My first adventure into laminates I tried a carbide tipped, finish trim blade. In hindsight, it was a little wide. I seemed to have better luck with the thinnest 80 tooth blades I found hanging at Lowes and Home Depot. I balked a bit when I saw the prices of the 100 tooth blades...I know they can be pricey, but have a spare or two depending on the size of your daughter's house/project. Way to go dad! We all need to show our skills off once in a while!