Skip to main content
Sites-llflooring-Site
Couple in an LL Flooring store looking at floor samples

Save up to 15%

Vinyl, hardwood, & more up to 15% off!

""

Up to $500 Cash Back

On $3,000 or more with floor and stair installation.

""

Picture our Floors in Your Space

Use the innovative Floor Visualizer to get the full showroom experience without even leaving your house.

Start here to schedule your FREE in-home flooring installation estimate

Please provide a valid email

Please provide a valid phone number

Learn More
truck

How To Choose the Right Saw Blade to Cut New Flooring

4 min read
Published on August 24, 2010

As a general rule, the more teeth on the blade, the smoother the cuts. However, more teeth always means slower cutting and more load stress on the saw motor. Fewer teeth means faster cutting speed, a reduction in force required and more chance for wood tear-out or splintering. Here are a few tips in choosing the right saw blade for the job.

Carbide tipped blades are best when cutting laminates and harder exotics. Quality blades can be re-edged or sharpened several times saving money. Blades having expansion slots are designed to greatly reduce heat-warping allowing the metal to cool thereby extending the life of the blade. There are many blade versions, each designed for cutting different materials.

Blades for Laminate Flooring

With laminates, it’s not the hardness of the high density fiber core (HDFC) that causes saw blades to wear down but actually the abrasion and heat from repeated cutting of the aluminum oxide micro-chips applied to the wear-layer. Interestingly the same aluminum oxide is used to make industrial grade sandpaper! In view of this, a thin kerf, 80 to 100 tooth, carbide-tipped blade is most effective for cutting laminates and will last for about 1000 sqft before needing to be re-sharpened.

Blades for Hardwood

Flooring Blade dulling is common with the denser exotics, especially prefinished aluminum oxide coated floorings. Professionals often use paper patterns to trace or transfer special shapes and angles onto the new flooring for cutting.

  1. The Plywood Blade is a very popular blade usually made from High-Speed Steel with 100 or more fine teeth.  Recommended for clean cutting paneling, moldings, and engineered flooring. 
  2. The Combination Blade is usually made up of 80 to 100 teeth. This versatile blade cuts a variety of materials very quickly and smoothly, with a minimal amount of splintering.  Recommended for cutting laminates, harder exotic hardwood, and precision miter cutting.
  3. The All-Purpose Steel Blade is the most commonly used blade. These blades can do a little of everything and normally have about 40 teeth, are inexpensive, and tend to warp quicker.
  4. A Cut-Off Blade is recognized by its 60 and 80 spaced teeth and 10 degrees of hook or angle. The tooth count allows for making quick rough cuts of plywood and 2x4s.  Recommended for fast rough cutting.

Blade Anatomy

Expansion Slots– laser cuts in saw blade sides designed to dissipate heat when cutting. Also allows expansion, reducing warping.

Kerf -blade thickness

Gullets– the space cut out from blade plate between the teeth of a saw blade. The gullets provide room for chips and waste to safely exit the cut.

High-Speed Steel blades (HSS)- Less expensive, harder than steel blades and stays sharp longer.

Carbide-Tipped Blades – more expensive than steel and HSS blades, but they stay sharp much longer than steel or (HSS).

Steel blades – Basic economy, works well for cutting softwood, dulls quickly.

Basic Blade Styles:

  1. Plywood blade– a very popular blade usually made from High-Speed Steel with 100 or more fine teeth. Recommended for clean cutting paneling, moldings and engineered floorings.
  2. Combination blade– usually made up of 80 to 100 teeth. This versatile blade cuts a variety of materials very quickly and smoothly, with a minimal amount of splintering. Recommended for cutting Laminates, hardwood the harder exotics and precision miter cutting.
  3. All-purpose steel blade– is the most commonly used blade. These blades can do a little of everything and normally have about 40 teeth, inexpensive and tends to warp quicker.
  4. Cut-off blade– is recognized by its 60 and 80 spaced teeth and 10 degrees of hook or angle. The tooth count allows for making quick rough cuts of plywood and 2x4s. Recommended for fast rough cutting.

In the image below, each of the four blade styles are shown in order from 1-4.

 

Image of Saw Blades used for Flooring Installation

Saw Blades used for Flooring Installation

 

Tips to Get the Most From Your Blades

  • Carbide blades last 30% longer and can be re-sharpened for about $10
  • Dedicate one blade for laminates, another for hardwood
  • Old blades can be saved and used to cut through nail heads when removing existing plywood
  • Get money back from worn-out blades at your local scrap yard

Power Saw Tips

  • A 10″ table saw will complete about 90% of flooring cuts, “rips or fill-ins” around the walls. See our table saw combo blade pack here
  • 10″ to 12″ miter or chop saw is used for quick straight cuts or mitering
  • A Jigsaw fitted with a tine toothed blade is used to cut special shapes (vents, support beams, etc.)

CUT FLOORING OUTSIDE!!!

Blade sparks are common and can ignite a build-up of gas fumes. Do what the pros do. Set up a fan next to your saw to blow dust away from your body. You will be cleaner and safer with each cut.

Want to cut vinyl plank or laminate flooring inside, right where you're working? For these types of flooring you can save time, and make no dust or noise by using the Norge Heavy Duty Multi-Floor Cutter. Read the best reviews on the product page and consider if its the right tool for you. Shop all installation tools and accessories on our flooring tools page.

 

flooring cutter
Norge Heavy Duty Flooring Cutter, Multi-Use

 

Make cuts of door jambs so the new flooring can go under them evenly for a professional, clean look. Try the Goldblatt Undercut Door Jamb Saw, made specially to help with this.

 

jamb saw for running flooring under doorways
Undercut Door Jamb Saw

 

See tips on how to lay your new floor under door frames and baseboards, by watching the video below, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more helpful and informative videos.

 

 

Find the flooring store closest to you: https://www.llflooring.com/stores/

Or reach out to a flooring expert to describe your project: https://www.llflooring.com/support/customer-care/

Are you a flooring contractor or remodeler? Get the lowest PRO pricing, dedicated expert service, and store benefits today: https://www.llflooring.com/support-pro/