Hello everyone, some time ago I bought several Malm pieces of furniture from Ikea, mainly the dressers and nightstands. I noticed that the finish seems to be relatively sensitive. Minor scratches or chipping appear more quickly than I am used to with other lacquered furniture.
I am curious: Why is the finish on Malm furniture often so delicate? Is it due to the material composition, the painting method, or perhaps the surface treatment? I have heard that it might be a kind of lacquer film or a special sealant that is not as durable as traditional furniture lacquer.
Does anyone here have experience with this or know more about how the finish is made and the best ways to avoid potential damage? Thanks in advance!
I am curious: Why is the finish on Malm furniture often so delicate? Is it due to the material composition, the painting method, or perhaps the surface treatment? I have heard that it might be a kind of lacquer film or a special sealant that is not as durable as traditional furniture lacquer.
Does anyone here have experience with this or know more about how the finish is made and the best ways to avoid potential damage? Thanks in advance!
N
Nathanaelk5 May 2023 14:16Good question! Malm furniture is actually treated with a highly specialized surface finish, often referred to as a "lacquer foil" or "melamine coating."
The finish on Ikea furniture of this type is usually a thin layer of melamine resin or something similar, applied to engineered wood panels such as particleboard or MDF panels. These surfaces are not like traditional paint finishes, which become very durable through repeated sanding and polishing. Instead, a machine-applied coating is used here, which looks smooth and attractive but is less resistant to mechanical stress.
That’s exactly it: the materials and processes are designed for cost-effective mass production, which results in some minor weaknesses in scratch and impact resistance.
I’m curious whether your furniture is subjected to heavy mechanical stress in daily use, or if the damage is mostly caused by unfortunate incidents or cleaning. For example, have you used any aggressive cleaning agents?
The finish on Ikea furniture of this type is usually a thin layer of melamine resin or something similar, applied to engineered wood panels such as particleboard or MDF panels. These surfaces are not like traditional paint finishes, which become very durable through repeated sanding and polishing. Instead, a machine-applied coating is used here, which looks smooth and attractive but is less resistant to mechanical stress.
tauchase schrieb:
"Is it due to the material composition, the painting method, or maybe the surface treatment?"
That’s exactly it: the materials and processes are designed for cost-effective mass production, which results in some minor weaknesses in scratch and impact resistance.
I’m curious whether your furniture is subjected to heavy mechanical stress in daily use, or if the damage is mostly caused by unfortunate incidents or cleaning. For example, have you used any aggressive cleaning agents?
I can understand that well—I once had a Malm sideboard and was disappointed by how quickly small scratches appeared. It just felt so fragile, even though I tried to handle it carefully. The frustrating thing is, when you buy furniture, you expect at least a certain basic durability. Then you start to wonder if you did something wrong or if "that’s just how it is."
But thanks, @Nathanaelk, for explaining that this is actually due to the manufacturing method. It’s somewhat reassuring to know that these aren’t "manufacturing defects," but rather the nature of this type of construction.
I’d also be interested to know if it’s possible to apply a better protective coating to make the surfaces more resistant?
But thanks, @Nathanaelk, for explaining that this is actually due to the manufacturing method. It’s somewhat reassuring to know that these aren’t "manufacturing defects," but rather the nature of this type of construction.
I’d also be interested to know if it’s possible to apply a better protective coating to make the surfaces more resistant?
For clarification: Malm furniture is made from particleboard with a lacquer foil or melamine coating, which is common and cost-effective in the industry. The surface is hygienic, water-resistant, and visually appealing, but it is less scratch-resistant compared to solid wood surfaces with lacquer finishes.
To protect it, it is advisable to avoid harsh cleaning agents and instead use mild soap solutions or products specifically designed for laminate or melamine surfaces. Underlay pads and felt gliders can help protect the surface from mechanical stress.
Re-sealing with clear furniture polishes is possible but should be thoroughly tested for compatibility with the surface to prevent discoloration or adhesion issues.
There is a trade-off between cost, appearance, and durability – with Malm furniture, affordable mass production is preferred over a long-lasting, high-quality lacquer finish.
To protect it, it is advisable to avoid harsh cleaning agents and instead use mild soap solutions or products specifically designed for laminate or melamine surfaces. Underlay pads and felt gliders can help protect the surface from mechanical stress.
Re-sealing with clear furniture polishes is possible but should be thoroughly tested for compatibility with the surface to prevent discoloration or adhesion issues.
There is a trade-off between cost, appearance, and durability – with Malm furniture, affordable mass production is preferred over a long-lasting, high-quality lacquer finish.
I can totally relate. When I bought the furniture for my first apartment, I was quite disappointed for exactly this reason. I felt like the surface could get damaged at any moment, just from a light touch.
To be honest, it doesn’t feel very high-quality to me, even though the design is obviously right.
You end up facing a dilemma: expecting perfection, but reality gives you something much more delicate.
Does anyone have tips on how to best handle this in everyday life? I don’t want to constantly worry about scratches, but I also don’t want to give up on comfort completely.
To be honest, it doesn’t feel very high-quality to me, even though the design is obviously right.
You end up facing a dilemma: expecting perfection, but reality gives you something much more delicate.
Does anyone have tips on how to best handle this in everyday life? I don’t want to constantly worry about scratches, but I also don’t want to give up on comfort completely.
The discussion here is very interesting because it touches on both material science and practical experience.
Technically, the issue is that a thin melamine or foil coating on particleboard or MDF panels is quite resistant to moisture, but not to localized mechanical stresses such as scratches or impacts. The elasticity and hardness cannot be compared to solid paint finishes on real wood.
Another important point is how to handle the surface. When cleaning, avoid abrasive cleaners, sharp blades, or dropping heavy objects. It’s best to use soft cloths with only mild cleaning agents.
I would also be interested to know how much wear your furniture experiences in daily use, @tauchase? Is there a lot of placing or moving items on it? This has a significant impact on how quickly scratches appear.
Technically, the issue is that a thin melamine or foil coating on particleboard or MDF panels is quite resistant to moisture, but not to localized mechanical stresses such as scratches or impacts. The elasticity and hardness cannot be compared to solid paint finishes on real wood.
CARLA schrieb:
"Malm furniture is made from particleboard with a lacquered foil or melamine coating, which is common and cost-effective in the industry."
Another important point is how to handle the surface. When cleaning, avoid abrasive cleaners, sharp blades, or dropping heavy objects. It’s best to use soft cloths with only mild cleaning agents.
I would also be interested to know how much wear your furniture experiences in daily use, @tauchase? Is there a lot of placing or moving items on it? This has a significant impact on how quickly scratches appear.
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