How to remove this access panel?

[diyyid]

I took the screws out and expected it to come off easily. Tried lightly prying it with a plastic car trim removal piece, it flexes but doesn't come out.

 

[Burnerman]

Do you suspect someone has helped it to stick with silicone?
John

 

[CBW]

Could try scoring the perimeter with a utility knife? Try a wallpaper scraper to use to try and manoeuvre.

 

[diyyid]

Chris - I tried with a utility knife, hence the not so neat edges. But it gave me just enough room to slid my car trim piece in. Unfortunately no wallpaper scraper to hand.

John - is silicone usual practice? Would be daft to use it here as there's a cockstop behind it with no easy access.

 

[Burnerman]

I suspect the loo cistern lid (and possibly the cistern itself) is stuck to the panel with silicone....see if you can remove the cistern lid and see what’s there.
John

 

[diyyid]

The lid comes off and it doesn't look like the cistern is siliconed down. The top panel is separate

 

[HERTS P&D]

The paint is holding it in place.

Andy

 

[Burnerman]

I can see the two pieces of panel now.....one more screw to shift, just above the cistern lid.
So, its either paint as per Andy, or some joker has applied the silicone which has a tenacious grip.
I reckon you’ll have to heave away, from the top.
Good luck with it!
John

 

[big-all]

assuming they are say no7 or3.5mm screws do you have a no10/12 or 5/6mm screw
my thought insert larger screw only into panel and see iff you can work it loose with any chewing up hidden by the cups

 

[diyyid]

Thanks gents, gonna have another crack at it tomorrow. The paint is surprisingly stubborn against my trusty utility knife. It flexes most in the top right, but my trim removal kit isn't up to the task, need to find something metal to pull it off with.

 

[Ian H]

You need to push it upwards, they usually hang on some brackets.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

They're normally one or the other IME, I'd get a jemi in the top and give it a little prise.

 

[foxhole]

Just screw a D handle to it and pull off .

 

[footprints]

My bet would be the same as HERTS paint got into the gap around it maybe several years worth.
Just a word of caution some bathroom panels over ducts might be asbestos so bear it in mind.

 

[foxhole]

Chris - I tried with a utility knife, hence the not so neat edges. But it gave me just enough room to slid my car trim piece in. Unfortunately no wallpaper scraper to hand.

John - is silicone usual practice? Would be daft to use it here as there's a cockstop behind it with no easy access.

How do you know stopcock is behind?