Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet leave and come whenever they want without needing to let them in or out. They also can help stop your cat from peeing in the house.

It is simpler to install the cat flap on a Upvc panel than a glass one, but you will need some skills and the right tools.

Measure the Door

Installing a cat door into the front door is difficult, but so long as the cat flap is the right type and you follow the instructions it shouldn't be too difficult. We will be showing you how to draw the shape, use the jigsaw to slice the door's opening and then complete the job by securing the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and shields the door from rain and wind causing damage.

To determine the size of the cat flap you require, take a measurement of your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to let your pet enter and leave the house without having to open and close the door every time, yet small enough to stop them from going too far either way.

Once you have the measurements you can determine the area on the door where the template should be placed, usually, this is done using an X. However, some kits include an illustration that outlines the location to drill, if yours does, then you can stick it to the door and draw a line around the door. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, be sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Then put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask, and using a jigsaw begin to cut along the line you have pencilled in, but don't press the blade too hard as this will cause it to cut faster than you would like it to. If you own an already-cut square, use it to ensure whether you're cutting in the right way and fitting cat flap In Upvc Door panel to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangle shape, once you are happy with this you can begin to take off the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap lets you to let your pet inside and out without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also prevents draughts, and helps keep your home's temperature in check. Fitting a cat flap cover for winter flap to your door can be a daunting task for those who haven't attempted it before. Many people call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the work. While this is certainly an option, it's possible to do the job yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions with care.

While this is much simpler with a wooden door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors, but you should be careful to avoid damaging the doors, as this can cause damage to your warranty. First, you need to measure the door to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be easy enough for a standard uPVC door, however you might need to take more care if using an insulated or composite kind of door, as they can be more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to determine the size of your cat flap installation's belly. This is the distance from the floor to the lower part of the cat's stomach and you will need to find a place in the door where this measurement is within the range your cat can comfortably pass through. Once you know this you'll be required to mark the area with a pencil and a spirit level so that you can ensure that the hole you will make will be suitable for your cat.

Once you have marked out the area, it is time to make the hole. You will need to use an jigsaw. It is essential to take your time to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth rather than uneven and rough, as this could damage your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust mask at all times when using the jigsaw, as breathing in the dust can be dangerous to your health. After you've finished the cutting process, you will have to smooth out the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that your cat flap can be fitted easily in place.

Make a hole

It can be a challenge to put an animal flap on a door panel or a sealed double glazing unit. You may be tempted to do it yourself, but unless you have plenty of experience in DIY it is recommended to hire a professional in to do the job for you. A botched job may not only look ugly, but it could also be an enigma for security and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape once inside.

Mark the hole's position on the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly positioned and aligns with the door's other parts. You should make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at ready to smooth out any rough edges.

Once the line has been traced, you must cut the hole with the jigsaw. Remember to wear the appropriate safety equipment for working with a power tool. If you are concerned about the sound produced by the jigsaw, consider buying a cordless version which is quieter and simpler to use.

It is best to only remove the material required to make the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the wall of the cat flap itself but removing more than that can cause problems or harm the frame of the door.

A door made of upvc cat flap door panels could contain a metal frame or panel within it that could interfere with the microchip cat flap, and in this case you'll need to make an oversize hole so that the metal doesn't come into contact with the the cat flap. If this is done, it is essential to fill in the oversize gap and render it watertight.

If you're installing a cat flap into an upvc door or a double glazed window with a frame made of metal, you'll need to speak to a specialist who can provide you with a new glass pane with the hole for the cat flap in it. It will be much cheaper to get this done rather than to attempt to fix the cat flap onto an existing glass pane that hasn't been designed specifically for this purpose.

Place the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go as they please, giving them the freedom to lounge in the home whenever they feel like it. If you've got a uPVC door, it might be difficult to put in an animal flap, especially when you don't have glass panes that could be cut to accommodate one. If you're willing to buy and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, it's possible to add the cat flap to the doors. It's not a matter of drilling holes in the door. You'll also need to perform a few steps to ensure that it is secure.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is usually comprised of a thin plastic skin that is attached to an insulating polystyrene base. It is essential to be careful when cutting the material. This kind door comes with a template that can be used to cut the hole.

Once you have marked the position of the hole in your door, now it's time to fit the cat flap itself. You can buy and fit various models, from basic push-button operated ones to microchip-activated ones that allow only your pet. However, regardless of what type of cat flap you pick, it's important to make sure that your cat is able to use the flap and not get trapped outside in bad weather.

It's a good idea to select a circular fitting cat flap in upvc door panel (Related Homepag) rather than one that is square, since circles are more securely cut into door glass. This is because square holes leave the glass vulnerable to cracking if drilling is applied to it. It's also a much safer choice to use since you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that could shatter and injure your pet or family members. This is particularly crucial if you have a young or elderly person in your home who may be injured by shards glass.