Laminate

Cutting LVP: Score-and-Snap, Shear or Saw

Score-and-snap, shears and saws for LVP and rigid core: what the flooring makers say, which side faces up, and where each tool fits.

Updated · 2 min read

LVP and rigid core can be cut three ways: score and snap with a utility knife, a guillotine-style shear, or a saw. The right choice depends on the product's core and what its maker allows, and each method has its own trick for a clean edge.

Score and snap

This is the fastest cut for most flexible LVT and many rigid cores.

  • For flexible LVT: score the tile with the blade, then grab it with pliers, tile nippers or wide-nose pliers and snap it at the score.[1]
  • For rigid core that allows it: with the decor side up, make one firm cut with a utility knife, then snap the plank with both hands.[3]
  • Score with a fresh blade against a straightedge or square. One firm pass beats several light ones.

Shears and guillotine cutters

A flooring shear makes clean, square cross-cuts without dust or noise, which is why it's popular in occupied buildings.

  • Commercial SPC instructions list a tile cutter or cutting shear among the required tools.[4]
  • Pick a cutter wide enough for your plank or tile, and check its thickness capacity against your product.
  • Long LVT tiles and carpet tiles need a wider cutter than planks.

Saws

Some rigid core makers specify a saw, and saws handle rips, notches and thick products.

  • Some rigid core lines call for a circular saw or jigsaw instead of score and snap.[3] Check yours before you cut.
  • Which side faces up: decorative side up for a hand saw, decorative side down for a power saw, so the face doesn't chip.[2]
  • Use a fine-tooth blade and control the dust, especially indoors.

Which to use

Most installers carry more than one method. Match the cut to the tool.

Cut Usual tool
Straight cross-cut on flexible LVT Score and snap or shear
Straight cross-cut on rigid core Shear or score and snap, if the maker allows; otherwise a saw
Long rips Score and snap with a straightedge, or a saw
Notches and curves Jigsaw or oscillating tool; utility knife on flexible LVT

Before you cut

These habits keep you from wasting full planks.

  1. Read the product's instructions for approved cutting methods.
  2. Remember the expansion gap. COREtec calls for 1/4" on floors under 2,500 sq ft and 1/2" over; AHF SPC calls for 3/8" to 1/2" from vertical surfaces.[4] See Floating floor layout and expansion gaps.
  3. Mark on the side you'll cut from and check which side faces up for your tool.
  4. Test on an offcut before cutting the first full plank.

Common mistakes

Most bad cuts come from dull blades or ignoring the product's instructions.

  • A dull utility blade. It wanders and leaves a ragged snap. Change blades often.
  • Snapping a rigid core its maker says to saw. Some cores crack unevenly.
  • Power saw with the face up. It chips the wear layer.
  • Undersized cutter. Forcing a wide tile through a narrow shear skews the cut.

Cutters we carry

These are the shears and multi-floor cutters we stock for LVP and laminate.

References

  1. AHF: Dry-back LVT installation instructions
  2. AHF: Rigid core installation instructions
  3. Mohawk SolidTech installation instructions
  4. AHF: Commercial SPC installation instructions

Linked PDF documents are archived copies saved by PreFloor Tools so they stay available if the publisher moves or removes them. Check the publisher's website for the latest revision.

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