ᐅ KALLAX Cabinet Frame Has Waves – Could This Be a Problem?

Created on: 9 Jan 2018 18:23
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peter44
Hello everyone,

I recently bought a KALLAX carcass from IKEA and noticed that the material has slight waves in some areas. Specifically, it looks like the surfaces are not completely flat and have small irregular unevenness. My question to the community: Has anyone experienced this phenomenon with KALLAX? Could this indicate a manufacturing defect, or is it perhaps a normal behavior of the material (chipboard with laminate) under certain environmental conditions, such as humidity or temperature?

Could this affect the stability or further assembly, or is it mostly just an aesthetic issue?

I’m looking forward to your experiences and assessments!
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GALEO4
9 Jan 2018 20:07
peter44 schrieb:
Do you think this will cause long-term problems?

That depends on how it is handled going forward. For example, if the KALLAX is stored in a rather damp basement, your chances are poor. In normally heated rooms with controlled humidity, it should stabilize.

From my experience with similar furniture: the warping usually stops after a certain period.

If you still have a warranty, I would file a claim from a cosmetic perspective, but functionally it’s mostly just an aesthetic issue.
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tinau
9 Jan 2018 20:23
It is important that the stability is not compromised.

For slight warping, it can sometimes help to store the shelf lying down for a few days to allow the material to relax.
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Rashadmeo
9 Jan 2018 20:46
That sounds really exciting! 🙂 I’ve had my KALLAX for a while too, and mine looks pretty similar, but I’ve never really been concerned.

It’s great that there are so many helpful tips here – I encourage you to just stay relaxed; most of the time it’s not a big issue! 🙂
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peter44
10 Jan 2018 09:04
GALEO4 schrieb:
If you store the KALLAX, for example, in a rather damp basement, your chances are slim

Thanks, it is located in a well-heated living room with a constant temperature, and the humidity level is roughly 40-50%.
tinau schrieb:
store the shelf lying down for a few days

Interesting tip, I will try that next week to see if it reduces the warping.

I am also wondering if the laminate on the sides could be damaged over time due to warping. Does anyone have long-term experience? Could the laminate peel off if the panel keeps moving?
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Mufato
10 Jan 2018 10:22
If the foil were loose material, that could happen. But with KALLAX, the coating is usually very well bonded.

The waves usually move along without the foil being damaged.
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Sepele
10 Jan 2018 11:48
Long-Term Experience:

With proper handling and without extreme moisture, the membrane usually remains intact. Movement due to waves is very minimal, so it typically does not tear.

If the membrane does peel back at a corner, it is usually due to a manufacturing defect or a workmanship error/damage.

My advice: Avoid letting the shelf get too wet or placing it directly against damp walls.