ᐅ Installing a BILLY Shelf on Old Flooring – What Should Be Considered?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to assemble a Billy bookcase from Ikea on a rather old wooden floor. I am particularly concerned about stability and how to secure it to the floor, as the floor is several decades old, somewhat uneven, and does not seem very sturdy.

I am especially interested in knowing what I should consider when installing the bookcase on an old floor to avoid damaging it while ensuring a safe and stable setup. Should I use special anchors or padding? How can I make sure the bookcase does not wobble or cause damage to the floor due to point loads?

It would also be great if anyone could share advice on whether it makes sense to fasten the bookcase to the wall as well, and which screws or fixing materials are recommended based on your experience.

Looking forward to your insights and experiences!

The most important thing is not to place the shelf directly on uneven surfaces. Small wooden wedges or felt pads can help to level out any irregularities. For wall mounting, be sure to use the supplied wall anchors to ensure it is securely fixed.

Before installing on old wooden floors, first check if the floor is stable enough. If the floor is soft or damaged, it is recommended to use an underlay made of thin plywood or a solid chipboard to distribute the weight.

emmett schrieb:
For wall mounting, be sure to use the supplied wall anchors

I can only agree with that. Additionally, expansion anchors are often unsuitable for old brick walls; for wooden or timber frame walls, it is better to use screws with wood threads.

I would like to question the statement that an underlay is absolutely necessary. As long as the floor does not have significant damage or major unevenness, I would rather recommend using adjustable pedestals or furniture feet with height adjustment. These apply less point load compared to a rigid panel.

What is definitely recommended to protect the floor are furniture felt pads under the feet.

Thanks for the initial responses!

I find your tips about the felt pads interesting, especially since I want to avoid scratches when setting up the furniture. At the same time, I wonder if I should still use screws into the floor to secure the shelf?

Can anyone advise whether it makes sense to screw through the bottom panel of the shelf into the wooden floor, or is it better to secure it only to the wall?

Regarding wall plugs: My wall is old masonry, roughly plastered, and I suspect it has clay plaster – it seems like standard wall plugs might not work in this case, right?

Conventional anchors do not work on old walls with a clay base. It is better to use chemical anchors or special hollow wall anchors. You should attach the shelf to the wall rather than fixing it to the floor.