Hello everyone,
A few months ago, I bought a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA. At first, I was very satisfied, but over time I noticed that the chest has warped slightly. It no longer stands completely level, the drawers don’t slide as smoothly, and you can see that the structure has changed. I’m wondering why Malm chests of drawers warp after some time?
I am particularly interested in whether this might be related to the materials IKEA uses, or if environmental factors like humidity play a role. I would also like to know the best ways to prevent or at least minimize this issue. Could I have made assembly errors that contribute to this effect?
I would really appreciate any helpful explanations or tips!
A few months ago, I bought a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA. At first, I was very satisfied, but over time I noticed that the chest has warped slightly. It no longer stands completely level, the drawers don’t slide as smoothly, and you can see that the structure has changed. I’m wondering why Malm chests of drawers warp after some time?
I am particularly interested in whether this might be related to the materials IKEA uses, or if environmental factors like humidity play a role. I would also like to know the best ways to prevent or at least minimize this issue. Could I have made assembly errors that contribute to this effect?
I would really appreciate any helpful explanations or tips!
P
praWarre6914 Jul 2020 12:23I’ve had my Malm for three years now, and yes, it has warped slightly. But I see it positively – it somehow makes our furniture feel more alive. 🙂
Sure, the material is inexpensive, and moisture definitely affects the panels. But you can’t expect everything to stay perfectly straight forever. A bit of readjusting, checking the screws now and then, and making sure the drawers slide smoothly – and it’s good to go.
For me, it’s a nice opportunity to do some DIY and observe how the wood behaves. 🙂
Sure, the material is inexpensive, and moisture definitely affects the panels. But you can’t expect everything to stay perfectly straight forever. A bit of readjusting, checking the screws now and then, and making sure the drawers slide smoothly – and it’s good to go.
For me, it’s a nice opportunity to do some DIY and observe how the wood behaves. 🙂
From a technical perspective, the following can be noted:
MALM dressers are made from wood-based panels such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard. Both materials are sensitive to moisture. The foil coating provides only limited protection against moisture penetration, especially at edges and screw holes.
To prevent the furniture from warping, there must be no significant moisture differences between the individual parts. Mechanical stresses also need to be evenly distributed to avoid localized deformation.
Assembly errors are a frequently underestimated factor. Missing or improperly installed braces reduce rigidity. In addition, the torque applied to the screws matters—a screw overtightened can damage the wood-based panels.
In short: warping is usually a combination of material properties, environmental influences, and assembly quality.
MALM dressers are made from wood-based panels such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard. Both materials are sensitive to moisture. The foil coating provides only limited protection against moisture penetration, especially at edges and screw holes.
To prevent the furniture from warping, there must be no significant moisture differences between the individual parts. Mechanical stresses also need to be evenly distributed to avoid localized deformation.
Assembly errors are a frequently underestimated factor. Missing or improperly installed braces reduce rigidity. In addition, the torque applied to the screws matters—a screw overtightened can damage the wood-based panels.
In short: warping is usually a combination of material properties, environmental influences, and assembly quality.
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