ᐅ Kallax in an Older Building – Unexplained Creaking Noises?!

Hello everyone, I have a Kallax shelving unit in my older home, placed directly against a wall that doesn’t seem to be perfectly even. I’ve noticed that the shelf constantly makes creaking noises for no obvious reason – it’s a quiet but continuous creak that I hear when I move, when the air temperature changes, or when I touch the shelf.

My question is: Can a Kallax shelf in an older house basically cause such noises because older homes often have uneven walls, which can create stress on the furniture? And if so, how can I investigate this and eliminate these creaking sounds?

Does anyone have experience with Kallax shelves in older apartments and know about these kinds of issues? I would appreciate any tips on how to stabilize the shelf without having to completely rebuild or remove it.

Squeaking in Kallax units in older buildings is often caused by uneven floors or walls putting stress on the shelving. Place small felt pads under the shelf or adjust it with spacers under the feet to level it. This often resolves the noise.

lubla schrieb:
Squeaking from Kallax units in older buildings can often be caused by uneven floors or walls, which put the shelf under tension.

I would start exactly there, but the question is: How much tension is actually being created? Kallax is relatively flexible and soft, it can handle a bit of pressure. The real squeaking often occurs at transitions between materials or with temperature changes.

It is important to check: Have you already verified whether the wall is really the cause or perhaps the connection between the boards themselves? I have seen cases where an overly rigid construction promoted squeaking.

BAUEVA schrieb:
Important question: Have you already checked whether the wall is really causing the noise or maybe the joints of the boards themselves?

Good question! I have moved the shelf away from the wall several times; the creaking gets quieter but doesn’t completely stop. So it seems that the shelf itself might be partly responsible.

I suspect that the panels expand or contract under load or with temperature changes, causing some movement in the joints. I have also noticed that the noises tend to be louder in autumn, when the air is drier.

Does anyone have specific experience with Kallax shelves and whether they are prone to this kind of friction noise?

The Kallax shelf is made from particleboard or MDF with a thin melamine coating. The material responds to humidity and temperature, which can cause fluctuations in the material’s cross-section. This may create stresses that lead to creaking noises.

The cause often lies in small friction points between fasteners or contact areas that may not be visibly apparent.

I recommend carefully checking the screws and connections and slightly tightening them. Then, apply a small amount of silicone spray or furniture wax to all contact points, such as between the back panel and the frame – this will help eliminate the noises.

That sounds really frustrating! I once had a similar issue with a shelf in my older building, where the wood creaked due to the dry air in winter. Using a small humidifier helped me because it prevented the wooden boards from shrinking or expanding too much.

I can imagine that in older buildings, the temperature fluctuations and dry heating air, combined with walls that aren’t perfectly straight, can cause exactly these kinds of noises.

Maybe a small rubber mat between the shelf and the floor could also help if pressure marks are the issue. It’s a bit of an improvised solution, but in my case, it noticeably reduced the noise.