Introduction on how to assemble flat pack furniture
“You don’t need to be an expert to build flat pack furniture, but patience is a must!”
Flat pack Furniture assembly can be a bit tricky sometimes. We have put together this guide on how to assemble flat pack furniture, for all those budding DIYers out there. If you have any feedback on this Flat Pack Assembly Guide, please get in touch at sales@homesupplier.co.uk. We are always looking to improve our products and services for our customers.
You don’t need to be an expert to build flat pack furniture, but patience is a must! Most of the time you will just need to be competent with a few basic tools.
If you plan your project and each stage carefully, you will end up with perfect results. It is best to have at least two people working on the project, especially for larger pieces of furniture. In most cases you will find that you will end up with better results if you have a helping hand. A second opinion on some of the complex steps is also good so you are less likely to miss a step.
If you feel you are not quite confident enough to embark on a project, you can enlist the help of a professional. There are trades people that specialise in this type of work.
Disclaimer
Please read
This Handy guide for assembling flat pack furniture will not cover every eventuality and is for information purposes only. Your project may have parts or procedures not described in this guide. Home Supplier Ltd. are not responsible for any damage caused to your furniture as a result of reading this guide. This guide is only a general reference guide and NOT a replacement for the assembly instructions provided with your flat pack furniture. You MUST follow the manufacturers assembly instructions provided with your furniture in full. Your assembly instructions supersede any advice given in this guide. If there are instances where your instructions differ to the advice given in this guide, you must follow the manufacturers assembly instructions. This material is copyright © www.homesupplier.co.uk
Prepare Your Working Space
“Be conscious of the final position”
Make sure you have plenty of room and clear any objects that may get in the way. Assembly will mostly take place while the furniture is in its flat position, and can take up a lot more room than you would expect. Building should take place in the same room that the furniture is intended for, this is especially true for larger items. Moving the furniture afterwards can cause damage to yourself or the furniture itself. Be conscious of the final position of the furniture so movements into place are minimal.
Unpacking the Boxes
“Be extra careful if using sharp objects”
Once your space is prepared, lay the boxes flat on the floor for opening. Be extra careful if using sharp objects to open the cardboard boxes. It is possible to scratch or damage the laminate finish while unpacking. You may want to organise and group the parts to keep your space tidy. There will be many small parts, be careful not to misplace them.
Parts Inventory Checklist
“First things first! “
You might be tempted to get stuck right in, but first things first! Before you remove any packing from the room, it is essential to check the supplied parts against the inventory list. As well as making sure you have everything you need, it will serve to familiarise you with the components and parts. Don’t panic if anything is missing; HomeSupplier.co.uk will provide replacements for missing parts.
Flat Pack Assembly Instructions
“Read from start to finish “
Before you start building your flat pack furniture, you should study the assembly instructions carefully. The best Flat pack Furniture instructions can sometimes need a bit of concentration and understanding before they can be fully understood. Instructions are normally designed to be visually presented with drawings and diagrams. It should be read from start to finish and studied in full before you begin assembly. If you need a copy of your assembly instructions either prior to or after your assembly, Home Supplier can send you a PDF copy.
Tools and Equipment
“Power tools not recommended”
Flat pack furniture will sometimes include a few basic tools required for assembly. In most cases you will need to have additional tools at your disposal and these extra requirements will be illustrated on the assembly instructions. Before you start building, check that you have all the necessary tools for your project. Warning: Power tools can make your work easier but can end up damaging your furniture, proceed with caution and take extra care if you decide to use them.
Building your Flat Pack
“Check each stage is complete before you move on”
It goes without saying that you should follow each stage of the assembly instructions step by step. Make sure each stage is completed before you move on to the next. Follow the instructions closely, never skip a stage and double check you are completed before you move to the next stage. Recheck the instructions from time to time to ensure that you are building it correctly. You really want to avoid having to redo the entire process due to a simple missed step.
Joints, Parts and Fixings
“All parts work together to give strength as well as function”
All of the parts in your flat pack furniture work together to give strength as well as function. Designed and engineered to precise dimensions and specifications that work collectively to give a smooth finish to joints, panels and appearance. It is not advisable to use power tools, don’t be tempted. Instead, tighten screws, bolts, etc. slowly and firmly by hand. NEVER MODIFY OR DRILL HOLES in your flat pack furniture.
Cam Locks are essential to the strength of the furniture and can sometimes be a bit tricky. There are two parts (camlock/cam dowel) working together to “pull” the parts and panels together. Before inserting the dowel into the camlock, ensure the arrow is pointing to the correct starting position. The camlock grips the cam dowel and pulls both panels together when turned. They are designed to turn one way only in the direction of the arrow. Turn very slowly and pay attention to the joint being worked on and only turn enough to give a firm hold. Be careful not to overtighten or the camlock will damage the board and laminate becoming loose over time. Get an understanding of how they work, and it will serve you well.
Squaring up your Flat Pack Furniture
“Measure diagonally to ensure the distance between each opposite corner is identical”
This is a very important part of the process if it applies to your project. The backing boards (if applicable) provide stability and ensure the furniture stands straight, without any movement. These are usually manufactured using fibreboard (sometimes known as hardboard). They are nailed to the back of the furniture using the panel pins provided. First you will need to make sure the furniture is square while lying flat on the floor. You will need to measure diagonally to ensure the distance between each opposite corner is identical. While the backing board is being applied, check periodically and re-measure to make sure nothing has moved. If it has, make the necessary adjustments before you go any further. It is not advisable to remove the board once it has been applied as this may cause damage.
IMPORTANT: As the nail goes through the hardboard fibreboard backing into the laminated furniture panel, make sure the nail is lined up to go through the centre of the edge of the furniture panel piece or you will risk damaging/bursting the side of the finished laminated board.
Final Adjustments
“some final tweaks and adjustments”
Some hinges and parts are adjustable and may need some final tweaks to make everything line up. If drawers appear to be stiff or stuck it is more likely that you have made an error along the way. Remove the drawers and slide them in again, checking the runners are engaged correctly. Check that you have the correct parts in position and be careful to avoid any damage to the moving parts. If you need to rectify or remove any hinges or runners afterwards, you will need to be careful not to lose or damage any parts. Remove the parts in reverse order of the assembly and always have help of a second person if you need to undo any stages. Remember your furniture is not meant to be disassembled so you may need to seek professional advice or contact the manufacturer for help.
Additional Work
“Check for wires, pipes and anything else that may be hidden”
Wall brackets are sometimes provided for tall heavy items such as wardrobes and display cabinets, for safety and additional stability. You should always assess the surface that you are mounting the brackets to make sure it is suitable and strong enough to hold the fixings and weight of the furniture. This assessment will normally be outside of the scope of supplied instructions and should be carried out by a professional or competent DIYer. The work will also require specialist tools and accessories for the job in hand. Before planning to drill into any surface, you will need to check for electric wires, pipes, and anything else that may be hidden underneath the surface.
Conclusion
“We hope you find this guide useful”
We have had some positive feedback about our flat pack guide for assembly and hope you find it useful. As always, if you have any feedback or questions, get in touch at sales@homesupplier.co.uk. Thank you for reading.
Best Regards,
Home Supplier Sales Team