Alright folks, let me break down how I tackled installing crawl space doors in those stupid tight corners. Total nightmare at first, but figured it out through trial and error.
Why Bother With Tight Spots?
So my basement’s got this awkward corner behind the furnace – maybe 18 inches clearance tops. Couldn’t fit a standard door there, and contractors wanted $800 just for the labor. Nope. Did what I always do: stared at the problem for two hours straight with a coffee in hand.
What I Grabbed From My Garage
- Steel access door kit (the skinny 14×14 inch type)
- Reciprocating saw with metal blade
- Cheap angle grinder from Harbor Freight
- Dust mask (seriously, wear this)
- Framing square and measuring tape
Almost bought one of those “easy install” plastic doors. Glad I didn’t – plastic warps when you cut it.
The Struggle Was Real
First mistake? Didn’t check existing framing. My saw hit a friggin’ pipe bracket on the first cut. Sparks everywhere. Shut off the main water line just in case – totally stalled the project for three days while I calmed down. Researched pipe locations like my life depended on it.
Cutting the opening sucked. Couldn’t swing the reciprocating saw properly in that corner. Ended up sitting cross-legged like a preschooler, making tiny nibble cuts. Took forever. Metal shavings in my hair for a week.
Making It Actually Fit
Here’s where I got clever: trimmed the door flange myself. Original flange was 2 inches wide – too fat for the space. Marked 1 inch margins with a Sharpie and went at it with the angle grinder. Looked like a murder scene afterward with all those metal curls on the floor.
Test-fitted it six times. Sixth time was the charm – shimmed the bottom with washers because my concrete floor slopes. Used masonry anchors since wood framing wasn’t available on one side. Don’t recommend this unless you’re desperate.
The Victory Dance
Secured it with self-tapping screws instead of bolts because my drill wouldn’t fit otherwise. Slapped on the cover plate and BOOM – opens smooth. Felt like I’d split the atom. Only took four trips to Home Depot and two bandaged fingers.
Lessons? Measure your space three times before buying anything. Tight spots turn simple jobs into Olympic events. Still have metal dust in my eyebrows though.