ᐅ How can I repair the surface of BILLY shelves myself?

bupar schrieb:
Removing the shelves makes the work much easier

This is an important point for me, thanks for the detailed tips. I had been considering whether to remove the shelves and side panels in order to work on a flat surface. After your post, that really makes sense. Maybe I will start by doing a test repair on just one shelf to see how the filler and paint react.

I roughened up scratches with fine sandpaper and then touched them up using a white furniture repair marker (from the hardware store). This works well for small areas and doesn’t take long.

raKatharin schrieb:
I roughened the scratches with fine sandpaper and then touched them up with a white furniture marker.

That might work, but the problem is that it only ever provides a cosmetic fix. Why not consider whether the shelf could use a complete makeover? For example, with self-adhesive wood-effect film or paint applied to the surface – this creates an entirely new look and makes the shelf appear almost like new.

For sustainable surface repair: Laminated particle boards are difficult to refurbish afterward because the laminate does not adhere well to uneven surfaces. At chipped spots, the substrate is usually damaged, which makes a smooth repair challenging. Repair wax is only suitable for minor irregularities and scratches.

Paint pens can provide a quick visual improvement in white tones but often fade after some time. For larger repairs, I recommend either replacing the damaged parts or using furniture veneer film, which can be applied with some care.

Be sure to degrease and lightly sand the surface beforehand to ensure better adhesion. Without dismantling, the repair is significantly more difficult.

hauklo schrieb:
Make sure to degrease the surface thoroughly beforehand and lightly sand it

It's good to know that degreasing is so important. What products do you recommend for this? Regular dish soap, alcohol, or specialized cleaners? I’ve seen many conflicting recommendations online, especially when planning to apply paint or wax paste afterward.

For cleaning before repair, I usually use a mild dish detergent with warm water to remove grease and dust. Afterwards, I wipe the surface with isopropanol (or isopropyl alcohol) to ensure it is completely free of grease. This way, paint or wax paste adheres much better.

Important: Always allow to dry thoroughly before painting and work in well-ventilated areas.