ᐅ Billy Regal noises caused by material stress – how to prevent them?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled a Billy bookcase from IKEA and have noticed it occasionally makes noises that I clearly attribute to material stress. The sounds occur mostly when the bookcase is loaded or when the humidity fluctuates slightly. I would like to know how to best prevent these material stress noises in Billy bookcases without completely modifying the unit. Are there any proven methods to relieve or reduce material tension? I appreciate practical tips, for example on assembly, loading, or treatment of the material. Thank you in advance!

The problem usually arises from screws being tightened too much. Simply tighten them loosely enough so that the wood has minimal movement. Also, use wooden strips or felt pads at the contact points.

I know this all too well! A few simple tricks can help: rub some furniture wax or wood oil onto certain spots – this relaxes the material a bit 😉. Also, place the shelf in a location that is neither too damp nor too dry, as it doesn’t like extreme conditions. This way, it stays stable and quiet!

Material stresses in furniture made from particleboard, such as Billy, often result from the swelling and shrinking of the wood caused by moisture changes. It is important to always assemble the shelf on a level surface and avoid overtightening the screws to minimize these stresses. Additionally, it is advisable to protect the furniture from direct sunlight and extreme temperature fluctuations. Treating the edges with special edge oil can improve moisture resistance.

That's brilliant—how easily the noises can be controlled with just a few simple adjustments! 🙂 I also glued a thin layer of foam behind the shelving unit because sometimes the back panel makes noises when the wood expands or contracts. It worked great and was really easy!

Thanks in advance for the tips!

A quick addition: I have the shelf standing on a hard, smooth floor with no carpet layer underneath. I deliberately didn’t tighten the screws too much – still, you can occasionally hear small cracking noises, especially when I put weight on the upper shelves. I hadn’t thought about using furniture oil yet. Are there specific products that work well with chipboard? Or is something more neutral better?

What do you think about using small spacers or intermediate layers like felt at the joints? That could also help reduce tension.