DIY
Need the best minds for this!
Landlord left wardrobe screwed into wall. He said we can’t move it. We realised there is a hole in the attic door so it can slide past the wardrobe as it comes down.
It looks really ugly. Landlord said we can cover it up. We would still like to use the attic for storage and seasonal clothes.
Is there a way to use something to cover the hole up but also it be flexible enough for it to slide down past the wardrobe without damaging it? Was thinking a white rubber trim?
Discussion
I would get a small child and put them in the attic with a small wooden block to hold into place. If they drop the block they get the hose. Rinse(literally) and repeat. It may take a while but they’ll figure it out.
Or you know, you could do one of these boring things the other people are talking about.
😂😂😂
That is a fire rated door. Should be restored to what ever the code rating is. Likely illegal in a rental.
Working in property management, I would look into this. If this is the case, it definitely matters. When it comes to fire, even that little gap can matter….
Doesn't look fire rated to me, isn't there wide gaps around the whole thing without any kind of seal? But this is a good point and should be checked.
Definitely not fire rated. But good point and good looking out
The code requires the he hatch to match or exceed the fire rating of the wall or ceiling drywall it’s installed in. Usually a one hour minimum.
This hatch definitely has a fire rating.
Cut a piece of wood that will fit in spot. Fasten it to the 2x4 using a small 90 bracket. When you open door it will just stay in place. Will still be noticeable but no open hole. If you take your time with it sanding both the door and new block so everything is clean and looks good. That’ll be an easy fix.
Glue some magnets on the face. Take a piece of thin luon or formica secured with magnets. Easy to remove if you use some magnets that arent very strong.
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How often are you getting into the attic 🤔
3-4 times a day depending on how hungry the gimp gets.
You mean Hugo?
Right? I go up mine only like 4xs a year.
taking a square piece of material off from magnets is a hassle? Come on dude...you're being ridiculous right now.
Not really, when you look at how easy the top comment is
https://i.imgur.com/0pSoiHc.png
You can't just glue a block to the frame? Size it so the door doesn't touch it when it moves. Is there door hardware above that we can't see through the hole?
Really appreciate people who take their time to draw stuff up, thanks bud! ❤️
Screw a correctly sized piece of wood on to the frame to fill the hole. Paint it white.
I just want to point out how many pencil marks and arrows it took to cut that hole (more than one of which are weirdly going diagonally) and that they just left it as an embarrassing art piece. It almost looks like they started erasing it and then said nah too much effort.
Mount a block the size of the hole to the frame itself. Door drops down exactly as it is and the block stays mounted to the frame. Maybe that’s what others are saying?
Haha. What a weird little problem. I suppose it depends how involved you want it to be. You could easily make a little door with flush hinges to fill the gap that opens upwards when you bring the hatch down. It will always be noticeable but quite a whimsical little fix.
Or just fix the block for the missing part to the surround for the hatch as that doesn’t need to come down anyway. But that’s no fun at all!
Yeah just glue a block to the frame that will fit into that little hole. Might have to bevel the inside edge to let the door clear when it's opening and closing.
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The block wouldn't move. It stays in the opening. This is the same thing that I suggested
The hole is only a cm?
No. They're referring to the space between the front of the wardrobe and the hatch door when it's opened, meaning there's not much clearance.
Whimsical DIY is the best
Damn OP is not understanding the assignment
The fact that the landlord doesn't care about the living space being open to the attic causing insane inefficiencies in the house is all we need to know to say do your worst. He won't care.
Might be a conditioned attic
Ah yeah a conditioned attic yet they just jigsawed a piece of wood to give it clearance
Fill the hole, but attach the cover panel to the ceiling/attic opening.. so it remains in place when opened... you will lose a tiny bit of clearance going in and out of the hole, but much easier to deal with.
Cut a piece out the fills that void. Screw a door hinge on the opposite side so when you pull down the attic door, it folds in… and when you close it, it spring back into place.
A print out of Ceiling Cat.
Poster of a lady on a motorcycle.. bam
I'd use a piece of white duct tape. you're renting, it's not your responsibility
Miniature door. Tell people it’s the entrance to the Upside down
So what is the wardrobe covering up?
The cameras
Sorry but that's a fire hazard and a huge code violation. Your landlord can walk off a cliff.
The fire code requires escape to... the attic? Edit: Oh I see, the attic door is fire rated to prevent spread, ok
Cut the piece into a triangle instead, cut a piece to fill the triangle, attach on backside with a small hinge.
I find the weird opening into the attic oddly distressing. Knowing there is a small chunk of missing ceiling above you, into a void you can't see.
Install a ceiling cat?
I'm voting for this one.
Hinge the attic hatch in the middle so it folds in half as it comes down
That's a good idea unless there is a ladder on the hatch. Then it gets a lot harder.
The also make bristle covers for electric wires, easily modified.
A block and a hinge attached to the drop-down part so it hinges out-of-the-way when going down, but then I guess it wouldn’t retract automatically when it goes up without some other trick
Just use bristol board and cover the whole door. Take it off when you need to drop it. If it gets crinkled just buy a new one for a dollar.
To let mice in and out
You know there’s 3-D printing sub Reddit, where people print things I would imagine you could print a flexible spring loaded cover that would flop out of the way when you’re opening it and flop back when you close it
install a block, paint it white, go back to sleep.
Duct tape brother duct tape
Hear me out... Would a brush-style door sweep work? Clean up the edges of the hole, and cut the door sweep to length? I dunno, I'm trying to think outside the box.
this is the most landlord "fix" ever
I’ve only ever seen brushes used in “gotta keep that hole there” situations. Soft brush bristles extend from one edge and fill the gap. When the door sweeps past, they’re briefly pushed out of the way and then flop back into position. It’s weak, but there it is. No idea where you could get such a thing, so you would have to try repurposing a scrub brush or something similar. Or, you could just put a custom door on a pivot (thin, and on the same plane as the attic door), and then rotate it out of the way before pulling the door open. All assuming you don’t have it out with that crappy landlord. It might be a breach of lease if the door is (technically) not serviceable, but I get the feeling you’d prefer not to bother, which I also get. We all of us make compromises when living in an old building. Gives the place character, if that’s any consolation. Good luck, truly. 🚀
Just fill the damn hole
KISS - keep it simple stupid.
I'm amazed at the people both under and over-thinking this when all he needs to do is attach a properly sized block to the "Jamb" placed to fill that hole. The block stays there by the ceiling in the corner of the doorframe, the door with the notch swings down.
When door is closed, no hole! When door is open hole on the ceiling is ever so slightly smaller (because the block is still there blocking some of the opening). So unless you need EVERY inch of that opening to get stuff up there I think a simple block of wood attached to the jamb and painted to match is the most simple, reliable, and elegant solution.
Don't overthink this, and don't be silly and try to put some sort of a flap or other movable thing on the door, that's just making things harder than they ought to be.
Along the KISS-philosophy. My attic has a removeable square "lid" that you push up and away to enter. I added some insulation to it on top which made it a tight squeeze, thus I added a couple of leather straps as handles to pull it down into place.
Since it only fits properly when in the correct orientation, I simply made two corresponding tiny dots on the lid and the framing.
install a new piece of plywood with hinges on the wardrobe side
All these ideas are lame as fuck. Create a new door that has four dowels, one in each corner. Said dowels will then slide on a new track that you make with a router. The end/beginning of the track will “jog” down so the new door sits flush with the opening, when pushed up and along its track, it simply “jogs” back up the incline and above the plane of the ceiling.
Is this advanced woodworking that has no place in a rental where your landlord is a blow hard… maybe? Should you do it and keep us updated as to your progress/failures… yesssssss
Edited for typo*****
I'm guessing this has a fold out stairs on the top so reversing it is a bit of a pita?
I would also cut a block to fit the hole. Maybe also could do something additional with white garage door trim seal.
You have a landlord, so that rules out burning the house for insurance money.
They would get paid for contents if they have renters insurance. Who cares if the owner gets paid.
Grommet style cover?
Secure a patch in the corner unattached to the door.
Drill a block into the hatch frame so just sits in the frame all the time, or just get some white lino and attach it to the frame with a slight cut near the gap to allow it to move
I like the block on the wall idea.
Otherwise just paint the gap there white on the wall and you won't notice it as much.
It stands out now because it's brown against white
Leave it and make it a topic of conversation every time you have a visitor. Worth it.
Cut a block to size, fit it in there. It will pop out when you open the attic, put it back when you're done.
Use something soft, anything hard will mark the wardrobe. Some type of cloth, but ur never going to have a good seal if everything stays the way it is.
Cut a new piece and put up !!!
Did you try just sliding the opening to the right a bit.
Piece of white MDF with Googly Eyes.
Trim it out with l channel trim paint it. But don’t work on shit in a house you don’t own
Get a piece of 3" wide trim for the length of the door. Use velcro to attach it to the door.
Measure eight times and cut one terrible hole 😔
I would buy some fake Ivy and put it at the top of the wardrobe so it falls over the Edge and you can’t see the hole.
Are the arrows for you or us? I dont know what im looking at, please redo with large red arrows and dont forget the circle next time.
Ghetto fix: spray foam close enough then plaster. If you want to get fancy with this fix, spray a little excess, cut it flush and cut out the 2 sides not touching the moving part so it opens. For such a small fix this will undoubtedly be the more expensive option, but if you like being a spiteful asshole with little work its solid enough and ULPT can easily be used to hide this away entirely. No long term damage expected.
Proper fix: Trim hole flush and just screw in/nail in a block of wood. You can toenail, bracket, whatever.
A plastic cover with a spring that allows it to flex.
“Job’s done, boss” -that one local contractor
i would buy a piece of melamine board and cut it to the size of the whole door and trim, so like 3 feet by 4 feet or whatever that is. then id secure it to the trim with brad nails into the existing trim. If the landlord ever needs to get in cut a new piece (or re use) and nail it back in with brads again. If its frequently accessed i would find a way to make it accessible with a latch system but to be honest probably not worth the time
Looks like the best minds already attacked it...
Put a piece of rubber flap on back side
White gorilla tape. No one will notice
Scab a piece of wood into the spot!
Put some white bristles over the hole.
Maybe you already did, but make sure your landlord is ok with you using the attic for storage.
Well, you've see the results of the worst minds - can't hurt to ask for the best.
Plug the hole in the attic door. Level, sand it, paint it to match the door paint.
Chop the top of the wardrobe so that the attic door will be able to open. Now you have:
pretty and functional attic door
did not move the wardrobe as instructed by the landlord.
Compliant!
All I can think about is the creatures in the attic getting out. If you rent this place plug it and never go up.
The attic door should have been left intact. The wardrobe door could be removed when access to the attic is needed. This is astoundingly short sighted work.
Get a small sheet if white silicone rubber. Attach it to the attic hatch so that when it swings down the rubber pushes out of the way.
A small piece of wood and a length of piano hinge would do it. Attaching a small string like a mini attic door would be funny and allow you to pull the hinged piece back into place.
How about a couple of cuts and turning the attic door into a trapezoid, instead of its current shape, a cut rectangle.
Then, place a couple of wooden triangles in the corners. Sounds like a reasonable solution to me.
[¯] > /¯\
White bristle brushes. 2 rectangular shaped ones, you can find white colored plastic handled ones.
white duct tape
piece of cardboard? wodd with a hinge?
Or, don't look up and it won't bother you at all.
Put a little hinge on the piece of wood. Like a tiny door that opens when you pull down the attic
That would be so cute!!
If you can ask your landlord to flip the folding ladder so it opens the other way, maybe? Somebody before you wasn’t thinking. I would leave it alone since it isn’t yours, but to each his own.
There is totally a door behind the wardrobe. I see no other reason not to move it other than hiding something.
Narnia!
I vote for the bristle/brush approach. I think it would give enough coverage to keep stuff out, but would just brush past the cabinet.
Get a little piece of trim paint it; put it up with one screw on the side it overlays so you can swing it out of the way to open attic door
Need unique solution
Flip the door to open the other way
Take a thin piece of wood a little bigger than that little chunk cut out and add 1 screw towards the center bottom portion of it and when you need to get in there just spin it. Put a washer between the little piece and attic board for it to swivel.
Buy a 3d printer
Don't even worry about filling it. Throw a fresh coat of white on the attic door and around the attic door frame immediately around the hole. It should blend in well enough not to notice. It's the awful pencil markings made by the moron cutting it that makes it stand out. Drew all that on there just to still screw up the cut. Looks like one of my jobs honestly but I at least clean up the mess after 🤣
mirror to match bedroom
Cut a wooden block that fills that hole and screw it into the side of the attic opening. No need for a hinge or anything, the block just stays in place all the time.
I just got what you meant. Smart idea, thank you!
No problem. I would probably pick up a microplane/rasp and clean up the cut edges on the door as well. You aren't going to make it look any worse than what they did
They could wittle at it with a steak knife and it couldn't look worse.
You got this op
I think instead of using a saw, they just sliced it with quick pencil strokes.
Clearly made by a pencil mounted in an angle grinder.
They could even use a drywall saw
Or get a plastic binding bar and cut to size. Easier and cheaper.
https://a.co/d/drcqrpG
And some paint, lmao.
Am I missing something? It’s like it’s been cut for no reason.
It's been cut to clear the top of that closet door in the image. It's a questionable decision to say the least. OP is just trying to make the best of what they've been handed
I hear you but either the image angle is deceiving or they cut it for nothing
It's an IKEA cabinet screwed into the wall. It's closed in the picture. When the hatch swings down, it ran into the corner of the cabinet
Angles be angleing.
It's very deceiving, I was also baffled until I saw there's a second pic. In that one you can see the wardrobe really is in the way of the trap door… by like 3/32 of an inch. Landlord could have just shaved off a little, no need to hack out a huge ragged chunk.
I would say that the original idea wasn't the worst solution they couldn't come up with, they just executed it very poorly.
Just make sure you cut the block with #2 pencils and a butter knife so it matches the attic entry.
Don't forget to also post this on r/thereIfixedit ;)
Will do, pressures on 😅
Last step is you’ll probably need to sand/rasp that jamb block ever so slightly to give the attic door clearance if your trying to make it as seamless as possible otherwise the top edge of the attic door will hit the visible edge of the jamb block
If it's in the way when mounted in the opening. Make a loose one instead, and add edges on top of two of the sides that can rest on the cover. Then just manually place it back each time you have been at the attic.
Guess you can also add some rubber/silicone trim to make it look nicer.
If you use T-trim, I assume you can use that to hold a loose block in place. Downside is that you might need to increase the size of the hole.
I would also redo all trim and put trim onto drop door as well. Depends on how far you want to take it.
OP you are overthinking it. This is the answer.
Yep, fill the hole with a block and attach it to the "jamb" part not the "door" part, then paint the block to match. Block stays motionless as part of the "jamb" and when door is closed there is no hole.
By far the most logical and elegant solution.
If your landlord wasn't an idiot he could have used the piece they cut out to do that.
Yes, exactly, cut a wooden block with one face the exact size of the hole. Attach it to the part of the door frame that stays in place, with that face pointing down. Find some paint that matches and using a brush, apply it to the block, on the face that is pointing down.
When to door is shut, that block will fill the hole, and since it is the same color, won’t be terribly visible. Voila! This is easily the very best answer.
Brilliant.
This! but also erase those even uglier pencil markings. 😉
Good answer, I went with door hinge forgery block to move when open and close.
I mean close to ideal. If I were them I would also get some weather stripping and weather strip the whole door and the block you are adding. Also throw some foam board insulation on the door above it. So much leakage for heat and AC is going right through that I bet.
The first thing that came to mind was some steel nails/screws and a magnetic vent cover.
Id add a rubber insulation to keep it snug
That's bonus territory. Something to address after there isn't a 3" hole in the ceiling. But you are right. A piece of quarter round that covers the edge of the hole with some weather stripping would be the way to do it.
Yeah obviously you gotta put the block first.. lol but yeah simple weather proof.
Sorry, if I came across as dismissive. That comment was meant to be joking agreement.
Luv ya bruv
It's not their home. I wouldn't put too much effort into it.
You think a weather strip is effort?
u/avidsem is the best mind.
Came here to post my idea, read top comment and stopped here.
or rip the door and block the whole thing laterally if the symetry bothers you.
Damn, this is so smart.
I really liked the hinge idea, but yeah, you have the answer right here.
A little flappy hinge was my first thought. I was deep in the mental rabbit hole of trying to design something simple enough to explain here that also wouldn't just flop down when I suddenly realized that it was completely unnecessary.
Thanks for the solution! Going to fixall it to the side :)
https://imgur.com/a/ALZt7jI
Edit: scratch that, as other commenters have said, a new piece will look better and I will sand the cut part and straighten it out
I would use new material not the offcut.
Why did you fill it with rice krispies?
It is a cheap board filled with styrofoam. Maybe it provides better insulation, maybe just typical landlord grade material.
Haha, renters. Goddamn.
Did you cut off part of your door? Just get a piece of solid scrap wood.
It's the chunk that was already cut off
This is genius
Yep, this one OP.
Too much work. Just use bristol board and cover it.
Bonus question: How much space will they need to leave between the block and the door for the door to be able to open?
Given that the door looks to be maybe 3/8" plywood, a very small amount. It's the difference in the radius of a circle centered on the hinge and passing through the bottom edge of the hole and one passing through the top edge of the hole.
I'd need really precise measurements for the length of the door and position of the hinge to give a real answer. Assuming that it's 30" (wild ass guess) from the hinge to the edge of the hole, the difference is ~0.002". Any visible line would probably be plenty.
paint the cover a darker color as well as the block so you can't see anything
That is better than my first idea, but cut the block to fit close, then on the upper side of block glue or screw a piece of plastic or rubber for a good seal. On Second thought, you could put the seal on the hatch, bottom side, if the colors match you will barely see it.
My idea was to attach that block to the hatch with a rubber flap, arvidsem has a better plan.
That really should work well, considering the awful placement of the wardrobe.
This
That
The other
Yep best answer
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Not on the moving side of the hatch, screwed into the wall. It stays in place while the hatch moves
It won't be connected to the hatch, it will be connected to the side of the opening.
The block of wood stays still, the hatch still has the cut out still but it makes it less ugly.
The hatch will still open because the block doesn't move and isn't attached to the hatch.
I think the block would attach to the ceiling not the door. So the door could still move.
Why wouldn't it open? They're suggesting you get a wood block in place and attach it not to the hatch but to the frame, the block will cover the hole but it still opens.
I think overall OP is not understanding the concept.
I very much doubt this is the case, but there is an ever-so-slim chance that some piece of the ladder just barely clears the wardrobe but would run into the block on its way down (because of the arc-shaped path it takes).
Again, I very much doubt this is the case.
I completely agree that it's possible, but very unlikely. And with how terribly that hole was cut, I don't think that tight tolerances are an issue
Oh absolutely.
Frankly I'm surprised it clears the wardrobe enough for it to open and doesn't scratch against it because something is cockeyed.
Bruh...
The hatch looks to be hinged on the right side of the image. If you put something in that hole, the hatch cover will just sit next to it. You should be able to open and close it normally.
Jesus 🤦🏻♀️
Why wouldn't the hatch be able to open? The block would be attached to the wall, not to the hatch. So when the hatch opens the block of wood stays there.
Ooh so close. The block is drilled to the wall. It only closes the gap when the door is closed. The cutout still slips past the wardrobe.