ᐅ My KALLAX unit gets dents when moved across hardwood floors – any tips for padding?

Created on: 10 Jul 2020 08:17
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mustafaman
Hello everyone,

I recently bought a KALLAX shelf unit from Ikea, which I use as a module in my living room. Unfortunately, I have the problem that when I move it across my hardwood floor, small dents and pressure marks keep appearing. They are not huge, but definitely noticeable and annoying. I suspect that the KALLAX modules, due to their weight and plastic feet, damage the floor finish, especially with frequent moving or cleaning.

Has anyone had experience with how to effectively prevent this? Are there padding options, felt pads, or other tricks that really help to avoid dents? I’m looking for practical and feasible solutions, not expensive modifications. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
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floga
10 Jul 2020 14:52
Hello mustafaman, I can well understand how frustrating that is. Hardwood flooring is beautiful but unfortunately also sensitive to concentrated loads.

Besides padding tricks, it might also be an option to avoid moving the shelf too often or to use a protective layer when rearranging to minimize the stress on the floor.

Sometimes small changes in daily habits can prevent significant damage over time. If there are already dents, special repair wax for hardwood floors might help, but of course, that is only a compensation and not a prevention.

Do you perhaps have pets or other factors that encourage the shelf to be moved?
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mustafaman
11 Jul 2020 07:38
floga schrieb:
Besides the padding tricks, it might also be an option to avoid moving the shelf too often or to use a protective layer when rearranging

Thanks for the tip, floga. Yes, I try to move it as little as possible anyway, but when cleaning, the shelf has to be moved occasionally. A protective layer every time it’s moved would definitely help, but I’m looking for a more permanent solution directly on the furniture.
lalutau schrieb:
Optionally attach a hard plastic sheet (e.g., made of acrylic or polycarbonate) under the sliders

What’s the best way to attach such a sheet without damaging the KALLAX? Gluing, screwing, or something else? And where is a good place to find something like this in a hardware store? Your suggestion sounds like the most practical solution to me.
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draleo
11 Jul 2020 08:15
A practical method is to fix the plastic sheets to the underside of the KALLAX using double-sided industrial adhesive tape. This prevents damage from screws or nails and is reversible.

You can find acrylic sheets at most larger DIY stores or online. It is important that they have a sufficient thickness (at least 3 mm (1/8 inch)) to ensure they are sturdy enough.

Alternatively, you can use non-slip mats made of foam rubber, which also prevent slipping.
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gauvin37
11 Jul 2020 11:42
Felt pads and plastic sheets sound great, but also consider furniture casters with rubber coatings. They are gentle on parquet flooring and make moving furniture much easier. However, this only applies if you move the shelf frequently.
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mustafaman
12 Jul 2020 09:05
gauvin37 schrieb:
Furniture casters with rubber coatings are gentle on parquet flooring and make moving easier

Thanks for the tip. In principle, that’s a good idea, but unfortunately the KALLAX unit doesn’t come with feet designed for that. Do I need to install casters separately, or are there retrofit sets available? Also, should I consider the difference in height? I’m not sure if it will be stable enough.

If I try it with casters, I would pay close attention to stability; otherwise, the shelf might tip over. Has anyone had experience with this?