How to Build a Removable Wall Panel in a Basement

When you're finishing a basement, one of the first things you'll do is to build stud walls on the interior walls. The stud walls provide a space for insulation, allow room to run wiring and locate switches and outlets, and also provide a framework on which drywall can be installed. In some cases, you may have to leave access to items that are already installed on the walls, like water shutoff valves. You can do this by building a removable panel that installs onto the walls board you install on your stud walls.

Things You'll Need

• Keyhole saw
• 1/4-inch plywood
• Saw
• Drill
• Four 1-inch machine bolts, with matching washers and wing nuts

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Cut a square opening to the desired size in the wall board.

   • 2

     Cut a square piece of thin plywood that is 2 inches larger on each side than the opening.

   • 3

     Center the plywood onto the opening. Drill a hole through the plywood and wall 1 inch in from each corner of the plywood. Remove the plywood.

   • 4

     Place washers on your machine bolts. Reach behind the wall through the opening and insert the bolts into the holes so that the threads face out.

   • 5

     Place the board onto the bolts. Thread wing nuts onto the bolts and tighten to hold the panel in place.