How To Cut Vinyl Plank Flooring Around Corners?

One of the attractive qualities of vinyl plank flooring is that it is easy enough to install that you do not need a professional vinyl flooring installer to do the job for you. Installing the material is easily a DIY job that you can undertake as a weekend project.As a DIY installer, you may not have any purpose-built cutting tools for the vinyl planking and wonder what you can use to get the job done using the tools that you already have at hand in your toolbox or garage.

The cutting tools you can use include a laminate tile cutter, hand saw, table saw, circular saw, miter saw, jigsaw, or a Dremel. The most popular tool is a utility knife.

One of a flooring installer's worst nightmares is to approach an obstacle that requires corner cuts, like a cabinet or fireplace hearth, and realize that the line that continues from the corner is less than an inch from the edges of the boards. It's best to take careful measurement of the floor before you start to avoid such scenarios. If you see the potential for one, you can avoid it by ripping the boards in the first course or starting the installation somewhere in the middle of the floor instead of against a wall.

As the floor installation proceeds and you reach the course that has to fit around the corner, you need to choose your boards carefully. Unless the board that reaches the corner is just long enough to stop at the edge -- an ideal but unusual situation -- it must extend at least a few inches past it so you can cut a notch that won't break. The end of the board must also be 6 inches or farther from the nearest joint in the adjacent course to maintain a standard stagger pattern. Lay out the boards that approach the corner to ensure they meet these conditions before you nail them in.

You need two measurements to notch around the corner: the distance from the end of the last board to the beginning of the corner and the distances from the corner to the tongue-edge of the board you're installing. After drawing the corner on the board you're installing with a combination square and pencil, you have two cuts to make. The first is a cross-cut and the other is a rip. You can make both with a circular saw if you cut from the back and over-cut the corner by about 2 inches.

Angles other than 90 degrees aside, there are two types of corners in a floor. An inside corner intersects the installation; the boards that go in after it are shorter than the ones before. An outside corner is the opposite. When installing laminate flooring around an inside corner, you need to allow a 1/4-inch clearance gap between the flooring and the wall or cabinet or the board won't fit. This gap isn't necessary when installing hardwood, because you don't have to interconnect the last board. You simply cut off the bottom of the groove, lower the in place and nail top-nail it.

Before you cut the vinyl, it is vital to make the environment clean and safe.It reduces injuries and allows you to work like a professional.  Also, you need to wear gloves to avoid injuring your hands. Ensure the knife or saw you plan to use is sharp.  Besides, you will need pliers to help you cut it smoothly.

You will need to measure the area you want to be covered and determine the corners’ shape.  Find the center of the wall and draw lines using a chalk line tool. If an expansion gap is required, make the allowance before you start cutting the planks. You can cut corners using cutters or a jigsaw.  A jigsaw will give you better results, especially at the corners. Besides, it is easier to use a jigsaw than any other cutter. Firstly, you will need to mark the angles. You may also need to use a jigsaw for corners and a cross-cut saw for straight lines. The jigsaw should be used to cut corners or any other parts that are not straight.

 You will also need to use a T-square to mark the areas that need to be cut. The T-square will also help you to cut the plank evenly. To cut corners, you will need to start by making a shallow cut or scratch the material to some extent. Bent it a little bit to cut the edge faster. 

Insert the jigsaw into the narrow incision and cut the vinyl plank along the market curve. It may require that you break the outer parts of the plank as you cut in some cases. It helps to keep the curves smooth. But even when the cut is not smooth, you can still make them smooth by reworking and cleaning the edges using a cutter knife.   You may also use a carpet knife to make the edges smooth. Also, it ensures that you don’t damage the groove layer.

Ensure the vinyl is stable before you start cutting corners. You may use a board to try to stabilize it. If you are using a knife, it should be held straight. It ensures you have enough space to move the knife and make a cut.

Once you finish cutting the edges, it may be necessary to check it it fits well in the targeted areas. If it does not, use the pliers to remove any unwanted parts.  Lastly, you may file the edges to make them smooth.You will also need to use a T-square to mark the areas that need to be cut. The T-square will also help you to cut the plank evenly. To cut corners, you will need to start by making a shallow cut or scratch the material to some extent. Bent it a little bit to cut the edge faster.