Drywall Access Cutout around electrical panel for future work

[snorky18]

We're about to put our house on the market, so I'm tidying up a few things, including the sheet rock that has been missing above and below my garage subpanel.

I'm debating if I should patch the drywall normally (so if anyone else ever needs in there they'll have to cut it out again) OR if I should try to buy/build some sort of access panel that would be relatively easy to put in. If it matters in terms of fire codes, this is the garage wall, and there is living space on the other side.

Personally, I'd rather buy a house with easy access b/c I would probably want to add to the electrical down the road (am I preaching to the choir here? ) BUT I also realize some people may be more "comfortable" with it looking like nothing had ever been added there, and some may never add anything.

We don't have the original paint for the garage (at least I don't think we do), so bonus points if I don't have to try to go color match 8 year old paint. I still have the painted piece of sheet rock that covers the bottom access.

So should I patch it normally, or does anyone have any simple ideas for any access panel?

 

[CitadelBlue]

I have a similar issue .......

 

[Jamie V]

I put one in my pole barn for pulling future wires.

 

[Trainman]

I'd patch it, since I believe the odds are better that a prospective buyer would care more about the appearance than the ease of access. That said, take one of the drywall pieces down to Lowes/HD and have a $3 sample of paint mixed if you don't have any of the original paint left. My other suggestion would be not to bother with taping and mud for such a small thing....just set the piece in, run a good bead of paintable caulk on the seam, and paint it. I'd bet no one will notice it and if they do, you just tell them it's that way for easy access.

 

[Speedy Petey]

You know that a *%$#@ home inspector will make a huge deal out of the fire seapartion issue.
Patch it and don't worry about the new owner's access.

 

[snorky18]

I put one in my pole barn for pulling future wires.

Jamie,

I like the looks of that thing. What is it called, who makes it, and where did you get it?

 

[Richard Cranium]

I got a plastic frame and pop out from ace hardware, they had two sizes...Rich...

 

[Norcal]

You know that a *%$#@ home inspector will make a huge deal out of the fire seapartion issue.
Patch it and don't worry about the new owner's access.

My thoughts also a HI will make a big issue out of it,patch it & get a quart of paint matched from the cut piece of drywall, a "what-if" is not the sellers problem.

 

[snorky18]

My thoughts also a HI will make a big issue out of it,patch it & get a quart of paint matched from the cut piece of drywall, a "what-if" is not the sellers problem.

That's what I ended up doing, and for that reason; the mud is drying as we speak. And I found a quart of garage wall colored paint, in, of all places, the corner of the garage :rocker

Pexsupply had some nice fire rated access panels, but they were too tall for my application, AND they were pricey for the fire rated version.

 

[Jamie V]

Jamie,

I like the looks of that thing. What is it called, who makes it, and where did you get it?

It's a drywall access panel. I got mine from a local construction supply company. It's a 14"x14" one but you can get them in any size. I have two 24"x24" ones in the ceiling of the garage for access to the attic.