Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet come and go whenever they want without needing to let him in or out. They also can help to keep your cat from having to go to the bathroom in the house.

It is easier to install a cat flap on a Upvc panel than on a glass one, but you will require some expertise and appropriate tools.

Measure the Door

Fitting Cat Flap In Upvc Door Panel a cat door in a front door can be difficult however, as long as the cat flap is the appropriate one and you follow the instructions you can make it less difficult. We will help you mark the shape and use an jigsaw to cut out the door's opening. Then, we'll finish the job by attaching the flap. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the doors from damage caused by wind and rain.

The first step is take a measurement of the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you will need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough that your pet can enter and leave the house without having to open and close the door each time, but also small enough to keep them from moving too far in either direction.

If your kit comes with a drawing showing where to drill then you can place it on the door, and then draw around it. 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.

Put on your eye protection and dust mask and using a jigsaw start cutting along the line you have pencilled in, don't try to press the blade too hard because this can make it cut faster than you'd like it to. Use a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material correctly and that the cut is a rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with the final result, you can take the door material off.

Draw a Line

The cat flap allows you to let your pet inside and out without worrying about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also stops draughts and keeps your home's temperature stable. Installing a cat flap on your door can be a daunting task for those who haven't attempted it before. A lot of people will hire a professional joiner or carpenter to do the work. This is an option but you can do it yourself if your tools are in order and the steps are followed.

This is much simpler to do on a wooden door, but it is still possible using upvc door panels cat flap. However you should be cautious not to damage the doors because this will cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. First, you must measure the door to ensure that it can accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be easy enough for an ordinary uPVC door, but you may need to take more care if using an insulated or composite type of door since these are more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

Next, you will need to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the distance between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. It is important to locate a space at the entrance that allows your cat to pass through comfortably. Once you've figured out the measurements, you'll need to mark the area with a spirit-level and a pencil, so that you are sure that the hole will be suitable for your cat.

After you've marked the area, it's time to cut the hole. You will need to use the jigsaw, and it is crucial to take your time to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth rather than uneven and rough, since it could cause damage to your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust mask at all times when using the jigsaw, since inhaling the sawdust could be hazardous to your health. Once you have completed the cutting, you will need to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that the cat flap will fit easily in place.

Make a hole

Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be difficult. If you are not very skilled in DIY, it is best to employ a professional to complete 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 enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape inside.

The first thing you have to do is mark out the location of the hole in the door with pencil and an ax level. This will ensure that it is placed and runs parallel to the other parts of the door. It is important to have an sandpaper piece on ready to smooth out any rough edges.

Wear the safety equipment you need to work with an electric tool. If you're worried about noise, you can buy a jigsaw with a cord that is quieter and more user-friendly.

It is best to only remove the material that is required to make the flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the the flap, but removing more than this can cause problems or damage the doors frame.

If the upvc door has a metal panel or frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In this situation, you will need to create an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't get in contact with the wall of the flap.

If you're planning to install the cat flap onto an upvc door or a double-glazed window with a frame made of metal, you'll need to speak to a specialist who can supply you with a new glass pane that already has the hole for the cat flap premade in it. It is much less expensive to get this done rather than trying to fix a cat flap into an existing pane of glass that hasn't been designed specifically for this purpose.

Place the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet to move around at their own pace, giving them the ability to unwind inside the house when they want to. If you have an uPVC front door, it can be difficult to put in the cat flap installation cost flap. This is particularly true when you don't have a glass panel which can be cut. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to add the cat flap. It's not as easy as simply making a hole in the door though and there are a few things you'll need to do first to ensure that it's safe.

A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is usually comprised of a thin plastic skin that is attached to an insulating polystyrene core. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid damaging. This type of door typically includes a template that you can use as a guide to cut the hole into the door.

Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, it's now time to install the flap. You can buy and fit various models that range from simple button operated ones to ones that are activated by microchips that allow access only to your pet. But, regardless of the kind of cat flap you pick, it's crucial to ensure that your cat is able to use the flap and not get stuck outside in the rain.

It's a good idea choose circular fittings rather than one that is square, because circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes leave the glass vulnerable to cracking if a drill is used on it. This is also a safer choice since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass which could break and cause harm to your pet or family. This is particularly important if you have a child or elderly person in your home who may be injured by shards glass.