Making an access panel in a tiled wall concealing a toilet

[DEN1S]

I have problems with my 2 year old Grohe pneumatic toilet system and the plumber I engaged to install the en suite bathroom didn’t give me any access panel …(':cb') I know I should have insisted!! In any case this is where I am now and Grohe say they will repair the unit if they have access. Imagine a hanging toilet on a tiled wall. I think I will have to replace 6 tiles which are bonded onto 7 ply (or similar). The Exact Saw claims to be perfect for these situations but once having cut through the grout and ply and removed the ‘wall’ and obtained access what ideas have members got to make it neat and tidy and re-accessible? In an up market hotel I have seen a metal ‘picture frame’ around the removable ‘door/access panel’: but what catch system … magnetic? system have people used? Help please: Many thanks

[DIY_Johnny]

you can actually buy access panels of various sizes from B&Q etc

Simple to do, they just are glued into place. Some may not like the look of them. ok for stop cocks etc but to gain access to work at something, the panel might need to be very large and not look good.

[marc1106]

if the tiles are fixed to ply then you need somthing like a
KEKU clip! just google KEKU CLIP you should find them useable

[royaloakcarpentry]

Only thing with keku clips is that they are so good, you have to lever the panel back out with a fair amount of force and risk damaging tiles surrounding it. I love them and use them all the time but not near tiles.

I like the biffs way of doing access panels where tiles are layed onto ply........wedge panel into place and go around the join with silicone the same colour as the grout. Then you use the bottom end of the silicone tube to tool the silicone line. Spray a small amount of dilluted washing up liquid ove the silicone, then push the end of the tube along the silicone line, holding the tube at about a 30 degree angle to the tiles.

Then when you need access again all you need to do is cut silicone with stanley knife and gently prise panel out.