Along the east wall of my apartment, I have two bookshelves pressed against each other: a 4×4 Expedit unit, and a 2×4 Expedit unit, from IKEA. However, as shelf space runs low, I am considering stacking the 2×4 on top of the 4×4. That way, I can add another 2×4 unit along the side, and I will gain an additional sixteen cubes of shelf space.
So, basically, what I have now kind of looks like this:
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But I want to make it look like this:
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So that after adding another unit, it will come out looking like this:
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Make sense?
I’ve seen some photos of Expedit units that simply look stacked one upon the other, and others that appear as if they’re been anchored to the wall. It’s my guess that simply stacking a 2×4 on top of a 4×4 will provide enough weight to hold the unit there, but I’d like to find someone to actually tell me: “Yeah, I stacked my Expedits five years ago and the fuckers haven’t moved an inch” before I risk it myself.
FYI: while they can sometimes be a tremendous pain-in-the-ass to put together, I love IKEA’s Expedit units — they look clean and modern, they’re easy to clean, and they hold a lot of books or media.
I had the 4×4 a while ago, and I thought there was a nylon strap and a couple of screws that you were supposed to screw into the top of the unit and the wall to make sure it didn’t move.
From their web page for the Expedit 4×4, “This furniture must be secured to the wall with the enclosed anti-topple device.”
What kind of walls do you have and what does your lease say about screwing stuff into the walls? You could always get it to stay. It might require some spackling befire you move out, though.
Comment by Alan — November 30, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
Were I you, I’d seriously consider fastening the stacked units together with a couple of screws.
I’m guessing they’re finished with a veneer surface that will be slippery the small unit on top of the other. It would suck to have them slip and slide apart. I’m not sure how active the cats are, but it’d definitely be a concern in my house (2 cats and a dog).
With that said, I’ve never bothered to fasten anything to the wall to keep it from toppling over.
Comment by scum — December 1, 2009 @ 11:00 am
You know… They’re thinking of rugrats climbing up onto these units and pulling them over on top of themselves. It’s doubtful your cats would do that. But they might be able to knock the top unit off.
Depending on your clumbsiness level, you might knock the top unit off, too. Imagine coming home after one or two or (gasp) three beers. The room is spinning. You reach out to steady yourself and knock grab the top unit and it falls to the floor spilling books and Legos everywhere.
I kid.
And yes, I purposefully pluralized Lego.
Comment by Alan — December 1, 2009 @ 11:54 pm
My large Expedit is anchored to the wall – highly advisable, not just for your cats, but more so, for you. Just do it and be safe, especially if you’re stacking units.
Or at least tell me that you’re anchoring, so that I won’t think about you being accidentally squashed. Death by IKEA would be a terrible way to go.
Comment by A — December 7, 2009 @ 10:31 am