How to open panel in laundry trough cupboard?

Hello everyone,

We moved into a house that recently had a leaky tap, and I want to check that the water hasn't leaked below the laundry trough cupboard, but I don't know how to open the floor panel pictured below.

First picture is of the "screw" which doesn't really have any groves and thus match anything I have in my toolbox and the second is a view of the entire panel I want to remove and check / clean under. Sorry this is way out of my expertise and I hope it doesn't sound stilly, but if anyone can help me with where to start that would be fab 🙂

Screenshot 2024-12-09 at 9.53.47 PM.png

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MitchellMc

Hi @cvh3196,

The bottom panel of your laundry trough cupboard might not be designed to be easily removed, especially if it’s part of the unit’s structural design. However, based on your description and the image, it’s possible that what you’re seeing is a pop-rivet. Pop-rivets are commonly used to secure panels in place, and unlike screws, they don’t have threads.

To remove the rivet, you’ll need to drill through the centre of it with a suitable drill bit, typically around 3mm, but adjust according to the size of the rivet. Once you’ve done this, you should be able to remove the panel and check for leaks. After your inspection, you can secure the panel back in place by replacing the pop-rivet with a new one.

If you’re unsure or the rivets seem tricky, it might be worth consulting a professional for assistance.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

cvh3196

@MitchellMc thank you so much for your response, that totally makes sense to me 🙂 Will give it a go and report back!!

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