The inspection hatch may differ not only in components, that is, in the material used, but also in size, location, opening and closing design.
When choosing a material, you need to consider what the wall, floor or ceiling covering consists of.
If it is a tile, we also make a hatch from a tile, if from panels, we add it from them.
If the wall covering, say, consists of artificial or natural stone, we cover the hatch with it.
Access hatch materials
In addition to the material used as a camouflage so that the hatch does not spoil the appearance of the interior, the main one is used.
They may be:
- ordinary tree. If you have wood surfaces that you can carefully sand down, soak with antiseptic, and cover with a damp-proofing slurry, this option is fine. If you skip the processing step, the hatch will not last long due to the high level of humidity in the room;
- sheets of laminated chipboard or oriented strand board (OSB). These are durable sheets that consist of wood shavings. Additional processing is not needed - just cut the existing sheet to the desired size;
- drywall. Be sure to choose resistant to moisture - only he can withstand the conditions typical for the bathroom.
Do-it-yourself revision hatch can be made from different materials.
So, OSB will serve perfectly to create a frame, and the door can be made of drywall.
Preparing to create a do-it-yourself revision hatch
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- first we make a frame;
- after assembling the frame, install it;
- we fix the door;
- we fix the finishing material.
The size of the hatch will depend on the size of the niche reserved for the installation of devices for maintenance, repair and, in general, the storage of important communication devices.
We make the frame from OSB - chipboard (can be replaced with chipboard). We measure the distance between the walls.
Usually, a hatch size of 20x30 cm is enough to accommodate a water meter and wrenches, but if the renovation in your bathroom is almost ready, and the walls are covered with finishing material, the dimensions will be individual.
If you need to restore an old bath, then it is quite possible to create such a hatch near it, below, by closing the lower part with either a hinged or exit cover. The swing option will be easier.
Auxiliary materials:
- push system mechanism required to open and close the door;
- glue;
- reinforced mesh;
- glue for ceramics (if you didn’t use ceramic tiles for wall decoration, choose glue for your material).
How to make an inspection hatch with your own hands
The sequence of actions when creating a hatch will be as follows:
- we process the surface of the wall to which the profile or the frame itself will be attached (level, remove dust). The profile is needed to ensure maximum structural reliability, but its use is relevant mainly when using ordinary wooden bars as a frame. The profile is attached to the wall with self-tapping screws, dowels or anchors;
- we install wooden bars in the profile using building glue, if metal profiles were installed at all. If not, we assemble a wooden frame separately and install it as shown in the diagram above;
- fasten to the bars or to the frame Push-system. Fasteners will come with it, and we will use them. There will be half of the parts from the kit for fastening directly to the door;
- making a door. To do this, we accurately measure the free space not inside the frame, but in general, that which should align the outer wall with the door. We cut drywall or other material;
- we attach elements of the Push-system to the door;
- we fix the door to the frame, connecting the elements of the Push-system;
- we try how correctly we carried out the installation;
- The most important step is finishing the door.
It is better to produce a door with the same responsibility as a do-it-yourself plumbing is created.
The appearance of the wall and whether the hatch will be noticeable depends on the accuracy of the measurements. If the walls are covered with tiles, measure the size of one unit of tiles and compare it with the size of the hatch.
You can make several identical strips by dividing the required size (corresponding to the dimensions of the door) into equal parts.
The tile is attached to a special glue, it is recommended to wipe it in the same way as it happens with a standard finish.
If you don't have tiles of the required color left, buy several solid elements, the colors of which will match one of the colors on the patterns of the tiles used for decoration.
If the hatch is covered with stone, there is no need to make calculations at all. But in the case of waterproof wallpaper, it is important to prepare the surface of the door well.
In a do-it-yourself revision hatch, you can hide the counter, tools, plumbing elements and much more.
