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We've got a free standing wardrobe in our bedroom that has started to lean forward. The issue, I suspect, is that the front is very heavy (big, glass fronted doors) and the back is lighter (basically, chip board), it's also sat on a new and very deep carpet. It's attached to the wall via a bit of chord supplied with it but I'm not sure how much use that is.
So, before Mrs Lunge get squashed by a falling wardrode, any ideas to prop it up that don't look like I've jammed some wood haphazardly under the front? I can't move it much, if at all, but could create maybe 2 inches space under the front by pushing the top back towards the wall.
Thanks all.
Can you fix it back to the wall with a bracket?  Either that or brace the side of the wardrobe itself.
Last resort turn it round so it leans backwards đŸ™‚
Can you fix it back to the wall with a bracket?
Dead easy to do with a small L bracket. Ours are freestanding but look fitted and they are fixed to the wall using a small L bracket, as is the narrow larder unit in the kitchen
Sounds like either the wardrobe is falling apart or the floor is. (Or both?)
Back edge of warbrode resting on the carpet gripper, hence raising it up?
We've got rather uneven floors throughout our house (old age) and most furniture has bits of wood rammed under the front edge to stop them leaning forward, cut it to fit such that it can't be seen.
L bracket will stop it leaning any further forwards (if this is getting worse though I'd be worried as it sounds like the floor may be sagging) but if you want to get it back to its upright position you'll need to empty completely before pushing it back and then I think the only real answer is blocking the front up and once vertical again fixing a bracket to the wall as well to stop it tipping again.
Fill the back of the wardrobe with concrete to counter balance the weight.
Chop a bit off the back legs.
Ask all the lions and witches to shuffle back a bit.
Our ikea ones have adjustable front legs to stop this, but they only really stopped leaning forward when i bolted them to the wall.
The back might be resting on the wooden carpet gripper which is under the edge of the carpet? I guess you could try taking a notch out of the back?
I make and fit furniture. It is essential to make sure wardrobes can't topple over. I always make mine to lean back just a touch.
1) check if the floor is level. If it can be rectified, by removing gripper etc., do that. However most floors slope away from the wall.
2) check if the wardrobe is twisting in some way
3) see if you can cut off some of the base at the back. You might be able to scribe round the skirting too to allow the wardrobe to get closer to the wall.
4) Fix a bracket from the wardrobe to a wall. Doesn't matter if it's the back wall or a side wall. If the wardrobe goes up to the ceiling then a piece wedged up against the ceiling and fixed to the back will do it. When fixing the bracket to the wardrobe make sure it's a strong bit - not the floppy cardboard back.
Push the wardrobe back to the wall so the front is lifted then slide a piece of wood underneath to wedge it upright.
our free-standing wardrobes have a large screw head in each of the four feet (look inside the wardrobe and the screw head is on top of the feet) and you basically just screw each one inwards or outwards until it is level
Back edge of warbrode resting on the carpet gripper, hence raising it up?
gets my bet
wedge the front up on some bits of hardboard
Whats the construction of the base of the offending item? I had a bookcase that did the same on carpet - the base was 3/4 inch skirting on the 2 sides and front. The back was unsupported. All the weight on the skirting made it sink into the carpet. I made and adjustable 'foot' at the front using 50mm strips of ply full width with captive nuts and bolts. Adjusted it just high enough to take most of the weight off the skirting. Skirting still touches the carpet so you can't see a gap.
Mine does that because it rests on the gripper. Solution was to cut some shims from carpet offcuts and put them under the front of the wardrobe. Nigh on invisible.
Only problem is they compact so in a couple of months had to repeat the process but fine since then.
Turn it 180 so it leans against the wall rather than forward.
If it's the carpet gripper, move the wordrobe forward, lift the carpet at the edge and remove the sections of gripper behind it and replace the wardrobe.
The carpet ain't going anywhere.
I would identify some furniture risers such as this:
I assume there is a section under the wardrobe where something like this could be fitted, it would then provide a concealed leveling option for the base of the unit, you should also tie it in to the wall with a strap.
2" is a huge gap - assuming a typical depth wardrobe (600mm?) that must be leaning in loads
Jack up the house to counteract the lean?
Wrap it in Bacon?
You've got a contaminated wardrobe, sand it down and put it in the oven for 30 minutes at max. Then when you reasemble it replace the floor
Swap houses with me for a couple of weeks. It’s like being at sea with the squeaky, uneven floors and not a single level surface. Two weeks of it (and seeing every bit of furniture propped up in some fashion) will make you think your wardrobe is fine.
50mm gap isn't that crazy if it's resting on the gripper. Of course the other option is your walls are well out of plumb which isn't that crazy either.
If the wardrobe goes up to the ceiling then a piece wedged up against the ceiling and fixed to the back will do it.
I have to ask, why bother? Geometry already has that covered.
Had the same issue, wasn't a problem in itself, but the kids are prone to climbing inside and hiding so had to prevent it toppling.
Didn't think about the gripper at all so that's a great shout - to be honest though I couldn't be bothered to move the wardrobe as it was wedged in an awkward spot. Couple of coasters under the front feet straightened it out and they were hidden by the wardrobe itself - then used an L bracket to fix to the wall.
As kids have got bigger the rawl plugs and screws used have too.
I have to ask, why bother? Geometry already has that covered.
In my line of work a "full height" wardrobe is 100mm shorter than the ceiling height (or you'd never be able to lift it upright) with an infill at the front from the top to the ceiling. It's ability to fall forwards is not diminished, but wedge a lump of wood at the back (concealed by the infil) and job's a goodun.
Fit your wife with a roll cage to protect her if it topples
Put the appropriate sized wedges under the toes of your slippers so that you're at the same angle as it.
Thank for all of the responses folks.
I suspect it could well be on the carpet gripper. I'm either going to buy some wedges or cut up some old pieces of laminate flooring I have and put those under the front edge. Either should, hopefully, stop the leaning getting worse.