At some point in our lives, we have all purchased ready-to-assemble (RTA) or “flat-pack” furniture. You know, the Ikea furniture, or other big box furniture that requires assembly and is commonly made of laminated particle board.

What Is Flat-Pack Furniture?

Flat-pack products are sold in separate parts and flat-packed in cardboard boxes (hence the term “flat-pack”) for ease of shipping and to take up less space in retail stores. This combination of factors reduces the price and makes the flat pack furniture more appealing. Unfortunately, not all flat-pack furniture is created equal.

Why Reinforce Flat-Pack Furniture?

The whole secret to furniture being strong and solid is in the joints or any connection where pieces come together. The main reason flat-pack furniture fails is that it is mostly made of particleboard, which is not as strong as solid wood.There is no glue or adhesive incorporated into the assembly process, which then guarantees it will fall apart easily.

You can reinforce flat-pack furniture and make it stronger in a number of simple ways. The question is when should you do it?Before the furniture is put together or after it is already assembled? Both can be done with slightly different approaches that will lead to stronger flat-pack furniture – that will last!

Where you reinforce flat-pack furniture and what you choose to reinforce it with is strictly a judgment call. There can be different ways to reinforce the same piece. The important part is to know your options and then incorporate the reinforcement in a way that doesn’t ruin the look and style of your piece of furniture.

By incorporating any or all of these tips to strengthen the connections/joints, you will ensure your furniture lasts as long as you wish.

Tips

• Use construction adhesive, CA, or polyurethane glue when joining a painted or laminated and finished surface.
• Use wood glue to join raw wood surfaces.
• Use screws with matching finish washers for exposed screws.
• To stabilize the whole unit, remove the back panel and reattach using glue in addition to the nails.
• Bar clamps will make the process easier by securely holding things in place while the glue dries.
• To prevent splitting, be sure to pre-drill for any screws or dowels you are going to add.