How to Cut Vinyl Plank Flooring Lengthwise

by Jane Melcher
Updated on

Many people are looking for an easy way to cut their vinyl plank flooring lengthwise. Here is a quick and easy guide on how to do it.

How to Cut Vinyl Plank Flooring LengthwiseCheckout this video:

Tools Needed

You will need a few tools to cut your vinyl plank flooring lengthwise. These include a utility knife, straight edge, and a saw. You will also need a measuring tape to make sure your cuts are accurate. Let’s get started.

Jigsaw

A jigsaw is a handheld, power tool that has a small, sharp blade. It is used to cut shapes out of wood and other materials. The blade is attached to a reciprocating arm that moves up and down, allowing the blade to cut through the material.

Jigsaws are often used to cut complex shapes and curves. They can be used on a variety of materials including wood, plastic, metal, and tile. When cutting vinyl plank flooring lengthwise, a jigsaw is the best tool for the job.

Another advantage of using a jigsaw is that it can be fitted with a variety of blades that are designed for different materials and applications. This means that you can use the same tool for multiple projects. For example, you could use a wood-cutting blade for one project and then swap it out for a metal-cutting blade for another project.

T-Square

If you want to make sure your cuts are perfectly perpendicular to the edge of the plank, use a T-square. This will also come in handy if you need to cut multiple planks at the same time.

Measuring Tape

You will need a good quality measuring tape in order to measure the length of your vinyl plank flooring. It is important to get an accurate measurement so that you do not have to cut the vinyl plank flooring multiple times.

Preparation

It is important to have the right tools and materials for the job before starting. For this project you will need: a utility knife, a straight edge, a saw, and safety glasses. You will also need to gather your materials. These include: a measuring tape, a piece of scrap wood, and the vinyl plank flooring.

Make Sure the Room is Square

The first step is to make sure your room is actually square. This may seem like an obvious step, but you would be surprised how many rooms are not actually square. Take a tape measure and measure from corner to corner in both directions. If the two measurements are not exactly the same, then your room is not square and you will need to make some adjustments before proceeding.
If your room is not square, the easiest way to fix the problem is to remove one of the baseboards and then re-install it slightly further out so that the room becomes more square.

Measure the Length and Width of the Room

To start, you need to measure the length and width of the room where you will be installing the vinyl plank flooring. With those measurements, you can calculate the amount of vinyl plank flooring you will need to purchase.

Calculate the Amount of Flooring Needed

You need to know the dimensions of the room in order to calculate how much flooring to buy. To make things easier, break the room down into rectangles and calculate the size of each one. For example, a room that’s 12 feet wide by 14 feet long would be two rectangles — one that’s 12 feet by 10 feet and another that’s 12 feet by 4 feet. To get the total square footage, you would add 10 + 4, which equals 14. This is the amount of flooring you would need in square feet.

When calculating the amount of flooring you need, it’s important to factor in wastage. Wastage is the amount of material you will need to account for when cutting and fitting your flooring. You should allow for at least 5% wastage and ideally 10% to allow for mistakes or unforeseen problems. For example, if your room was 14 square feet, you would need 1.4 square feet of flooring (14 x 0.1), which is equivalent to 0.4 yards (14 x 0.007) or 1 foot (14 x 0.08).

Cutting the Flooring

You will need to make sure you have the right tools for the job before you get started. You will need a sharp utility knife, a measuring tape, and a straight edge. You will also need a saw to cut the flooring if you are making a lot of cuts or if the cuts are going to be long. It is best to use a circular saw for this, but you can also use a jigsaw or a hand saw.

Place the Flooring in the Room

To cut your vinyl plank flooring lengthwise, you will first need to place the flooring in the room. You will then need to measure the length of the room and mark the measurements on the flooring. Once you have marked the measurements, you will need to use a saw to cut the flooring along the marked lines.

Measure and Mark the Lengths to be Cut

1. Measure and Mark the Lengths to be Cut – You will need to determine how many vinyl planks you will need to cut to fit the length of your room. To do this, measure the length and width of your room and then subtract any areas that will not have vinyl plank flooring (such as closets, doorways, etc.). Once you have the square footage of your room, divide this number by the square footage of each vinyl plank. This will give you the number of whole vinyl planks you will need. You will then need to add an additional 1-2 vinyl planks to account for any partial pieces that will need to be cut.

2. Use a Cutting Guide – To make straight cuts in your vinyl plank flooring, it is best to use a cutting guide. A cutting guide is simply a long, straight piece of wood or metal that you can use as a guide for your power saw. To use a cutting guide, first nail or screw it into place along your line of cut. Then, set your power saw on the guide so that the blade is lined up with the line of cut. Be sure to use clamps to secure the guide in place before beginning to cut.

3. Cut the Vinyl Planks – Once you have your cutting guide in place, you can begin cutting your vinyl plank flooring. If you are using a power saw, be sure to set it at a slow speed so that you do not overheat the blade or damage the Vinyl Plank Flooring tiles.. If you are using a hand saw, be sure to make smooth, even strokes with the blade so that you create a clean line of cut..

4. Remove any debris from cuts – After making all of your cuts, be sure to remove any wood chips or debris from the surface of the vinyl plank flooring tiles..

Cut the Flooring with the Jigsaw

1.To make a long, clean cut in your vinyl plank flooring, you’ll need to use a jigsaw fitted with a fine-toothed blade.

2. Measure and mark the vinyl plank flooring where you need to make the cut. Use a straight edge to draw a line on the top side of the plank.

3. Place the vinyl plank flooring on a stable surface, such as a work table or the floor itself.

4. Fit the blade of the jigsaw into the guide slot and attach it to the saw according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Turn on the saw and holding it steady with both hands, guide it along the marked line on the top of the plank. Be sure to keep your fingers well away from the blade as it cuts through the vinyl.

6. Cut slowly and evenly for best results. If you need to make more than one cut in a row, stop often to let the blade cool down so that it doesn’t overheat and damage the vinyl.

Installing the Flooring

Vinyl plank flooring is a great alternative to traditional hardwood floors. It’s easy to install and can be cut to size with a utility knife. In this article, we’ll show you how to cut vinyl plank flooring lengthwise so you can install it in your home.

Lay Out the Flooring

1.Start by finding the center of the room by measuring the length and width and marking the intersecting lines with a pencil. This will be your starting point.
2.Using a T-bar, snap a chalk line from one wall to another at the center point of the room. This will give you a reference line to start laying the flooring.
3.If your room is longer than your flooring plank, you will need to cut the first row of flooring in half and fit each piece on either side of the centerline. To do this, measure and mark the centerpoint of each plank, then use a handsaw or power saw to cut along the line. Be sure to wear proper safety gear when using power tools!
4.After cutting the first row, you can start laying the flooring in full pieces along either side of the centerline. Be sure to leave an expansion gap around all edges of the room according to your flooring manufacturer’s instructions – typically 1/4 inch (6 mm).
5.Once you have laid out all full pieces in both rows, use a handsaw or power saw to cut along the chalk line at one end of the room. This will give you two strips that can be fit into any remaining space along the walls.
6.Use a utility knife or saw to cut off any excess material from around doorways or other obstacles in your way before expanding vinyl plank flooring into those areas according to your design preference

Install the Flooring

Installing the vinyl plank flooring is a quick and easy process, but there are a few things you need to know before you get started. The most important thing is to make sure that you cut the vinyl plank flooring lengthwise. This will ensure that the flooring lies flat and looks seamless.

To cut the vinyl plank flooring lengthwise, you will need a sharp utility knife and a straight edge. Place the straight edge along the length of the vinyl plank and use the utility knife to score it. Then, snap the vinyl plank along the score line. Repeat this process until all of the vinyl planks are cut to size.

Trim the Edges

Installing the Flooring – (How to Cut Vinyl Plank Flooring Lengthwise)

1. Trim the Edges
2. Install the First Row
3. Continue Installing Planks
4. Finish Up

About the author

Jane Melcher

Jane is a stay-at-home small business mom. She makes more than her husband selling her creations on Etsy.

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