ᐅ Why do some Billy bookcase doors only start squeaking after extended use?

Hello everyone,

I have a question that has been on my mind for a while: Why do some doors of the Billy-style shelving unit only start squeaking after extended use, rather than immediately after assembly? I have noticed that this sound typically appears after a few weeks or months, even though the doors were completely silent at first.

I am particularly interested in the physical and mechanical reasons behind this delayed squeaking. Is it caused by the material, deformation, moisture, or perhaps the coating on the hinges and the door itself?

I look forward to factual and well-founded answers that also explain why the squeaking develops over time and is not present from the start.

The squeaking noise usually occurs due to friction between metal parts and wood, which worsens over time as dust or dirt accumulates. At first, the hinges are often well lubricated or new, so the noise takes some time to become noticeable.

The development of squeaking doors after extended use can primarily be attributed to wear and changes in the materials. During initial installation, the lubricant film on the hinges is fresh, which minimizes friction. Over time, this lubricant either evaporates or is displaced by dust particles, causing the metal-to-metal contact to operate without lubrication.

Additionally, moisture from the air can cause slight swelling movements in the wood, altering the tension on the hinges. The combination of surface changes and lack of lubrication ultimately leads to squeaking. This is therefore a result of physical aging processes and environmental influences.

RENMA schrieb:
The combination of a changed surface and lack of lubrication ultimately causes squeaking.

This is a very good summary. I would like to add that Billy-type doors often use simple steel hinges, which can become prone to noise without regular maintenance.

Simple lubrication, for example with silicone spray or light machine oil, can prevent or eliminate squeaking. It is important to remove dust and dirt beforehand, as these act like abrasive particles and can worsen the effect.

Also, the fact that wood is hygroscopic—that is, it absorbs and releases moisture—creates a constant slight stress on the doors. This explains why the problem does not occur immediately after installation but develops over time through use.

I can confirm the previous statements so far. Additionally, I would like to point out that play in the hinges can develop over years of use.

This slight "wobbling" or shifting increases friction at the contact points, which in turn amplifies the squeaking.

Regularly checking the screws and, if necessary, gently tightening them can often delay or reduce the squeaking.

I appreciate that the explanation clearly describes why the squeaking only starts after some time. It happened to me as well, and honestly, it annoyed me a bit because I thought I might have damaged the hinge mechanism during assembly.

gregto schrieb:
It’s important to remove dust and dirt beforehand, as these act like abrasive particles...

That really helped me—I oiled the hinges, and the noise disappeared immediately. However, the idea that it might come back eventually is a bit discouraging. Maybe I will have to do this regularly now.