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About Bill Hutson
Expertise
Founder and President of Table Talk Foundation for Better Living Inc. a non-profit organization aimed at making free home repairs for the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged. I have extensive expertise pertaining to cost effective rehabilitation and repair in older homes as well as all phases of newer residential construction.

Experience
Remodel and rehab contractor from 1979 to 1993 specializing in restaurant remodel and home restoration. Jobsite troubleshooter assisting residential contractors through KA Components, Mid America Truss, and Kerkhoff Associates from 1993 until 2002. Contractors' consultant 1990 to present. Used as a construction expert in the local court system. Registered contractor with The Fedral Government, FEMA and several insurance companies. Master Carpenter at Table Talk Ministries a non-profit organization aimed at making free home repairs for those who could not ohterwise afford to have them done.

Organizations
Table Talk Foundation for Better Living Inc. www.tabletalkministries.org Founder/President.

Publications
Features have been published in Fleet Owner's Magazine, Trucker's News Magazine, The Daily Clintonian Newspaper, The Hoosier Topics Newspaper, and The Banner Graphic Newspaper several times. We have also done features on WKJK and WREB radio stations. WXIN 59 Indianapolis, WTHI 10 Terre Haute

Education/Credentials
Northwestern State University

Awards and Honors
"Make a Difference Award" from WTHI channel 10 in Terre Haute Indiana. We have recently received the Fueling Good prize from Citgo where we won free gas for a year, that will help us in our efforts to make homes warm, safe and dry for our elderly and disabled neighbors. We were recently featured on WXIN 59 in Indianapolis on their "Paying it Forward" segment, mainly because I pay for 90% of the repairs that Table Talk makes from my own pocket.

Past/Present Clients
We focus our attention to the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged. We are receiving clients from 1 Federal and 5 State Agencies, 9 different public and private organizations plus multiple churches and hospitals.

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Home Improvement--General > Shutoff valve issue

Home Improvement--General - Shutoff valve issue

Expert: Bill Hutson - 11/6/2009

Question
Hi Bill:

I am finishing my basement and I have 2 spigot shutoff valves in different locations up between the floor joists that will be covered by drywall unless I come up with a solution to allow access. The contractor that thought he was getting the job (quote too high) wanted to re-route the shutoffs to a utility room in a different part of the basement. Since I am now doing the job myself, I don't see any reason to relocate them. Is there a way to create an access panel that is aesteticlly pleasing yet functional? Thanks in advance.

Answer
Kevin,

My first 2 questions are,
1. what are they for?
2. do they need to be there?
3. are they needed at all?
My math teacher loved me!!

You can just cut a square in the drywall at those locations and trim the opening with door casing, just allow the cut out piece to sit in the opening and the trim will hold it. Since it will be in the ceiling, I would paint the trim the same color as the ceiling so it will be less noticeable.

My first choice would be to remove those valves (so there will never be a hidden leak)
and move them to another location with easier access and closer to the point of origin.

That would be safer, and make your ceiling look better.

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