Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps let your cat go in and out as they please without you having to let them in or out. They also can help to prevent your cat from toileting inside the house.

It is much easier to put the cat flap on a upvc panel than a glass one, but you will need some skills and the correct tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Installing a cat door into the front door is difficult however, as long as the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the guidelines, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will help you mark the shape and use a jigsaw in order to cut the door area. Then we will finish the job by attaching the flap. This will ensure the flap is in place and protects the doors from the damage caused by wind and rain.

The first step is determine the width of your pet to determine an accurate estimate of the size of cat flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to allow your pet to enter and leave the house without having to open and close the door every time, but also small enough to prevent them from going too far in either direction.

If your kit comes with an illustration of the location to drill, you can put it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, be sure that you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask. Then using a jigsaw, begin to cut according to the lines you've drawn in, don't try to press the blade too hard as this could cause it to cut faster than you'd like it to. Use a set square to ensure you are cutting the material correctly and that the cut is a rectangle. Once you are satisfied with the final result, you can take the door material off.

Draw a Line

The cat flap lets you to let your pet go inside and outside without worrying about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also stops draughts and helps keep your home's temperature steady. However, fitting cat flap in upvc door panel (look at here) an animal flap on your door can seem like an overwhelming task for those who have never done it before. This can lead many to hire a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself if your tools are appropriate and the steps are followed.

This is much easier to do with wooden doors, but it is still possible using uPVC. However, you must be careful not to scratch the doors because this will make it impossible to claim your warranty. The first step is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it is able to accommodate the new cat flap. If you have a standard uPVC panel, this should be easy. However, if your door is composite door cat flap or a different type of door, you might require more care.

The next step is to determine the height of your belly for your cat. This is the measurement from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach, and you will need to find a spot near the door where this measurement will fall within the range your pet can comfortably go through. Once you've figured out the measurements you'll be required to mark the space with a spirit-level and a pencil, so that you are sure that the opening will fit your cat.

Once you've marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean, not rough and uneven. This could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you will require sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap in upvc door cost flap can be easily fitted into place.

Cut a Hole

The process of fitting a cat flap into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. If you're not skilled in DIY, it is recommended to hire a professional to complete the work for you. A botched job could not only look ugly, but also pose security risks. It could allow cold air in when the cat is outdoors and hot air out when it is inside.

The hole's location should be marked on the door using the help of a pencil and a spirit level. This will ensure it is positioned correctly and aligns with the door's other parts. Make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at ready to smooth any edges.

Wear the safety equipment you require when working with an electric tool. If you are worried about the sound produced by the jigsaw, you can purchase an electric version that is quieter and more user-friendly to use.

You should only remove the material that is required to make the flap. A small amount of material is required to increase the thickness of the the flap, but removing more than this can cause problems and even cause damage to the door frame.

A door made of upvc could contain a metal frame or panel within it that will interfere with the microchip cat flap, and if this is the case you'll need to make an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't come into contact with the the cat flap. If this is done it is important to fill in the gap and make it watertight.

If you're installing a cat flap into the frame of a double glazed window with cat flap with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak to a professional who can provide you with a brand new pane of glass that already has the hole for the cat flap premade inside. It will be much cheaper to have this done instead of trying to install the flap to an existing glass pane that has not been manufactured specifically for this purpose.

Place the Flap

Cat flaps let your pet leave and come as they please, giving them the ability to unwind inside the house whenever they feel like it. If you have a uPVC front door, it may be difficult to put in a cat flap. This is especially the case if you do not own a glass panel that is cut. Luckily, if you're happy to purchase and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to install a cat flap to these doors. It's not a matter of slicing a hole into the door. You'll also need to perform a few steps to ensure it's secure.

A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is typically made up of a plastic skin that is attached to an insulating polystyrene base. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid causing damage. This type door has a template can be used to cut the hole.

Once you have marked the location of the hole in your door, now it's time to fit the cat flap itself. You can choose from a variety of options, from simple push-button units to ones that are microchip-activated and only let your pet in. No matter which type of cat flaps you choose, it's vital that your cat is able to use the flap comfortably without getting stuck outside in the rain.

It's a good idea to opt for circular fittings instead of a square one, as circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes leave the glass vulnerable to cracking when drilling is applied to it. This is also a safer choice because you won't need to drill into the toughened glass that could shatter and harm your pet or family. This is particularly crucial if you have children or elderly people at home who could be hurt by glass shattering.