How best to deal with plastered over concealed access panel

[dave_104]

Hi

Just a question on plaster-over access panels and if anyone could help me know how to deal properly with these please?

I'm unsure how to finish it prior to and once plastered. Instructions say to cut around the gap with a knife - but when everything is all plastered over how the heck do I find the 1mm wide gap? Do I bang the door a few times and hope a fine crack appears, then follow the crack and cut it cleaner with a loose hacksaw blade? Or is it cut while the plaster is still wet? I'm guessing some of the plaster on the sides would likely crumble away and need fixing when dry too? Should I also be pushing some filler into the rough gap between the outer edge/plasterboard edge as well before plastering?

Our plasterer says I should put a stop bead around the outside, but my thoughts are this would make the inner panel recessed and more obvious - and what I want to achieve is just knowing where the door is discreetly and not wanting it to stand out.

Thanks, Dave

 

[Wayners]

Masq purple tape and cover the entire panel. As plaster is setting dig at the centre and find masking tape. Pull off.
You can use any masking tape I guess. I just like the low tack

 

[robinbanks]

Wegde some string into the entire perimeter of the gap, with a tail hanging, tell your plasterer to be careful with it, don't plaster it in thickly (have the gap edges set the level for the plaster; paint will hide them), then when done with the finish and before it's dry, pull the string

 

[dave_104]

Thanks for that! Will give it a go. I also read it's best to surround the outer edge with scrim tape and fill in the gap between the outer frame and the PB to avoid it cracking there.