ᐅ IKEA FRAMSTA / BESTA Combination – Which Wall Screws Should Be Used?

Dear fellow members,

Based on my experience with the IKEA customer service hotline mentioned above, I realize I might be in the wrong place considering the name of this nice forum.

However, I have unfortunately ordered a beautiful wall unit consisting of Framsta and Besta components, which is scheduled to be delivered and assembled next week. Since IKEA is not familiar with my wall type (if I hear that term once more...!), they want me to buy the screws for attaching the unit to the wall myself. Unfortunately, IKEA cannot tell me the required width of the screws or screw heads for wall mounting because their hotline staff are not properly trained and could easily be replaced by Swedish chimpanzees.

Therefore, I am now asking here in this forum, desperate but not hopeless, whether anyone can answer this essential question. By the way, my wall type (ARGH!) is as follows: exterior masonry wall with a facing brick layer.

It would be really great if someone with experience could give me a tip, possibly also regarding which type of wall plugs to use.

Thank you very much, and please don’t take this personally—you are not to blame!

Dear fellow forum member,
please moderate your tone towards us in this forum.

I am not giving any advice regarding your wall either. If you do not know which wall / screw / anchor you need for which wall type, then assemble the furniture and hire a professional who is experienced with this kind of work.

Thank you.

P.S.: IKEA is not to blame here; it’s you as an uninformed person. IKEA is only protecting itself. I would do the same after reading your statement. Thank you.

The call center issue in Germany is unfortunately not specific to IKEA. In the past, I could usually speak directly to the right employee when I had specific questions at a company and received competent advice. Nowadays, you get blocked by people whose knowledge is inevitably limited. How is anyone supposed to know all the (technical) details of the entire product range? Sometimes there is a chance that written inquiries are forwarded to the appropriate departments. I have experienced this, for example, with Bosch-Siemens home appliances. In my experience, IKEA still has some catching up to do in this regard.

Regarding your screws, for BESTA there are rosettes (114931) that are placed under the screws. Take one of those to a specialty store, or if necessary, a hardware store, and ask for screws with a suitable head.
As for screw length and anchors, you can find guidance from anchor manufacturers. However, if you look at Fischer anchors, you will see that all nylon anchors are intended for light cabinets. Does their recommendation for high loads point to a chemical solution, meaning an anchor glued into the wall? If the anchor manufacturer is already unwilling to take responsibility for mounting wall cabinets with plastic anchors, who else should?
If the cabinets are not only wall-mounted but also standing on the floor or stacked, the load capacity of course is no problem.

Hi,

wow. Great start.

Regarding the hotline, whether you call or not, if you asked this question at a furniture store, most employees would probably just shrug. Not because they belong to the “Swedish chimpanzee” species, but because they are not allowed to make such statements. Basically, you already have the answer you need: screws and anchors! You can then look up the assembly instructions online for the items you purchased and see exactly where the screws need to go. You can even see what size drill bit is required for the holes! Now, your wall type is the only thing that matters. With this information, go to your local building supply store. Explain your plan, and they will sell you the correct screws and anchors. If you don’t get a proper answer there, you have every right to complain—and Ikea is the least to blame in this case.

Regards

Nayla