How to cut linoleum at home. How to cut modern linoleum: a list of relevant tools. Longitudinal straight cutting

Linoleum is the most common of modern floor coverings. Such popularity is explained by the ideal surface quality, its artistic beauty, ease of installation and low cost of the material.

However, cutting linoleum often causes difficulties for untrained installers of this coating, so we decided to pay special attention to this topic.

Linoleum properties

Compound

Before talking about how to cut linoleum, you should dwell on its features and properties, which are determined, first of all, by the composition of this material. Known coatings, consisting of natural ingredients, as well as many synthetic analogues and substitutes.

The whole variety of linoleums can be divided into five main groups:

  1. Natural coatings made from linseed oil, fabric, coniferous resin, wood chips or flour, dyes and other auxiliary components, this is the most environmentally friendly material for flooring, while natural linoleum is very wear-resistant, strong and durable, but is subject to biological corrosion and decay, does not like excess moisture and is afraid of mold. It is used for covering floors in public places, institutions and premises with increased traffic;
  2. Coatings based on polyvinyl chloride or PVC linoleums. These are artificial polymer coatings that can be homogeneous and heterogeneous, have different properties and degrees of wear resistance, differ in the composition of the layers and purpose. These types are used in commercial premises, are relatively inexpensive and easy to install;
  3. Rubber coatings, which are often called the word "relin". These are mats made from waste rubber, rubber and bitumen. They are distinguished by absolute resistance to water and moisture, increased elasticity and ease of installation, sufficient wear resistance and durability, they are used mainly in production workshops and industrial premises;
  4. Nitrocellulose linoleums, consisting of colloxylins and having a homogeneous single-layer structure. They are distinguished by increased moisture resistance and good elasticity, but at the same time they ignite quite easily and contain potentially dangerous components, therefore they are not used in residential premises;
  5. Alkyd coatings have a mandatory fabric base and have excellent heat and sound insulation. They can change their geometric dimensions over time, while the width of the piece increases, and the length, on the contrary, decreases.

Important!
Of all the listed types of linoleum, we are interested in PVC linoleum and alkyd coatings, since others are either not used in residential premises, or their price and installation complexity do not allow us to classify these products as consumer goods, as is the case with natural materials.

Of the two remaining types - alkyd and PVC - the most popular and convenient is, of course, PVC linoleum. Therefore, we will talk mainly about him. And if so, then it's time to talk about the structure of this material.

Structure

Coating structure is divided into homogeneous and heterogeneous products. Simply put, these are single-layer and multi-layer mats.

With homogeneous materials, everything is clear: they consist of a single layer, most often it is a rather thin and cheap PVC or nitrocellulose mat, but we have already said that nitrocellulose is not used in residential premises, so this material can be forgotten once and for all.

To work with single-layer material, there is no need to use any special cutters for linoleum, it is enough to have a simple construction knife with replaceable blades or another simple cutter for linoleum.

Heterogeneous products can differ greatly in the number and composition of layers. There are two-layer, three-layer and multi-layer coatings, with a foam polymer substrate, sound and heat insulating underlay, fabric base, antiseptic or polyurethane coating, antistatic outer layer and other additional and special layers.

The heterogeneous structure is the most preferable, as it saves you from the need for separate selection, purchase and installation, sound insulation and insulation, since all these components are already included in the material.

Although cutting such a coating is somewhat complicated compared to homogeneous products, it is still done without any problems by hand without much effort.

Attention!
There are special brands of floor coverings equipped with additional layers to reduce wear, antistatic layers, chemically inert coatings, etc.
These varieties are not used in everyday life, but are used in laboratories, technical rooms, hospitals, sports complexes and other special-purpose premises.

Peculiarities

In order for the cut of linoleum to turn out to be even and not cause any difficulties, when working with this material, some features inherent in this class of products should be taken into account.

PVC is a fairly strong material, but if the edge of the sheet contains sharp depressions or small cuts in the direction of the main part, then the sheet may begin to tear along these cuts and depressions. Conclusion: the cuts should be as even and accurate as possible.

Polyvinyl chloride is very easy to cut with sharp tools, so any inaccurate or accidental movement immediately leads to deviations from the specified cutting direction and damage to the material. Conclusion: you should cut as carefully as possible, it is advisable to use a pattern or ruler of great length.

The coatings between themselves are produced by the method of cold chemical welding, and for it it is necessary to fit the sheets to each other as accurately and carefully as possible. This is also important from an aesthetic point of view, because a coating with inconspicuous, neat seams looks much better than a sloppyly cut floor.

Therefore, before cutting linoleum, you should make sure that the measurements and the quality of sharpening the blade of the tool you are using are correct, and also exclude the possibility of the cutter deviating from the given trajectory.

You can cut linoleum only after it "gets used" to the room, that is, it accepts its temperature and humidity, finally changes its size and reaches stable rigidity. To do this, the material is delivered to the site in advance and wait for several days.

Important!
It should not be forgotten that the material does not like creases and kinks, as they greatly complicate the installation and spoil the external attractiveness of the surface.

Slicing rules

Tool

When laying PVC flooring and not only use a different tool for cutting linoleum. It can be a simple clerical or kitchen knife, a construction knife, a carpet knife, a special flooring cutter, and other tools.

Advice!
If you are not a professional installer of floor materials and not a foreman at a construction site, you should not buy expensive cutting tools, just buy a good construction knife or a linoleum knife, since the effectiveness and cost of special tools is justified only for large amounts of work and constant use.

Of course, the best way to cut linoleum is determined by each installer based on the specific conditions and features of the work, the material and his skills, preferences and experience, but knowledge of the range of available tools and cutting methods has never bothered anyone.

Longitudinal straight cutting

If you have to cut a piece of the roll along the entire length or width, then the instructions for such work are very simple: mark on the wrong side or front side the line along which you want to cut, apply a ruler to it and cut the material along it with a knife or other cutter, suitable for such work.

Using a curved linoleum knife, you can do without a ruler, making a cut directly on the weight. But for this it is better to have a full hand and some experience. In any case, be as careful and accurate as possible, haste and neglect can cost you extra money and labor.

Advice!
If you have rooms of the correct shape (square or rectangle) and are not very large, you can not suffer and order cut linoleum.
Such a service is available in most building supermarkets, often its cost is low or even zero.

Curved cuts

If your room contains elements of irregular shapes, roundness, bay windows, columns, pipes, bends, etc., then you will have a complex pattern of material for the floor.

The contours of such lines are transferred to the coating using a pattern, stencil or “by eye”, and then a cut is made along this line with scissors or a knife, however, in our opinion, it is still more convenient to use scissors, especially for inexperienced installers.

Advice!
Before cutting linoleum for columns and bends, you should carefully measure these elements and accurately transfer their contours to the material or plywood pattern so that after cutting the sheet repeats all bends as accurately as possible.
Then the floor in the room will look especially impressive and harmonious.

Docking

Nonets, the most painful topic: joining sheets together. The quality of the seams and joints directly affects the overall appearance of the coating and the beauty of your floor, so it is better to treat this issue with special attention.

In fact, everything is very simple. The sheets to be joined are placed on the floor with a pattern up, the patterns are matched by shifting the sheets relative to each other, then a small overlap is made (1 - 2 cm), the overlap is pressed with a ruler and both layers of material are cut under the ruler, as shown in the photo above.

Conclusion

Linoleum, especially modern, is cut quite simply with familiar and inexpensive tools. However, for successful work, you will need to know the simple rules listed above, and problems should not arise at all. See the video in this article for more information on this topic." width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">

As a result, the edges of the sheets match perfectly, in addition, the pattern on the front side continues smoothly and the transition is almost invisible. This perfectly meets the requirements of cold welding, which is used for gluing the joints of rolls and sheets of linoleum.

Conclusion

Linoleum, especially modern, is cut quite simply with familiar and inexpensive tools. However, for successful work, you will need to know the simple rules listed above, and problems should not arise at all. In the presented video in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

A diverse range of linoleum patterns allow you to choose it for any interior. Linoleum is a practical and simple material that does not require high qualifications to work. Proper cutting of linoleum before laying is one of the important conditions for the aesthetic appearance of the floor covering.

To properly cut linoleum you will need:
- notched trowel;
- sharpened knives;
- a long ruler (2-3 m);
- square (1 m);.
- short line.

1 Prepare the linoleum for cutting. To stabilize the dimensions, keep the rolls warm for at least 2 weeks. Unpack, roll out and cut the linoleum into sheets of the required length, taking into account the allowance for cutting and shrinkage. The longer the canvas, the more allowance. With a web length of more than 10 m, leave a margin of 50-60 mm, with a length of up to 10 m - 30-40 mm. For a small room up to 6 m long, leave a margin of linoleum no more than 20 mm.

Stack cut sheets for up to 4-5 days for full straightening.

2 Lay the prepared linoleum on the floor and mark the contours of the walls on it. Firmly press the linoleum to the floor with a ruler.

How to properly cut linoleum when laying - the choice of tool and work technology

Make a puncture and a small incision with a sharp knife. Continuing to press the canvas on both sides of the cut, cut along the ruler along the entire perimeter. When you get to the corner, make a V-shaped cutout in the linoleum. Thus, if the room has a complex floor contour (pipes, columns, bay window, etc.), prepare patterns of protruding parts in advance. First make a markup on thin paper or newspaper, and then transfer it to cardboard. Carry out the cutting of linoleum in difficult areas in small strips and exactly according to the pattern.

3 cut the linoleum with a colored pattern.

Lay out the material with the pattern facing up. After laying the linoleum sheet parallel to the wall, press it with a long ruler and cut it off. Where one canvas ends, you need to put the next. Carefully select the pattern of adjacent pieces, and overlap them at the junction. Mark the future seam. To prevent the linoleum from moving when cutting, place a heavy object on it. Slowly cut through two layers along the ruler and collect the trimmings. In rooms with a large area, you have to trim several canvases and select drawings along the linoleum border. In this case, cut the joining borders with a ruler and a knife, not forgetting the exact alignment of the pattern.

Home master<<

How and what to cut linoleum

It gets boring all the time to live in the same rooms, I want to somehow diversify the apartment, and the repairs were done so long ago that no one even remembers when. And so the whole family decided to change the linoleum in the kitchen, in the corridor and in the hall, now you can find such original ornaments. Moreover, we have instructions - how to lay linoleum, so it will help us cope with this task. Just how to cut it? Hey, we'll figure it out later!

Measurements made, went to choose. What you need to find quickly, paid for, the seller also offers knives for cutting it. Additional sales, what does he need? We cut it with an ordinary kitchen knife, it makes no difference, or with tailor's scissors, big ones, they lie somewhere. The material is dense, easy to use, will not wrinkle while we cut.

Well, let's get started? The knife is sharpened, now it will go like clockwork, we’ll finish all the work in a day ... We coped with the kitchen, now we need to cut off a piece of linoleum for the corridor, here the joint turns out, we have to try, the edges turned out to be something not very smooth, with notches and as if according to a pattern the line was drawn. Well, it doesn’t matter, we’ll still fix the new plinth, so it will cover ...

Is everything so simple?

In fact, it is a common misconception that you can evenly cut linoleum with an ordinary knife. If you want to connect two pieces of linoleum in the middle of the room, or when going into the corridor, then it is better to use special construction knives. Otherwise, even a slight unevenness or a millimeter bend will clearly show through the floor under the coating.

There is one secret of the masters, how to fit two pieces of linoleum to each other: put the edge of one on the edge of the other, with an overlap, and cut them together. So they will lie perfectly, butt-to-butt and without gaps. But in this case, there is a risk of spoiling both pieces - an insufficiently sharp knife and unsteady hands can turn these edges into a fringe.

Creative but ugly. We will have to return to that kind, sincere person who wanted to warn us in advance against all these problems - to the seller in the store. He wanted the best. What are we? And we save.

He offered us the following:

  • Construction retractable knife - it is made like a clerical one, only stronger and more powerful, as it is designed for dense materials.
  • Linoleum cutting knife - its blade is sharp and fixed, such a knife is suitable for linoleum of any thickness.
  • A flooring knife is more suitable for cutting in a straight line.

As an option, we were shown another large clerical knife with a supply of interchangeable blades. But it does not suit us, it can only be used for thin linoleum, and we took an expensive, thick, insulated one. As a bonus, the store gave us a small manual "How and with what to cut linoleum." Looking ahead, I will say that it was very useful to us, we advise you to use it too.

Actually, the choice of one or another tool for cutting the coating depends on its thickness and density. For thick, hard, dense linoleum, a construction knife is suitable, it will be easier for them to cut the material, although cutting will require more effort. To cut thin linoleum, without a protective layer and insulation, you can take any of the tools listed above, but the work will require more care in handling a thin coating.

Instructions for preparing and cutting linoleum

Necessary tools: cutting knife, rulers, square, spatula with teeth.

Preparation and execution of work:

  1. 1. The new linoleum needs to be rolled out and left in the room for leveling for a while.
  2. 2. It is necessary to cut the measured pieces, taking into account allowances for shrinkage of the material and cutting. So, for pieces up to 6m, you need to leave a 2cm allowance; up to 10m - 3-4cm; over 10m - 5-6cm.
  3. 3. Finished pieces of linoleum must be left for 4-5 days for complete straightening in the form of a stack of sheets.
  4. 4. Next, you can lay out the pieces on the floor.

    In places where you need to additionally cut off a small part in order to bypass pipes, ledges, columns, etc., we proceed as follows: we make markings on thin paper, transfer it to cardboard or other dense material, and cut linoleum exactly according to this pattern.

  5. 5. If the room does not have any protrusions and the linoleum is a slightly larger rectangle, then we place the material on the floor and perform work, bringing the sheet to the desired size.
  6. 6. At the base of the corners, the covering should be cut in a V-shape - it should be pressed to the floor with a ruler / corner and cut along the ruler.
  7. 7. If the linoleum is with a pattern, then first it is better to lay it face up and make notes on which it should be cut off so that the picture does not turn out to be beveled.
  8. 8. Starting from the side near the wall, cut off the linoleum along a long ruler and fix the edge with a heavy object. On the resulting piece, they outline the line of the future joint.
  9. 9. The next piece is overlapped on the finished one and both are cut along the intended line, then one is pushed back and joined back to back. The rest are cut in the same way.

The quality of cutting linoleum depends on the right knife.

How to cut linoleum correctly

Do not take risks and choose a knife immediately with a coating, so that at the end of the work you really feel the uplift from the finished new “floor”, where you can’t even see the joints.

Home master<<

How to insulate linoleum

Tired of walking in felt boots on a cold linoleum floor? Want to learn how to insulate linoleum? In this article…

How to cut linoleum

In order for the appearance of the edges not to be spoiled, the cutting of linoleum must be carried out with great care and without haste. In particular, this applies to the joints of linoleum. For example, when joining two different canvases, or, for example, when covering, say, from the kitchen to the corridor.

How to cut linoleum

Often, craftsmen use kitchen knives or, at best, ordinary stationery knives to cut the coating canvas to fit the area of ​​​​the room. This choice is usually motivated by the fact that trimming irregularities can be masked with a plinth along the perimeter and a metal threshold at the junction of the canvas with the flooring from another room. In part, this choice is justified by savings, but the use of all kinds of overlays at the joints significantly spoils the appearance of the finish. In addition, kitchen and stationery knives are only suitable for cutting soft and thin linoleum. When trying to cut thicker canvases with them, such as semi-commercial or insulated linoleum, you can simply turn the edges into a fringe, make notches or creases.

So what are the best knives to use for cutting linoleum?

  • Knives for floor coverings.

    Used for thick types of linoleum, cardboard, carpets and rugs. There are several types:

  • the first one has a circular or trapezoidal blade, the shape of the knife handle allows you to apply force along the cutting line (away from you), there are guides from below. These knives are better suited for making long, straight cuts;

    the second type - knives with a conventional handle and a massive curved blade. The direction of the cut line is towards you. Also suitable for all floor coverings, but with careless use, the seam may have irregularities.

  • Retractable construction knives with replaceable blades. By design, they are very similar to ordinary stationery, but they have a strong trapezoidal blade and a more durable handle design.

    How to cut linoleum correctly.

    Also suitable for cutting thick types of linoleum, but you need to apply a lot of physical effort to make the seam even. It must be remembered that the quality of the work performed with joints will largely depend on the tool for cutting linoleum, so you should take the choice seriously.

What is the cutting technique

Before cutting, it is necessary to unroll the blade from the roll position and let it rest at room temperature for at least a couple of days. This is necessary so that at the moment when the cutting of linoleum is carried out, there are no waves and creases on it. Next, linoleum should be marked and proceed to trimming. To create even cuts along the walls, it is necessary to press the linoleum sheet with a hard ruler or other straight hard object.

It should be borne in mind that linoleum can change its size slightly over time - shrink or, conversely, lie flat. Therefore, during the initial cutting, it is better to leave a couple of centimeters overlapping on the walls, and cut end-to-end only before the final fixation of the skirting boards.

To create neat joints, you need to overlap both sheets and cut them at the same time. The seam will be smooth and almost invisible. If you plan to dock the picture, then you need to think about it in advance, at the markup stage.

So, when choosing the right tools, following the tips for trimming and not rushing during work, a good result is almost guaranteed. Good luck!

Linoleum is a relatively inexpensive and practical type of flooring. One of the secrets of its popularity is the ease of installation, accessible even to a non-specialist. However, there are a few points here that require some attention. One of them is the process of cutting sheets of linoleum. The most desirable option, of course, is when the linoleum sheets unfold over the entire width of the room, joining each other only along the longitudinal edges. But this, alas, is not always possible, for example, if the room has various columns, ledges, or you need to join the linoleum in the room and the corridor. In such cases, the quality of the future joint depends on how and what you will cut the linoleum.

Many amateurs, making repairs on their own, prefer not to spend extra money on tools and cut linoleum with stationery knives or household scissors. We consider this approach to be wrong in principle: firstly, you will simply ruin a tool not intended for such work; secondly, the quality of cuts made in this way is extremely low, with frequent scuffs and “fringes” along the edges. Well, if then this cut is closed with a plinth, but if not?

The market offers a large number of tools for cutting linoleum. The most common of these is a construction (sometimes also called a painting) knife. In appearance, it resembles a clerical one, but larger and heavier than it, with a massive handle.

Such a knife is suitable for most types of linoleum, with the exception of types of thick, felt or fleecy lining. A variation of this knife is a carpet cutting knife, made in the form of a triangular handle with a blade fixed inside it. It is good for cutting linoleum quickly in a straight line. Some tool manufacturers produce knives of a similar design with an electric drive. However, in our opinion, the purchase of such a "gadget" is justified only with very large amounts of work. If you put linoleum in your apartment, you can get by with something simpler. Many builders prefer to use a special knife for cutting linoleum, similar to the curved beak of a bird of prey. A feature of this knife is that they need to cut linoleum "on the fly". Therefore, with such a knife it is impossible to make cuts along the ruler, but only along a pre-drawn line. At worst, you can use a large clerical knife to cut linoleum, however, in this case, you should constantly monitor the sharpness of its blade, and change it at the slightest sign of blunting (appearance of scuffs).

There are more specialized tools for cutting linoleum. One of them - linocat. Its design allows you to make an even cut at the junction of two sheets of linoleum without the use of a ruler. Another useful tool used for cutting joints, especially curved ones, as well as for marking in hard-to-reach places, is a combi-marker. For the production of long straight cuts, master finishers use a strip cutter. All these tools significantly reduce labor costs and improve the quality of finishing work, however, they cost quite a lot of money and are used to a greater extent by professional teams than by repair enthusiasts.

In the end, everyone chooses how to cut linoleum, based on the specific scope of work, the type of linoleum and your desire.

A diverse range of linoleum patterns allow you to choose it for any interior. Linoleum is a practical and simple material that does not require high qualifications to work. Proper cutting of linoleum before laying is one of the important conditions for the aesthetic appearance of the floor covering.

What tools are needed

  • notched trowel;
  • sharpened knives;
  • long ruler (2-3 m);
  • square (1 m);
  • short line.

How to cut linoleum - step by step

  1. Prepare linoleum for cutting. To stabilize the dimensions, keep the rolls warm for at least 2 weeks. Unpack, roll out and cut the linoleum into sheets of the required length, taking into account the allowance for cutting and shrinkage. The longer the canvas, the more allowance. With a web length of more than 10 m, leave a margin of 50-60 mm, with a length of up to 10 m - 30-40 mm. For a small room up to 6 m long, leave a margin of linoleum no more than 20 mm. Stack cut sheets for up to 4-5 days for full straightening.
  2. Lay the prepared linoleum on the floor and mark the contours of the walls on it. Firmly press the linoleum to the floor with a ruler. Make a puncture and a small incision with a sharp knife. Continuing to press the canvas on both sides of the cut, cut along the ruler along the entire perimeter. When you get to the corner, make a V-shaped cut in the linoleum. If the room has a complex floor contour (pipes, columns, bay window, etc.), prepare patterns of protruding parts in advance. First make a markup on thin paper or newspaper, and then transfer it to cardboard. Carry out the cutting of linoleum in difficult areas in small strips and exactly according to the pattern.
  3. Cut linoleum with a colored pattern. Lay out the material with the pattern facing up. After laying the linoleum sheet parallel to the wall, press it with a long ruler and cut it off. Where one canvas ends, you need to put the next. Carefully select the pattern of adjacent pieces, and overlap them at the junction. Mark the future seam. To prevent the linoleum from moving when cutting, place a heavy object on it. Slowly cut through two layers along the ruler and collect the trimmings. In rooms with a large area, you have to trim several canvases and select drawings along the linoleum border. In this case, cut the joining borders with a ruler and a knife, not forgetting the exact alignment of the pattern.

If you decide to start changes in your apartment, starting from the kitchen, then you will definitely need to change or lay linoleum. The modern quality of materials allows the use of linoleum in the corridor or hall.

Having made the necessary measurements, you will be faced with the task of correctly cutting the material. It is on the quality and accuracy of cutting that the appearance of the final work on the improvement of the floor of your premises will depend.

Most often, linoleum sellers offer you to purchase a special knife when buying material. Those who have not encountered the peculiarities of cutting this finishing material mistakenly assume that this operation can be performed using improvised tools, which include knives (kitchen, penknife, stationery), scissors (garden, tailors) and so on.

Of course, for such operations there are specialized tools, the use of which guarantees you high quality joints between parts of linoleum prepared for flooring.

The cutting technique of the linoleum itself also affects the quality of the connection of its individual parts. The easiest and most common way to cut the material in the same way to eliminate gaps in the joints is to cut the edge of one piece of linoleum on the other "overlap" when cutting. The cut should be made simultaneously on both pieces of material, then you can avoid gaps of 1 mm or more in width.

The inaccuracy of the joints between the parts of the linoleum will lead to the accumulation of dirt in the cracks, which will lead to rapid wear and damage to the integrity of the entire coating. This cutting technique requires great attention to the quality of the cutting surface, as any mistake made during this process will result in damage to both pieces of material, and, as a result, increased labor or financial costs.

The main types of cutting tools successfully used in cutting linoleum are of three types: a retractable construction knife, a flooring knife and a linoleum cutting knife. Sometimes, in the absence of the above tools, a clerical knife can be used, provided that a supply of replacement blades is used.

However, such a knife may only be suitable for cutting thin linoleum. The cutting angle with such a knife should be kept the same. Otherwise, there is a high probability that the knife will “lead” to the side, and, instead of a smooth edge of linoleum, you are guaranteed to get a “fringe” effect along the edge of the material being cut.

The choice of tool for cutting linoleum is very dependent on the thickness, density of the coating and the complexity of the shape that needs to be given to the various parts of the material that is being used.

A retractable construction knife is better suited for cutting thick types of linoleum, as it has a stronger construction than a clerical one. Although the design principle of this knife is similar, however, the thickness of the blade and the guide elements are made taking into account the greater load on the cutting surface.

Such a knife will be able to qualitatively cut linoleum of any thickness. The tool itself can be used for other functional tasks when renovating your apartment, but it will not always allow you to accurately cut the coating for pieces of material that are installed end-to-end. Uneven seams can be clearly evident.

The flooring knife is a very durable and easy-to-use tool that allows you to cut any type of flooring used for flooring. However, its technical design will allow high-quality cutting of the material only in a straight line.

A linoleum cutter is a specialized tool with a fixed curved blade designed to cut linoleum of any available density. If it is on sale, then it is better to opt for it. It is a knife equipped with a front-loading retractable blade and several working positions.

When cutting linoleum, we will need other tools: a square, rulers of different lengths, a spatula with teeth. The procedure for cutting and laying linoleum:

1. To level the coating, linoleum must be rolled out and left to level for a while.

2. It is necessary to cut material blanks taking into account allowances for cutting and shrinkage of the coating (from 2 to 6 cm, depending on the length of the material).

3. After cutting the linoleum into finished pieces, they must be left for 4-5 days in the form of a stack of sheets, for complete straightening.

4. After straightening, it is necessary to place pieces of linoleum on the floor and where necessary to fit, cutting off small pieces of the coating at the locations of the protrusions, pipes and other communications, pre-marking on thick paper, which will be used when cutting the coating as a pattern.

5. You can bring the dimensions of the coating directly on the floor if there are no additional protrusions in the room, and the room has the correct shape.

6. Cut off the linoleum at the base of the corners should be “V-shaped”, pressing it to the floor with a ruler or corner, cut along the ruler.

7. When using linoleum with a complex visible pattern, cut the material face up to assess the quality of the connection of the pattern of the applied coating.

8. Linoleum should be cut along a long ruler, starting from one side of the wall.

9. After cutting the first piece, fix the edge of the cut material with any heavy object. On top of the finished piece, mark the seam line. Lay the next piece on the finished one, cut both along the marked line, butt the new piece back to back with the previous one.

High-quality raw material, the right tool, precise cutting of the coating, laying linoleum end-to-end and good fit during shrinkage of the material will bring you maximum satisfaction with the work done, and the room will sparkle with new colors. The new covering of your floor also depends not only on the tool you choose, but also on the patience when cutting linoleum.

If you are planning a major overhaul in the apartment, then an integral part of it will be a new screed and laying a new floor covering. And since at the moment linoleum retains the first place in terms of distribution among floor materials, we offer useful information on the process of cutting this type of coating. Laying linoleum is a simple task, accessible to everyone, difficulties can arise when cutting it, because, despite the variety of sizes of linoleums, it is impossible to pick up a piece exactly according to the size of the room.

It seems to many that cutting linoleum is quite simple, because it is quite dense and does not warp when moving. In fact, difficulties may arise in the process of cutting it, this is especially true for the joints of two pieces, when a perfect seam is needed. Cutting along the edges of linoleum is quite simple - a sharp construction knife glides over the linoleum like clockwork. The cut may turn out to be uneven, but this is not scary, because the edge will hide under the plinth, but at the junction of two pieces of linoleum, the seam may turn out to be uneven, and this will be striking.

Usually linoleum is cut like this: first one piece is cut off, and then they try to fit the edge of another piece under it. No matter how smoothly the masters try to draw a line and follow it exactly, the seam does not come out perfectly even, and the slightest gaps become visible. In this case, you need to do this: put two pieces overlapping each other and cut them together. Let's take a closer look at the different cases of cutting linoleum, as well as what tools you can use.

How to cut linoleum

In order to cut linoleum smoothly and quickly, it is important to choose the right tool. Of course, you can get by with an ordinary knife, but in this case there is a risk of getting jagged edges and notches. There are several options for cutting tools, here are the most common ones:

  • Large stationery knife with interchangeable blades. As soon as it becomes noticeable that the tool has become dull, the blade must be changed. This option is suitable for thin linoleum.
  • Special knife for linoleum with a fixed curved blade. It is possible to cut all types of linoleums.
  • Knife for flooring (shown in the photo). Works well for cutting straight lines.
  • Construction retractable knife. It is similar to a stationery, but more powerful and reinforced, so it allows you to perform more types of work.

Linoleum cutting technology

Now on sale you can find different linoleums, differing not only in pattern, texture and color, but also in the thickness and density of the protective layer. The last parameter directly affects how the flooring will be cut. If the linoleum is hard and dense, then you need to cut it with a more powerful tool and apply more effort, but it will not tear if you accidentally touch the edge. But cheap thin linoleum requires very careful handling, because the slightest negligence can damage it.