ᐅ Are there any experiences with installing Ikea PLATSA units in older buildings?
Created on: 12 Aug 2024 09:23
P
pi_inaam56
Hello everyone, I am considering installing the Ikea Platsa system in my apartment, which is located in a historic building from around 1920. Since the walls are generally not as straight or load-bearing as in new constructions, my question is: Does anyone have experience with installing PLATSA in older buildings? I am particularly interested in advice regarding fastenings, potential issues with uneven walls or masonry, and whether additional reinforcements are recommended. Any practical experience or recommendations would be very helpful, as I want to plan as safely as possible and avoid costly mistakes.
pi_inaam56 schrieb:
Does anyone have experience with fastening into old sandstone walls? Sandstone can vary greatly, but as a general rule: use special chemical anchors or heavy-duty fixings designed for porous and crumbly substrates. These provide better load distribution than simple expansion anchors. It is also recommended to thoroughly clean the drill hole before inserting the anchor. You need to consider the weight of the Platsa furniture, so it’s better to plan an anchoring system with a safety margin. Additionally, a substructure made of wood or metal can help support and distribute the weight more effectively.
For additional information: If you suspect that the sandstone walls are crumbly, a pretreatment with injection mortar would be advisable. This stabilizes the masonry and improves the holding strength of the anchors. It is also better to create multiple fixing points to distribute the load. PLATSA can also be assembled modularly, so that no single element that is too heavy has to be supported on its own.
Jensson schrieb:
Level out unevenness between the wall and furniture using thin wooden strips or special shims. But why go through so much trouble with strips? In older buildings, the charm often lies in the imperfections – wouldn’t a small gap and some play actually be beneficial to prevent stresses and cracks? I think the idea of installing everything perfectly straight can sometimes be counterproductive.
GALEO4 schrieb:
Why make such a fuss about battens? That’s a valid point, but especially with heavy cabinet units like PLATSA, the goal is to ensure a secure load transfer. If there is too much play, screws can loosen over time or even cause deformations. Of course, certain gaps are useful, but controlled spacer battens help prevent pressure marks or tilting movements. This is therefore more of a preventative measure for durability, not just for aesthetics.
GALEO4 schrieb:
In older buildings, the charm often lies in the imperfections – wouldn’t a minimal gap and some play even be beneficial? If you think that way, then Ikea PLATSA might not be the right system for older buildings, at least not without costly modifications. Older buildings are often more complex precisely because of these "imperfections," and people shouldn’t assume that a standard system can be used directly without adjustments. Meeting standard conditions is exactly the challenge.
Similar topics