Fitting A Cat Flap In A UPVC Door

Allowing your cat to leave and enter the house at will is an excellent way to keep your pet active and mentally stimulated. A flap can reduce the frequency of accidents due to toilets, making it easier for your cat to leave the house if required.

Measure the Door

A cat flap allows your pet to come and go whenever they want without having to open the door for them. This makes it ideal for keeping them in the home when you're away, and helps keep unwanted pests from the home as well!

It is essential to measure the door to ensure that you get the right size cat flap. There are many sizes available. This ensures you get the correct size to fit into your upvc door, otherwise, it could be too small or large, and your cat may be unable to use it.

Use a ruler to take measurements of the width at various places along the edges of the door. Also, you should take measurements of the door's height in a couple of places. A door that is too tall will make your cat do an exercise routine every time it uses the flap.

Ask a glazier for help in case you're not sure how to measure the door. They will be able determine if your door is suitable for cat flap installer near me flaps and can give you advice on the right size flap you should purchase.

Draw the outline of the hole on your door after you have taken your measurements. This will provide you with an outline to cutting the hole and will prevent you from making an error that will cost you money in the end!

You must also ensure that the hole you're making is in the right place. For instance, if fitting a cat flap in a upvc door the cat flap in the patio door, you must ensure that the hole doesn't sit too close to any hinges, as this can cause leakage and problems with the seal.

If you have an opening made of glass, it might be best to delegate this task to a professional glazier. It can be a challenge to insert a cat flap into an existing pane of glass, and you may find that the process causes it to crack and lose its weatherproof seal.

Measure the Cat

A cat flap allows your pet to come and go whenever they want, without having to leave him on his own. It also stops draughts from entering your home, which is not beneficial for your cat flaps or you.

If you have a uPVC door or composite, it might be difficult to install the cat flap. These kinds of doors are typically made from different materials than standard wooden or uPVC doors and the process of installing them is different, too. Be sure to check with the manufacturer if the door is compatible before you install an uPVC cat flap on your uPVC composite or uPVC door. Changes to the door could cause warranty issues.

Generally speaking, these types of doors are built to be tough and durable, with insulation built in. This makes them more resistant to the elements of weather than other doors, however they can be difficult to fit an animal flap. Get advice from a professional before installing a cat flap onto the uPVC door or composite.

You'll need to take their height to ensure that they can pass through the door. This is easier if they are sleeping or calm, so that they don't move around too much. Once you know their height you can measure the distance from their stomach to the floor in order to determine the location of the bottom of the flap. This position can be marked on the door.

If your composite or uPVC door is made of metal (either aluminium or steel) it is important to be very careful when cutting it using power tools. The process of drilling into the metal may cause cracks, particularly if the area is toughened glass. It is recommended to hire an experienced glass installer to install a cat flap in the pane. This will prevent the glass from becoming fragile or shattering. A Glazier is also capable of providing you with a cat flap that is less likely to break and is safer for your cat to use.

Cut the Hole

If not however, you can make one yourself with a sheet of paper that is thin (tracing paper is ideal). If it does not then you can create one by using the thin paper (tracing paper is the best choice). Once the shape has been drawn in pencil on the door, you can then use a spirit level to ensure that the shape is completely horizontal. This will ensure that the cat flap is properly positioned in the opening, and it will not open or close.

Next, use your jigsaw and cut the shape written on the door. Make sure that you are using a blade suitable for use on uPVC doors - usually it will be marked as such, if not ask the staff at your DIY store for advice. Once you have the hole made, place the flap section against it and then push it open to ensure that the flap's movement is smooth. If it is bound at any point, you can use the filer or the rasp to remove it.

Check that there aren't any electric or gas pipes within the door you're going to cut into. The jigsaw may damage them. Also, be aware of any handles or other fixtures on the door which will need to be removed to install the cat flap and be careful not to harm them during the process.

Most people who fit a cat flap themselves will have an ordinary solid upvc door panel cat flap door, and therefore won't have to deal with any of these problems. But, if your door is made from timber or has a decorative panel that cannot be removed, it will add to the complexity of the task.

It is always worthwhile seeking expert help from a cat flap fitter when it comes to these types of jobs since it is important to get them done right to avoid possible issues in the future. It is important to do it right because making the wrong choice could cause damage to the door and void the warranty.

Fit the Flap

Once you've made your hole, you can place the flap and check if it opens and fits. If you find any points that catch or stick, fitting a cat flap in a upvc door use a hand file or sandpaper to file them down until they fit properly and can be opened without issue. Make sure the flap is in line with the door.

If your tool doesn't have a template, you can use tracing paper that is thin, such as a piece of paper or acetate. Place the paper on the door and draw an area on which you'll want to position the flap (this will be your cutting guide). Mark four screw holes on every corner of the flap using the pencil marks you made on the door. These are the screw points that you'll need to fix the flap in place.

The majority of uPVC doors are strong and easy to cut. If your door is made of GRP or composite however, it could be more difficult. If you're not familiar with this then it may be wise to get a professional to do the work for you. They can also help you determine whether or not your door is suitable for cat flap installation.

You can install the cat flap onto composite doors, but it is important to consult with the manufacturer or a professional joiner prior to making any changes since any modifications to these doors could void the warranty. If you decide to tackle the work yourself, bear in mind that it could be a messy job and could be dangerous.

You'll need a grinder or saw to cut through composite doors, rather than just the GRP. This is a potentially dangerous job, and you will have to be extra careful to ensure that the door is not damaged. It's worth noting that it's much more difficult to create the door glass than it is for a uPVC door or solid wood doors.