider style or a 12" saw and you can't do inside cutouts unless its real close to the end of the laminate piece.

Answer 3

So far, all your ansswers are good one. What is your tool budget?? This will determine your choice of tools!!

I have laid dozens of laminate floors! In some simple square room cases, a drill and forstner bits to cut round holes for piping, a jig saw with a laminate blade and a sliding mitre square doo the trick! The mitre square has both a 45 deg. and 90 deg. on the body. A 6" speed square is also affective. You just set the square on the edge, and guide the jug saw along the square for 90 deg. square cuts! Easy.

if you have different angles in the room, such as you would expect in older homes, I recommend a compound mitre saw, fitted with a laminate blade. you will be able to get nice clean cuts, and pick up some of the really strange angles, like 95 deg. or 42 deg. or even the really wierd 22 1/2 deg, you fnd on a slanted or angled wall.

Answer 4

I would use a compound miter saw with a finishing blade and a Jigsaw also with a finishing blade. These are the only two power tools you will need. Other tools you will need will be Tape measure, Pull bar and Tapping block, Rubber mallot. Never will you need a power nailer, laminate does not get nailed down, it is free floating.

Answer 5

I don't know what molding you are referring to , is it a narrow strip, or is it the skirting boards which are quit wide, if skirting board, it will be difficult for you to put back once removed, First you put your underlay down , i prefer the 2x2 ft felt, this would level out any discrepancies on your floor, it will cushion the laminate tile also keep it dry from damp, Then you can lay the flooring making sure the Patten dose match with others as you lay them down, i would lay the longer looking pattern along the longer side of the room, and not across the room. If skirting board, leave well alone, finish tiling 1cm away from the walls, this will allow for any expansion, then you can buy narrow strips of beading to fix around the skirting boards to cover the 1cm gap, these strips are specially made for decorating, If the moldings are thin strips then taking care , remove them, then put back when you are done. EDIT..................................... If your laminated flooring is in squares , then you would lay them down like you would ordinary tiles, do not cut them in half and make the edges over lap, like some one suggested above, mail me if you need further help

Answer 6

power tools?! not many

jig saw diffenately, if your installing it around radiators or a bathroom suite. id avoid a Chop saw as the blades can be quite rough and a little too powerful causeing the laminate to split/chip. A standard hand saw would be sufficient....
also try and get a thin blade for you jig saw, and have a spare piece of wood handy for knocking the wood panels into place.

Answer 7

Well since laminate flooring is relatively easy to install, I wouldn't figure you would need much more than a compound miter saw or at least a small circular saw. The only reason you may need a miter saw is to cut the corners in on your baseboards if installing them, if not a small circular saw should be all you need.

Answer 8

kind power tools laminate flooring install

Answer 9

Lots of good answers but I don't think anyone said anything about the saw blades having carbide teeth. Most laminates are pretty hard on top and a regular blade will get dull very fast.

Answer 10

All 3 valid answers so far; and certainly dependant on the TYPE of laminate; and it's designed install system/method.

Obviously CUTTING; perhaps a power nailer; Perhaps NON powered....a rubber mallet; level; Measuring tape; Contured bevel gauge; Hand saw for door frame molding cuts; and peripherals such as knee pads; a first aid kit; adhesives, in such needed cases; HELP; etc.

Steven Wolf

Answer 11

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