Hello everyone,
I have noticed that some Billy bookshelves from IKEA only squeak when they are loaded—whether with books or other items. Without any load, you usually don’t hear any noise.
I am wondering what exactly causes this. Are there mechanical reasons, such as friction between the individual components or material stresses that only become noticeable under load? How does this relate to the design and the materials used?
I am also interested in whether the squeaking can be permanently eliminated through specific measures without disassembling or altering the shelf. Are there known problem areas, for example at the joints, or do uneven floors or load distribution play a role?
I would appreciate well-founded explanations or personal experiences on this topic!
I have noticed that some Billy bookshelves from IKEA only squeak when they are loaded—whether with books or other items. Without any load, you usually don’t hear any noise.
I am wondering what exactly causes this. Are there mechanical reasons, such as friction between the individual components or material stresses that only become noticeable under load? How does this relate to the design and the materials used?
I am also interested in whether the squeaking can be permanently eliminated through specific measures without disassembling or altering the shelf. Are there known problem areas, for example at the joints, or do uneven floors or load distribution play a role?
I would appreciate well-founded explanations or personal experiences on this topic!
Hello draman,
I would like to add that with IKEA furniture like the Billy bookcase, the modular construction using simple chipboard panels and connectors explains why the shelf only starts to squeak under load.
Especially if the shelf is not perfectly level or the weight is unevenly distributed, small shifts occur that become audible at sharp edges or uneven joints. This can also be worsened by temperature changes or humidity.
In my experience, using small rubber caps on the screws or inserting thin felt strips at the contact points has significantly reduced the problem.
Additionally, it helps to level the shelf with a square wooden block and a spirit level – often a slight tilt is the cause of the noise.
Maybe these tips are worth trying?
I would like to add that with IKEA furniture like the Billy bookcase, the modular construction using simple chipboard panels and connectors explains why the shelf only starts to squeak under load.
Especially if the shelf is not perfectly level or the weight is unevenly distributed, small shifts occur that become audible at sharp edges or uneven joints. This can also be worsened by temperature changes or humidity.
In my experience, using small rubber caps on the screws or inserting thin felt strips at the contact points has significantly reduced the problem.
Additionally, it helps to level the shelf with a square wooden block and a spirit level – often a slight tilt is the cause of the noise.
Maybe these tips are worth trying?
I can only confirm the causes. It is precisely the combination of loose joining mechanisms and the material properties of particleboard that leads to the noises described.
A question for draman: Have you tried removing the shelves and gently smoothing the contact surfaces with fine sandpaper (very carefully)? Sometimes small uneven spots are responsible.
In addition to lubricants or sliding agents, a certain 'break-in period' can also help: when the shelving unit is loaded for several weeks, the material structure changes slightly, and the noises often occur less frequently.
If you can provide more details about your shelving unit (age, usage, environment), I’ll be happy to help further.
A question for draman: Have you tried removing the shelves and gently smoothing the contact surfaces with fine sandpaper (very carefully)? Sometimes small uneven spots are responsible.
In addition to lubricants or sliding agents, a certain 'break-in period' can also help: when the shelving unit is loaded for several weeks, the material structure changes slightly, and the noises often occur less frequently.
If you can provide more details about your shelving unit (age, usage, environment), I’ll be happy to help further.
kibutar schrieb:
I would also like to know what exactly is causing the load on your shelf: Is it mainly heavy books or more point loads?Thank you for the detailed post, kibutar. In my case, it is indeed mainly heavy books, which are relatively evenly distributed across the shelves.
TEOZAR schrieb:
Maybe these tips are worth trying?The idea of using rubber caps or felt strips sounds practical. I will give that a try and attempt to align the shelf more precisely on those.
Arianeo schrieb:
Have you tried removing the shelves and smoothing the contact surfaces with fine sandpaper (very carefully)?Not yet, but I plan to try that as well. I suspect that the combination of slight unevenness and the load is causing the squeaking.
I will report back if this helps. Thanks to everyone for the many valuable suggestions so far!
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