How should I cover a big hole in drywall?

[Gunslinger08]

I recently had a leak on the main water line coming into my house. I had 2 access panels in the area, but the leak was actually right between them, so I had to cut out a section of drywall between them. The new hole is about 16" wide by 48" tall. I could have my drywall guy fix it, but I'd rather find something removable to cover it up, in case I have another leak. I'm thinking about cutting 1/4" plywood to overlap the hole by an inch or two, painting it to match the wall, and screwing it into the studs. I'm just concerned that this wouldn't look great. Anybody have an idea?

 

[spidey07]

Just cut it out so you have half of the stud exposed, cut drywall to fit, screw in, mud, mud, mud, sand, paint.

-edit-
oh, removable.

 

[Pardus]

Here's How

 

[bruceb]

What spidey07 says is the easiest and best way to do. Also the quickest. Just make sure the opening is square as it will be much easier to cut the patch piece to fit it that way. On drywall the narrow width will both have tapered edges. You want those on the studs for a nice finish when you tape and mud it.

 

[highland145]

What spidey said. If the leak was fixed properly, you shouldn't need to access it any time soon.

I HATE FUCKING MUDDING.
Thanks

 

[Numenorean]

NM, different poster.

 

[bignateyk]

What spidey said. If the leak was fixed properly, you shouldn't need to access it any time soon.

I HATE FUCKING MUDDING.
Thanks

The only thing that irritates me more than drywall mudding is taping before painting.

 

[0roo0roo]

well drywall is easier to cut that plywood thats for sure, youd have to mud either way.

 

[DesiPower]

Copy past title in youtube.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Nobody seems to be reading the part where I want it to be removable. Of course I can just fix the drywall. I don't want to have to cut this out again if I have problems in the future after carpet is down.

 

[bignateyk]

Nobody seems to be reading the part where I want it to be removable.

You aren't going to find a 16x48 access panel. I think the best you are gonna find is an 18x18 (at least at your local hardware type stores). I would put drywall over the whole thing, mud it, and then cut out a smaller access panel into it. (do you really need to access the whole 16x48 of it?)

 

[Miscthree]

Nobody seems to be reading the part where I want it to be removable.

Why do you want it removable? Once it's fixed, no need to access it again.

Put a large framed poster in front of it. Shawshank style.

 

[vi edit]

You could get a piece of 1/2" baltic birch plywood, then take some chair rail or cove moulding or quarter round and trim it out to make it look nice. Add some hinges and turn it into a access door. You can paint/stain it to match the rest of the decor.

 

[Spacehead]

Put a large framed poster in front of it. Shawshank style.

Kinda what i was thinking... a large painting. But 16 x 48 is pretty big.


What room is it in? How nice does it need to look?
You could do what you were thinking about("I'm thinking about cutting 1/4" plywood to overlap the hole by an inch or two, painting it to match the wall, and screwing it into the studs")then place a bookshelf or something like that in front of it?

 

[bruceb]

Have a look at this site (not sure how big they go up or how much it will cost)

http://www.ameraproducts.com/Access_Doors.htm?a=www.accesspanels.net

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

hang a poster over it.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Edwar.../dp/B001J4LFIW

:awe:

 

[NoCreativity]

You could get a piece of 1/2" baltic birch plywood, then take some chair rail or cove moulding or quarter round and trim it out to make it look nice. Add some hinges and turn it into a access door. You can paint/stain it to match the rest of the decor.

Based on what you have said this is the best approach.

 

[highland145]

hang a poster over it.

Trident?



j/k

Neckbeard. For sure.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Don't have any good pictures on me. Here's the best I've got:

Pre-drywall:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/joshsquall/pre-drywall.JPG

Post-drywall from a different room. You can make out the 2 access panel holes on the other side of the half wall:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/joshsquall/post-drywall.JPG

It's a theater room. I'll have seating backed up to the half wall, pushed up near the access panel area.

 

[Squisher]

They actually sell paint-able access panels at Home Depot, but they're kinda pricey. Rather that plywood I'd look at piece of Masonite (hardboard). Masonite paints up much smoother than plywood. You can either stabilize the edge of the drywall with a piece of J-channel mudded in or make a little frame with molding.

If it were me, I'd just screw down the masonite next to the j-channeled drywall so that all you saw was a seam and put those screw covers over the screw heads. Hopefully you won't need to access this regularly.

 

[sdifox]

build a frame and put a door on it

 

[guyver01]

Chicken Wire and Silly putty

 

[CptObvious]

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Patch+and+Re...all_498789296_

 

[Sluggo]

build a frame and put a door on it

That's the route I would choose. Just cut out all the drywall between the studs and get a pre-hung door unit to put between the studs and trim it out with door casing. You might have to frame the opening in a bit with a 2x4 or two to make a standard 2-0, 1-10, 1-6 door fit, but the casing should cover the extra gaps.

Next time you have plumbing issues, just turn the handle and open the door.