How to Cut an Access Panel in a Tile Wall

A convenient way to cut tile is with a rotary tool featuring an appropriate tile attachment. The attachment consists of a height-adjustable base featuring a drill bit that is designed to drill and cut tile material. Place an access panel over the hole in the tile so that you can reenter it as needed. Specialized access panels, which are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, feature clips that secure them to the wall. Due to its clip feature, you can install an access panel on any wall without adding bracing or installing hardware.

Access panel
Level
Marker
Rotary tool
Tile-cutting kit
Safety glasses
Earplugs
Dust mask

Instructions

- 1
  Place the panel base flush against the tile where you'll install it . Place a level on the top of the panel to ensure it's level. Trace around the base, which is pressed against the tile, using a felt tip marker. Place the panel on the floor.
- 2
  Attach the tile-cutting kit to the rotary tool base. Place the tile cutting tip near the layout line and turn the rotary tool on. Gently push the tip of the cutting bit into the tile until the depth base sits flush against the wall.
- 3
  Slide the rotary tool, keeping the base flush against the tile, in a forward direction following the layout lines that you traced with a marker. Pull the section of tile featuring backboard material out to expose the inside of the wall.
- 4
  Open the access panel door to expose the inside clips. Pull the clips back and slip the panel into the hole. Release the clips so that they fold beneath the wall material.

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