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First Tip is to Relax make a cup of tea or coffee (but not alcohol hic) and read the instructions - Always assemble furniture in the room where it will be used. It may be difficult to move it from one room to another when assembled, especially in modern houses where space is at a premium.
- If you are assembling many items, start with the largest first. The exception being beds, always do these last!
- Clear a decent space to work in, around 60cm (2 ft) in each direction is enough.
- If your biggest item is 2m x 1m you'll need 2.6m x 1.6m to work in easily.
- If your biggest item is 6ft x 3ft, then 8ft x 5ft is required.
- Open the largest box first, remove the contents and flatten the box as your work mat:
- This protects you flooring from glues spills and other assembly debris.
- The cardboard will cushion your knees and the furniture, especially when you are working on a hard floor.
- Many items are repositioned, stood up laid down etc throughout assembly, again the cardboard helps cushion the item.
- You have a plain coloured flat surface and so it is easy to see items you have dropped!
- Double check your measurements if the space is tight, it is very easy to hold the measure with a sag in it, or diagonally and elude yourself that the space is bigger than it is. Also consider any features which might make positioning the item after assembly difficult, such as a radiator, skirting board, window sill, picture rail, door etc. Start considering them now, because you may well think up the solution during assembly!
- (Say over 2.2m in height) Before assembling a tall wardrobe, take the largest side panel and try to stand it up diagonally. If it does not clear the ceiling you may not build the wardrobe lying down. If it is close, check this in several places, as ceilings and floors are not level!
- Use the right screws - The biggest single flat pack mistake is putting the wrong screws in the wrong place and damaging your product or them getting to a later stage and not being able to proceed.
- Missing Bits - Don't be too concerned if you don't use all the screws and nails supplied. Often a generic pack is included that may be used for several items, as these are cheaper to bulk buy than providing the exact quantity required, this is often true with pins/nails and also if the unit can be combined with others as the connectors may be included whether you need them or not.
- Use the packaging - Open out the box and use this as a mat for your assembly. Doing this will protect your furniture or flooring from damaging or scratching one another and prevent drips of glue staining your carpet.
- Drink - Drink plenty of fluid (but not alcohol hic)and take breaks. Multiple items can be hard work.
- In general - Fix all the fittings to panels that you can, before assembling them. It is easier to lie panels flat and screw into them.
- Dowels - Knock dowels into the ends of panels, rather than poking out at 90% from a flat side. If you don't, when pushing two panels together, you can force a dowel through and damage the laminate/veneer
- Electric Screwdrivers - If you are using an electric driver, use a low torque setting to start and work your way up to the right setting, not down.
- Electric Screwdrivers - If you are using an electric driver, only use it on on Phillips or Posidrive style screws. With flat head slots, it is easy to slip when applying pressure and the sharp edge can damage your furniture. If you are using an allen key setting or similar be very careful not to over drill and burr the fitting, if this starts happening use a hand tool instead.
- Levelling Doors - Level wardrobes with a spirit level before adjusting hinges. Place cardboard or spacers underneath the vertical side panels. This is by far the easiest way to get doors hanging right. Pull towards you or push away from you the vertical sides to level the doors to determine where support may be needed. Generally floors are not level and your wardrobe will twist slightly, this is the best approach.
- Glued Drawers - PVA / Wood Glue usually takes 24 hours to dry. Remember this especially with drawers held together primarily by glue and don't use or fill them as soon as you have built them, otherwise they may distort and dry in a non rectangular shape.
- Check Nuts and Bolts - Periodically remember to check items assembled with nuts and bolts (mainly beds and climbing frames) that they are still tight, they can work themselves loose!
- Many older properties have very uneven floors and there is sometimes a risk that a wardrobe could topple on top of you when opening it. Sometimes the ceiling clearance will prevent this, other times it may be prudent to fit the anti tilt strap often included.
- Small children often climb on furniture and can cause unstable wardrobes to topple over under their own weight. At best they will be trapped inside, at worst they could be seriously hurt.
- The centre of gravity of a wardrobe is usually nearer the front, as the doors are more heavy than the back, and if the unit tips close to this, clothes hanging inside will pivot towards you and the momentum can cause the unit to tip. It is strongly advised the stability is checked and a strap fitted if required. Whilst this may mark the wall (more of an issue in rented property) it is easy to correct with a spot of filler and paint, when you remove the wardrobe and this should not be a reason for not fitting a strap.
- Alternatively you could try chocking up the wardrobe at the front, so that it tilts back slightly, to improve the stability of the wardrobe.
- Remember at the end when you have built something yourself it is a good feeling then you can crack open a bottle of wine and relax.
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