Mark Roemer Oakland Explains How to Hide Wall Access Panels

According to Mark Roemer Oakland, wall access panels are essential to preserving the safety and security of the HVAC systems, plumbing systems, and electrical systems in your house since they allow easy access to those during emergency situations and routine maintenance. However, wall access panels can ruin the aesthetic feel of the room and thus, need to be hidden in plain sight.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few tips you can follow to hide wall access panels:

Use furniture and decorations to camouflage the access panels – One of the easiest ways to hide access panels is to camouflage them using decorations and furniture. For instance, you can use suitable artwork, mirrors, picture frames, and even customized cork boards to hide the access panels. Of course, it is recommended that you use something that is lightweight and easy to remove when needed to allow easy access to the panels. This is a suitable strategy if the panels need to be accessed once a month or so.

Alternatively, if there is no need for the panels to be accessed as frequently, you can use furniture pieces such as free-standing bookshelves, cabinets, tall clocks, or even tall potted plants to hide the access panels.

Install an air return on the access panel door – A great way to blend the wall access panel with the interior design of the room is to add a framed, louvered air return on the door of the access panel. Installing air ventilation offers a lot of benefits and allows the access panel to blend seamlessly with the decor.

The best part is that you can choose from a few different sizes and customize the air return to mesh well with the access panel.

Match the finish of the access panel to the wall surface – You can choose from a variety of finishes or coatings when selecting the doors of the access panels to match the finish of a specific wall. For instance, it is possible to apply a powder coat or aluminum coat or even paint it so long as it doesn’t conflict with the function of the access panel.

In such cases, the access panel doors would still be slightly visible but still complement the decor of the room. However, you would have to paint a warning sign or caution sign-on access panel doors that provide access to dangerous systems to prevent any accidents.

Hide the access panel in the attic or ceiling access doors – There are a lot of options to choose from if you want to house your access panel on the top. The most common option is to opt for a ceiling hatch, but you can also choose a drop-in door or a sesame exposed grid ceiling hatch as well.

Conclusion

Mark Roemer Oakland suggests you consult access panel installation experts or your contractor and ask for their recommendations on how to hide wall access panels safely. You can learn about the various different types of access panels, qualities, and materials that you could choose from as well.