DIY Access Panel Box

This is why I love DIY .....

Step 1 Diagram

Step 1

To the Ram, this manifold, mounted at the base of the upstairs hall closet inside each Momplex unit, is the pride of the entire Momplex. When new visitors stop by, it's one of the first things he shows them - look at the manifold, it controls the heated floor!

The manifold dispereses hot water throughout the upstairs floor of the Momplex, and the valves can be turned off in the event that there is a water leak. It's all that's visible of the heat system that we worked for weeks installing in the upstairs floor.

So when we started flooring inside the upstairs hall closet, the Ram wanted to simply cut the flooring around the manifold.

Step 2 Diagram

Step 2 Instructions

Good thing Grace and I were there that day.

I've shopped around quite a bit for a utility access box to cover the manifold, but they can be hundreds of dollars, and don't come in custom sizes.

This is gonna be a DIY fix. And it's a good thing Grace and I know how to build stuff, because the Ram wants no part in covering up this manifold.

Step 3 Diagram

Step 3 Instructions

Since it's just water lines that already run through wood joists and floors, we'll just take a 1x6 board and build a box. We'll place a 1x6 at the base to give room for attaching base moulding to match the rest of the interior base moulding.

The entire box will eventually get painted to match the closet wall. Then, unless you read this blog, or get the Ram's tour of the Momplex, you would never even know it's there!

Step 4 Diagram

Step 4 Instructions

Grace and I went down to the garage and cut the four boards to make up the sides, top and front. Then I used my Kreg Jig to drill pocket holes on the top insides of the sides, and then on both ends of the front board. Just 8 pocket holes in all.

Step 5 Diagram