hidden manhole into ceiling

[Alan m]

hi all
anybody got any special way to fit a manhole into an attic or ceiling etc. i have 2 to do soon and want them to be a hidden as possable.
in the past i have used a door frame for the frame and made the lid with a section sticking down so that it was flush with the ceiling but you still need an architrave around it to cover the crack between the timber and slab

thanks alan

 

[galwaydude18@gmail.com]

You can access panels from cpd in Dublin. I'll try find it on there site tomorrow for you

 

[Deansocial]

http://www.profilex.co.uk/access_panels/standard_access_panels.aspx

As said try cpd for these

 

[Alan m]

they look good but are probably too expensive for normal jobs. also i dont thing you could add stuff to them to match the ceiling (fancy slabs, wooden ceiling etc).
i was hoping for a neat way of doing it on site with wood etc

 

[Deansocial]

instead of architrave around it then use either that bead that i linked to before sat on the face of the frae to accept the plasterboard or use the 10 or 25mm reveal bead that they make to go around it to create a neat shadow gap

 

[Wooden Lungs]

Just read this and I know its been posted a while but reminded me of a job in Dublin a few years back and no architrave was used throughout the whole job.

Basically when the door linings hatches etc were fitted the edge of the lining was flush to the plaster skim.

To acheive this "shadow gap" style was relatively easy.

Linings etc had a small 2-3mm square groove routed on the outer edge (that met plaster stop bead) Then linings fitted proud of plasterboard by 3-4mm. then a plaster "stop bead" is fitted tight to lining edge.

When the plasterers skim coat the board it is then scraped back along stop bead. This leaves a very small neat "shadow gap".

In the end the building won some type of architectural award. Was tricky to work on though because everthing was bespoke in some way.

Alan I like how you use the word "Slab" to describe drylining! When I fist arrived in the UK when I said to the lads on site I could "Slab" they all thought I meant doing driveways or patios  :

I have to admit I was skeptical how it would look but after it was all decorated it look really smart. Plasterer has to know his stuff or it will ruin the effect.

It leaves a really flush modern looking hatch or door ope.

 

[Alan m]

that sounds like a good way to do it.
in the end we just did it the normal way because they skimed the ceiling before we got back to do it.
if they need it done now we might sand it back and put a skim corner bead around and use joint filler to blend it in. .

still searching for the perfect way

 

[lambeater]

Can you hide them in the closet for access.

thx
Lambeater

 

[Saskataper]

http://trim-tex.com/product_catalog.php?cat_display=showproduct&id=136

I know I'm late to the party on this one but it sounds like this is what you needed.