Homemade hatch for the crawl space from waterproof plywood, by Wouter

On this page, Wouter shares his experience with making a hatch for the crawl space from water-resistant plywood. He provides useful steps and tips for this practical task. With his DIY approach, Wouter has created a sturdy and durable hatch that provides easy access to the crawl space and is resistant to moisture. Follow his steps and make your own hatch for the crawl space.

Description by Wouter

The hatch above the crawl space was sagging. There is always water in the crawl space. So, a new, water-resistant, and sturdy hatch was needed, on which one can stand without danger to life.

How I made this project

The opening measures 80.0 x 60.0 cm. It has a metal corner profile of 3.0 cm height all around. Two layers of water-resistant plywood, 15 mm thick, are glued together to fit inside this profile. Above, in the tiled floor, there is a recess of 124.0 x 120.0 cm. The large piece of plywood fits into this recess. This large piece is glued onto the smaller one, creating a very sturdy hatch consisting of three layers of water-resistant plywood. It is sealed on the sides and then primed and painted in high gloss.