If you’re looking for a more flexible way to access the electrical wiring, plumbing or ductwork in your walls—and other spaces—you should definitely consider installing an access panel. Vents and ducts can get clogged with dust, while electrical wiring and plumbing can deteriorate or burst over time. Most people don’t want to take on tearing down their walls just to replace a circuit breaker box or repair a pipe. The good news: Access panels make it easy to fix any problem with your home’s utilities without having to put up drywall every time something needs fixing. Here’s what you need to know about installing one in your home
Tools and Materials
Tools and Materials Needed:
- Drill with a hammer drill bit (or masonry bit if you are drilling through brick)
- Screwdriver or power drill with screwdriver attachment
- Pencil, tape measure, level, plumb bob or laser level The amount of materials needed will depend on the size of your access panel and where it is located in your home. If you are removing an existing wall to make room for an access panel, consider using structural insulated panels (SIPs). SIPs will greatly reduce the amount of framing material required because they come pre-framed with solid wood studs that can be installed directly into place without any additional framing. You’ll want to purchase enough insulation board to cover both sides of any new walls that require insulation as well as the ceiling if replacing a drop ceiling with open joists.
3/4-inch plywood for the panel frame (a piece big enough to make a frame 2 1/2 inches larger than the opening on all sides)
The panel frame:
- Use 3/4-inch plywood for the panel frame (a piece big enough to make a frame 2 1/2 inches larger than the opening on all sides). Plywood that is at least 3/4 inches thick works best. Make sure it’s exactly the right size and shape to fit in the opening, or it won’t fit properly when you go to install it.
- Nail the plywood in place using a good quality nail gun with 2 inch nails driven at a 45° angle into 2×4 studs that are 16” oc apart on center along both sides of where you want your access panel to be located.
2-inch drywall screws
- Use a screwdriver to put in the drywall screws.
- Use a power drill to put in the drywall screws.
- Use a screw gun to put in the drywall screws.
If you don’t have access to any of these tools, use a cordless screwdriver or cordless screw gun (depending on whether you’re using an electric drill). If you don’t have access to any of these tools, use whatever tool is available that can fit into your wall cavity and twist outwards while holding onto a piece of wood below it so that it doesn’t fall down into your wall cavity
2-inch wood screws
2-inch wood screws have a large head, which allows you to drive it into the wall without having to worry about the screw head slipping out of place. The sharp point and large thread diameter also give these screws added strength and durability, making them ideal for use in this project.
The size and shape of the screw heads are important for driving them into your wall. A flat head screwdriver can be used with most sizes of screws (up to 3 inches), but larger heads may require a special tool called an impact driver or drill bit set. If you don’t have access panel fasteners that fit this description, consider using 3-inch wood screws instead! The extra length will make up for any gaps between your access panel frame and walls where others might fall off easily
1/2-inch drywall
- 1/2-inch drywall is used for installing electrical outlets
- 1/2-inch drywall is used for installing light switches
- 1/2-inch drywall is used for installing thermostats
- 1/2-inch drywall is used for installing smoke detectors
If you’re remodeling your bathroom, you can use the following materials to build access panels. You can also use them to build a hidden storage compartment behind the sink (if you have one).
Sheet metal screws
You can use sheet metal screws to attach the access panel to the wall. Sheet metal screws are stronger, more durable and harder to remove than standard wood screws. They’re also more expensive. To remove them, use a screwdriver or drill driver with an appropriate bit size to drive them out of the wall. If you’re using pliers to hold the screw steady while removing it, be careful not to damage both sides of your panel or it will look like Swiss cheese when you hang them back up again
Having an access panel in your wall can be very useful.
An access panel in a wall can be used for many different purposes. It may be used to access the wires behind your electrical panel, the pipes behind your plumbing panels, or even your HVAC unit. The access panel is also great for mounting thermostats or cable TV boxes.
If you have never installed an access panel before and do not have much experience with construction projects, it is highly recommended that you consult with a professional electrician before starting this project. Even if you have experience working on home improvement projects yourself, having help from someone who knows what they are doing will make this process go more smoothly and help ensure it’s done right
Conclusion
You can easily acquire the supplies you need to build access panels for walls yourself. You can use any number of materials, including sheet metal or drywall. Once you’ve chosen the material that best fits your needs, it’s time to get started building! Follow these steps and you will be well on your way.
Creating an access panel in a wall is pretty easy once you know how to do it.
