ᐅ Kallax no longer closes properly after painting the walls – why?
Created on: 16 Feb 2022 14:07
K
ketarik
Hello everyone,
I have an issue with my IKEA Kallax shelving unit that no longer closes properly since the last time I painted the wall. Specifically, the doors that used to close tightly and flush now either stick or don’t close completely. The wall was painted with a relatively thick, matte latex paint. I suspect that the paint may have affected the pressure or fit of the doors, or perhaps there have been slight changes in humidity or the material itself.
I’m interested in hearing what causes you might attribute this behavior to, and whether you have any advice on how to readjust the doors or fix the problem without having to completely dismantle or costly modify the unit.
Has anyone experienced something similar related to wall painting? Thanks in advance for your insights!
I have an issue with my IKEA Kallax shelving unit that no longer closes properly since the last time I painted the wall. Specifically, the doors that used to close tightly and flush now either stick or don’t close completely. The wall was painted with a relatively thick, matte latex paint. I suspect that the paint may have affected the pressure or fit of the doors, or perhaps there have been slight changes in humidity or the material itself.
I’m interested in hearing what causes you might attribute this behavior to, and whether you have any advice on how to readjust the doors or fix the problem without having to completely dismantle or costly modify the unit.
Has anyone experienced something similar related to wall painting? Thanks in advance for your insights!
I can understand how frustrating it is when something in your furniture suddenly sticks, without being able to see the cause right away.
Sometimes I found it helpful to completely remove all the doors, clean and oil the hinges, and then carefully reattach them. This often helps to identify if paint is causing the hinges to stick or if any screws are slightly loose.
There might also be small changes caused by the wall paint at the junction between the shelving and the wall – has anyone tried attaching thin felt strips at the contact points? This often allows for a smoother fit and can make closing easier.
Hang in there!
Sometimes I found it helpful to completely remove all the doors, clean and oil the hinges, and then carefully reattach them. This often helps to identify if paint is causing the hinges to stick or if any screws are slightly loose.
There might also be small changes caused by the wall paint at the junction between the shelving and the wall – has anyone tried attaching thin felt strips at the contact points? This often allows for a smoother fit and can make closing easier.
Hang in there!
anken schrieb:
Have you checked if the wall is completely dry and free of adhesive or paint residues where the shelf is installed?The aspect of wall contact is very relevant. The wall paint, especially around corners and edges, could have caused a slight build-up that lifts the shelf slightly away from the wall.
Since Kallax is made of particleboard with a veneer finish, it is sensitive to moisture and any excess material where it touches.
It is advisable, as already suggested, to carefully feel the contact area and, if necessary, lightly sand the area with fine sandpaper to ensure a clean, even surface for the shelf to rest on.
ketarik schrieb:
The shelf no longer fits properly since repainting the wallA quite common cause in such cases is that the additional layer of paint on the wall and possibly vibrations during painting or drying have caused slight deformations on the wall or the back of the shelf.
When assembling IKEA furniture, the tolerance is often very tight, and even minimal changes can cause issues. Therefore, adjusting the doors via the hinges is usually the best solution, combined with checking for any irregularities where the shelf meets the wall.
Fingers crossed that you can fix this with little effort.
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