Hello everyone, I have an IKEA Malm bed, and Iâve noticed that it occasionally creaks when sitting on the edge. It doesnât happen all the time, but rather sporadically, mostly when I move slightly or shift my weight a bit. Iâm wondering what might cause this creaking sound and whether it could be a sign of an emerging defect or just a typical characteristic of this bed frame. Iâve also thought about whether it might be related to the joints or the type of material used. Does anyone have experience with Malm beds or know what could cause such noises in bedroom furniture? I would really appreciate any ideas or explanations!
Thank you very much for the already very helpful answers!
Regarding the age: The bed is just under 3 years old, and I assembled it myself, so I donât rule out assembly errors. I have never tightened the screws again, so I will definitely take care of that.
About humidity: The bedroom is well tempered, but I live in an older house, which means slight fluctuations are possible.
A question about tightening: Is there really a recommended torque for the screws of the Malm bed? So far, I have only tightened them until I thought they were secure. Is there a risk in overtightening? I definitely donât want to damage the threads.
Also: Is it worth using felt pads or PTFE tape on the slat support points? Or could that negatively affect stability?
Regarding the age: The bed is just under 3 years old, and I assembled it myself, so I donât rule out assembly errors. I have never tightened the screws again, so I will definitely take care of that.
About humidity: The bedroom is well tempered, but I live in an older house, which means slight fluctuations are possible.
A question about tightening: Is there really a recommended torque for the screws of the Malm bed? So far, I have only tightened them until I thought they were secure. Is there a risk in overtightening? I definitely donât want to damage the threads.
Also: Is it worth using felt pads or PTFE tape on the slat support points? Or could that negatively affect stability?
P
pauPierce5 Oct 2020 10:04Hello again,
regarding your question about tightening torque: IKEA usually does not provide exact Nm values because the furniture is designed for home use. The general rule is to tighten enough so that the joint is secure, but without using excessive force that could damage the threads or the furniture parts.
Common mistakes are:
- Not tightening enough, which causes screws to loosen over time.
- Over-tightening, which can damage the threads or strip the wood (especially with particleboard).
Since you already have the bed, I recommend carefully retightening the screws and checking the joints for any existing damage.
Regarding felt or Teflon tape: applying it at the contact points of the slatted frame can help reduce squeaking when friction occurs on the wood. This should not affect stability, as the tape is very thin.
Do you have the possibility to pinpoint the exact spots where the squeaking happens? This makes targeted countermeasures easier.
regarding your question about tightening torque: IKEA usually does not provide exact Nm values because the furniture is designed for home use. The general rule is to tighten enough so that the joint is secure, but without using excessive force that could damage the threads or the furniture parts.
Common mistakes are:
- Not tightening enough, which causes screws to loosen over time.
- Over-tightening, which can damage the threads or strip the wood (especially with particleboard).
Since you already have the bed, I recommend carefully retightening the screws and checking the joints for any existing damage.
Regarding felt or Teflon tape: applying it at the contact points of the slatted frame can help reduce squeaking when friction occurs on the wood. This should not affect stability, as the tape is very thin.
Do you have the possibility to pinpoint the exact spots where the squeaking happens? This makes targeted countermeasures easier.
Hello Fesoleo,
I understand your concern about the squeaking, especially with a relatively new bed. Your caution when tightening the screws is justified.
It is important to check the screws regularly. Furniture like the Malm bed is subjected to daily stress from weight and movement, which can loosen the screws over time.
If you want to use felt pads or Teflon tape at the contact points, I recommend felt, as it can also compensate for slight unevenness. This material reduces friction and the resulting squeaking without compromising stability.
Also, keep the bed and the area underneath clean from dust and small particles. These can act as friction sources as well.
Good luck with troubleshooting, as this is a relatively common issue with such furniture.
I understand your concern about the squeaking, especially with a relatively new bed. Your caution when tightening the screws is justified.
It is important to check the screws regularly. Furniture like the Malm bed is subjected to daily stress from weight and movement, which can loosen the screws over time.
If you want to use felt pads or Teflon tape at the contact points, I recommend felt, as it can also compensate for slight unevenness. This material reduces friction and the resulting squeaking without compromising stability.
Also, keep the bed and the area underneath clean from dust and small particles. These can act as friction sources as well.
Good luck with troubleshooting, as this is a relatively common issue with such furniture.
G
Genevieve5 Oct 2020 17:29I would like to point out that many of the suggestions are practical, but they do not always address the root causes. For example:
- This assumes the issue is with the metal parts, but often the problem lies in the veneer or the wood joints.
- Yes, but what if the wood material itself is already reaching its fatigue limit? Particleboard can become brittle over time, so even tightened screws may not help.
My suggestion: Check not only the screws but also the material for cracks or deformations. If your bed is already three years old, it may be worthwhile to inspect it carefully or even replace the slatted frame if it has play.
In general: It is important not only to address the symptoms but also to accurately identify the cause to ensure long-term stability.
KLONA schrieb:
Lubricating metal contact surfaces reduces friction noise
- This assumes the issue is with the metal parts, but often the problem lies in the veneer or the wood joints.
taudi schrieb:
Tighten the screws
- Yes, but what if the wood material itself is already reaching its fatigue limit? Particleboard can become brittle over time, so even tightened screws may not help.
My suggestion: Check not only the screws but also the material for cracks or deformations. If your bed is already three years old, it may be worthwhile to inspect it carefully or even replace the slatted frame if it has play.
In general: It is important not only to address the symptoms but also to accurately identify the cause to ensure long-term stability.
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