Best Circular Saw Blade for Laminate Worktops –

The best circular saw blade for laminate worktops is the TCT18580TTCG20B Saxton TCT Circular Saw Blade. That is because it is a thin kerf blade (2.6mm) with tungsten carbide teeth (80 TPI) that gives precise accurate cuts. That means no chipping or ragged edges on your laminate worktops.

Laminate worktops, also called countertops are popular choices for many UK homeowners. That’s because they are relatively affordable, compared to other options such as wood, marble, granite, quartz, steel etc. They are also available in different patterns and colours.

Fitting a laminate worktop is considered a difficult DIY project as it can be expensive if done incorrectly. Cutting laminate worktops accurately is one of the hardest parts of the fitting process. Over the years we have fitted lots of kitchen and utility room worktops. As experts we can give you the best advice on picking the right circular saw blade for the perfect worktop finish.  Before you pick a blade though, it is worth knowing how laminate worktops are made so as you know what you are cutting through.

How is laminate worktop made?

There are two types of laminate worktop available on the UK market, laminate and compact laminate. (The majority of worktops will be laminate worktops)

1. Laminate Worktop Composition – the bottom layer will be made from either chipboard or MDF. This is then covered with a sheet of laminate which gets bonded to the bottom layer. The laminate is made from several sheets of kraft paper mixed with resin.
2. Compact Laminate Worktops – These are also known as solid laminates and are made with various layers of laminate. They are the more expensive of the two but also more resistant to water, will last for years and easy to maintain.

Laminate Worktop Size Guide (UK)

Cutting Laminate Worktops Properly

The most important consideration is the thickness of your worktop. Always measure that to find out exactly how deep it is. That will determine the diameter of the circular saw blade that you will need.

For example for a 38mm depth worktop you can calculate the minimum blade size required. Take the depth 38 mm. Multiply that by 2 which gives 76mm. Add the bore size of 20mm which would be then be 96mm. That is the minimum diameter size of the blade that you will need to cut a 38mm thick worktop.

Most circular saw blade sizes will be able to cut worktops. Mini circular saw blades will not be able to cut worktops as they only have a cutting depth of around 20mm.

Types of Cuts Needed for Laminate Worktops

There are a few different cuts to consider when fitting a laminate worktop:

• Cross cuts – this is where you are cutting along the breadth of a board to make it fit. In most cases you may also need to make seams where the worktops join together and that is the really hard part.
• Rip Cuts – this is the hardest cut as you must cut a straight line along the full length of the laminate worktop. In most cases this will not be required unless you have custom sized cupboards.
• Shapes and Cut outs – also known as the fiddly bits. These are usually around corners, pipes or conduit and the cut out for sinks and basins. These are best done using a jigsaw.

Professional Worktop Fitting – Time & Costs

How long does it take to install a laminate worktop?

With the right know how it takes about a day to fit a typical kitchen worktop. If you are doing this yourself for the first time it should take 1-2 days.

How much does it cost to install a laminate worktop?

Laminate worktops cost between £200-£800 depending on the size, the supplier you pick and the style that you go for. A kitchen fitter or experienced joiner will charge approximately £100-300 to fit a standard kitchen worktop. It depends on the complexity of the job as it may include one or more seams, sinks etc.

DIY Worktop Fitting – Tools Needed

If you plan on doing this yourself then you will need time and the right tools.

• Circular saw with blade
• Jigsaw (if fitting a sink)
• File/sandpaper
• Hacksaw
• G-clamp
• Drill and bits
• Screwdriver
• Masking tape
• Pencil
• Scissors

Saw options for fitting laminate worktops