How to Cut Access Traps in Subfloors

Mark the area where you want the access trap with a pencil. Place the door you will eventually use on the subfloor and trace around it as the outline on the subfloor.

Adjust the foot of your circular saw to a 5/8-inch depth. This is the thickness of a standard subfloor. The foot of of saw is the metal plate, and it has an adjustment knob on the rear. Loosen the adjustment and pull the foot down until only 5/8 inches of the saw blade protrudes past the bottom of the foot. Tighten the adjustment knob.

Make a plunge cut at one corner of your layout with the circular saw. A plunge cut is when you start the saw with the rear of the blade at one corner and the saw pointing to the next corner. Slowly allow the saw blade to “plunge” into the subfloor until the foot of the saw is flush against the floor. Continue cutting to the next corner.

Stop the saw when you reach the next corner and pull it out of the floor. Go to the next side and proceed to make another plunge cut just as you did the first time. Cut to the next corner and repeat the process until all sides are cut.

Insert a 1/2-inch paddle bit into a drill. Drill a hole into the cut piece of subfloor with the paddle bit 4 inches from one end of the board. Only drill until you are through the subfloor.

Lift the cut piece of subfloor out with your finger using the hole as a handle.