ᐅ BILLY shelf bending under load – how to improve stability.

Created on: 22 Oct 2015 08:17

Hello everyone, I have an IKEA Billy bookcase that I mainly use for storing books. I’ve noticed that the shelves bend significantly under heavier loads, which not only looks unattractive but also affects the stability of the entire unit. My question is: how can I increase the load capacity and stability of my Billy bookcase to prevent the shelves from bending? Are there practical, sustainable measures, such as reinforcements or other adjustments, that can be implemented without much effort? I would appreciate any tips or experiences regarding this issue.

derricklau22 Oct 2015 10:25

#13

Great, thanks for your tips. I have one more question regarding the combination of wooden battens and wall mounting: Can attaching additional battens to the front edge of the shelves significantly affect the appearance? I want to keep the shelf as original as possible but also increase its stability.

Garry22 Oct 2015 10:30

#14

derricklau schrieb:
Can attaching additional strips to the front edge of the shelves significantly affect the appearance?

That depends on how the strips are attached. If you use finely crafted strips in a matching color or painted wood, it will hardly be noticeable. Alternatively, the strips can be mounted underneath, where they won’t be visible at all.

It is important that the strips are installed flat and neatly, so the overall look stays close to the original.

FELOTAU23 Oct 2015 08:02

#15

Just a small addition: Make sure the screws used to attach the strips are not too long, so they don’t go through the shelf board and damage the surface. I’ve had a bad experience with this and wanted to share the tip.

BLAKEO23 Oct 2015 08:10

#16

FELOTAU schrieb:
Make sure the screws are not too long.

This is an important point. Additionally, you should at least pre-drill the screw holes to prevent the wood from splitting. In general, if you want greater load-bearing capacity, you need to pay close attention to the construction details and select the right materials; otherwise, it will just be patchwork.

derricklau23 Oct 2015 08:21

#17

Thank you for these suggestions; they sound very practical. I will first optimize the wall mounting and then experiment with subtle moldings under the floors. Perhaps I will choose plywood panels for the moldings, as they usually look good and are sturdy enough.

Lucki24 Oct 2015 07:58

#18

Sounds like a good plan! 🙂 Plywood is really very sturdy and often looks much better than cheaper particle boards. Good luck with the implementation!

ᐅ BILLY shelf bending under load – how to improve stability.

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