Taking Down and Re-assembling Ikea Wardrobes

Hoseman

Hi, has anyone had any experience of doing this? I need to take some wardrobes down and just wondering what my options are. My other half seems to think we can put the shell together and all we need to do is buy the inside components. From building them I was under the impression it might be tricky to rebuild as some of the joints (areas where they connect) get damaged.

Any advice/tips appreciated.

rosie383

We bought an Ikea wardrobe second hand a few weeks ago. Had to take the frame apart and the back off. It took about ten minutes to put back together at our house.
Nothing was damaged apart from one tiny corner of the back panel. Getting it off took the longest time as all of the panel pins had to be prised off, but then we just put pins in the spaces between the original ones and it was as sturdy as ever.
I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

Hoploz

Just be very careful taking it apart, keep all the fittings in a bag, labelled, take your time. Should be fine.
The only time I've had trouble with old idea furniture is when it's been moved multiple times - the joints get loose. If you take it apart first you should have no problems

Hoseman

Great, thanks for that. Sounds promising... :-)

ic

Use the flat top of the head of a hammer to tap around the edge from the inside to push the back off and help remove the panel pins. Inevitably some won't release and will tear through the back, but as long as you go easy you'll be OK. Its very important you install the back again square - I've seen many a job where people think there's too many nails and don't bother - the back is what gives the whole thing strength and keeps it standing upright straight.

Incidentally I noted that Ikea seem to have built in some obsolescence with the new Metod kitchen, given the rear panel now slots in a groove - granted it assists building in the first place, but it is far more difficult to deconstruct the units. I wonder it they'll do something similar with the Pax range at some point?

arbrighton

We've done it to move house. Unfortunately the bit that the movers did instead didn't survive so well and the electricians have left the stabilising feet off. Pax and as long as you keep/ label/ make notes and carefully take pieces apart it's fine.

We've done the same will Billy book cases as we can't get them in one piece round the bend in the stairs

Doozergirl

I have much experience of this, being a serial home mover at one point.

IKEA furniture like the PAX can be taken down and moved once. Beyond that, where screws go into the chipboard etc loosen and the unit does lose its rigidity and won't stand up well. The fittings inside will be fine.

The carcass of the wardrobe is actually relatively cheap so you can replace the frame for about £50. Definitely cheaper than a whole brand new wardrobe.

paddyrg

It may depend a bit on the range too - some will be higher spec and more resilient to moves than others

Callie22

We used to have a fair bit of IKEA furniture and you can disassemble it a couple of times. We ended up having to take it apart practically every time we moved, and I'd say it's ok to do it two or three times but it definitely suffers after that - especially the back-boards of things like Billy bookcases.

xyz123

Get a hammer with rubber head (and use it with a spare hand towel underneath) . It will help immensely when trying to get disconnect panels where wooden dowels are use...if u need to buy one, plenty on ebay

Hoseman

Thanks for all the advice and tips. Ive got a rubber head hammer so that will come in handy.