Hello everyone,
I’m planning to get a KALLAX shelving unit from IKEA, but I have tile flooring in my apartment. My question is whether there are any issues I should be aware of when using KALLAX on tile floors. Specifically, I’m interested in aspects like stability, possible scratches on the floor caused by the furniture, tipping behavior on a smooth surface, and noise when moving it. Has anyone had experience with KALLAX on tiles and can tell me if I need any additional measures like felt pads or similar, or if there are any problems with weight capacity or stability? I’d appreciate any tips!
I’m planning to get a KALLAX shelving unit from IKEA, but I have tile flooring in my apartment. My question is whether there are any issues I should be aware of when using KALLAX on tile floors. Specifically, I’m interested in aspects like stability, possible scratches on the floor caused by the furniture, tipping behavior on a smooth surface, and noise when moving it. Has anyone had experience with KALLAX on tiles and can tell me if I need any additional measures like felt pads or similar, or if there are any problems with weight capacity or stability? I’d appreciate any tips!
An additional perspective on the topic of KALLAX on tiles: The stability is generally good when the KALLAX is properly and fully assembled. Be cautious with uneven tiled floors—there is a risk of tipping, especially if the shelf is tall and loaded on one side. If there are differences in tile grout widths or slight unevenness, hard furniture edges can cause localized cracks in the tiles. Here are a few technical details:
- KALLAX material: Particleboard, which is somewhat flexible but not elastic
- Load capacity: Even distribution of weight is important; pressing feet can increase localized stress
- Protection: Felt pads or rubber mats are essential for protection
- Noise: Tiles reflect sound more strongly, causing more "clattering" depending on the frequency, which can be minimized with suitable pads
My recommendation: Measure any unevenness beforehand, pay attention to load distribution, use high-quality felt pads, and consider using an underlay mat if necessary. What exact tile size and surface texture do you have?
- KALLAX material: Particleboard, which is somewhat flexible but not elastic
- Load capacity: Even distribution of weight is important; pressing feet can increase localized stress
- Protection: Felt pads or rubber mats are essential for protection
- Noise: Tiles reflect sound more strongly, causing more "clattering" depending on the frequency, which can be minimized with suitable pads
My recommendation: Measure any unevenness beforehand, pay attention to load distribution, use high-quality felt pads, and consider using an underlay mat if necessary. What exact tile size and surface texture do you have?
kulau schrieb:
What tile size and surface texture do you have exactly?Thank you for the detailed reply, kulau! The tiles are 30x30 cm (12x12 inches), matte and quite smooth. No visible unevenness or wide grout lines, everything is laid evenly. The shelf would be about 1.5 m (5 feet) tall and will be evenly loaded with books, folders, and a few decorative items. So no uneven load is expected. Your tips about using felt pads sound reasonable. How about placing it directly on the tile – should the feet be slightly sanded or adjusted in any way, like with hardwood floors?
With tiles of the size and surface you described, no adjustments to the KALLAX feet should be necessary. However, I strongly recommend installing high-quality felt pads under the feet to prevent micro-movements and thus avoid long-term scratches. Slightly non-slip pads can also be useful if the shelf tends to slide too easily on the smooth, matte tiled floor. It is important to ensure that the weight is evenly distributed when loading, as the KALLAX system is not designed for uneven loads. This will help prevent the risk of tipping.
Meodra schrieb:
The tiles are 30x30 cm (12x12 inches), matte and quite smooth.Hey, that sounds great! 🙂 We have similar tiles, and as has been mentioned several times, felt pads are a must! I also added these small, transparent rubber pads underneath, so nothing slips and there are no scratches at all. It’s really easy and makes such a difference! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your KALLAX fits perfectly. You’ll see, with the right preparation it’s really fun.
JAPLO schrieb:
the weight is evenly distributedImportant! Uneven loading can cause a risk of tipping. Tiles can support this as long as the shelf is stable and placed on a clean, solid surface.
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