Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go at their own pace, without you having to let him in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from peeing in the home.

It is simpler to install an animal flap on a upvc panel than one made of glass however, you'll need some skills and the appropriate tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Fitting a cat flap in a door can be tricky but as long as you choose the right type of cat flap be patient and follow the instructions provided it should not prove to be a problem. We will be showing how to trace the shape, use an jigsaw for cutting out the area in the door and then complete the job by fixing the cat flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap is in place and shields the doors from the damage caused by wind and rain.

To determine the size of the cat flap that you need, measure the width of your pet. This will allow you to select a cat flap that is big enough to allow your pet to enter the house and leave without needing to open the door every time.

Once you have the measurements you can mark the area on the door where the template should be positioned, usually this is done with an X, but some kits come with a drawing that shows where to drill, if yours does, then you can stick it to the door and use a pencil to draw around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, be sure that you leave enough space between your cat and these elements.

Set a square to check that you are cutting correctly and to make sure the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with the result, you can begin to remove the remaining door material. If you have a set square then use it to check whether you're cutting in the right way and to make sure the hole is in a rectangle shape, once you are satisfied with this you can start to remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to go out and in without worrying about them coming in with visitors or leaving unwelcome gifts in the home. It also prevents drafts and helps to keep the temperature inside your home in a stable manner. The installation of a cat flap your door might seem difficult to those who haven't tried it before. Many people will call an expert carpenter or joiner to complete the work. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself, provided the tools are in order and the instructions are followed.

While this is much simpler with a wooden door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors, but you need to be very careful not to scratch the doors as this will 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 simple enough for a standard uPVC door, however you may require more care if using an alternative type of door as 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 height between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. You will need to locate a space on the door that allows your cat to move through easily. Once you have this information then you be required to mark the area with pencil and a spirit level to ensure that the hole you will create will fit your cat.

Once you have marked out the area, it's time to make the hole. It is essential to take your time and use a jigsaw to ensure the cuts are clean and smooth, 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 is dangerous for your health. After you've finished the cutting, you'll need to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that your cat flap fitting near me flap can be fitted easily in place.

Cut a hole

It can be a challenge to put the cat flap onto a door panel or sealed double glazing unit. You may be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have plenty of expertise in DIY, it's likely to be best to have a professional in to do the task for you. A faulty job can not only look ugly, but also pose an security risk. It could allow cold air in when the cat flap step is outside and hot air out when the cat is inside.

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

Wear the safety equipment you need to work with an electric tool. If you are worried about the sound produced by a jigsaw you can buy one that is cordless, which is much quieter and easier to use.

It is best to only remove the material needed to make the cat flap. It is essential to leave a little extra material for the wall thickness of the flap. However cutting away too much could cause issues or even damage the door frame.

If the door is made of upvc and is made of metal, or has a frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In this case you'll need make an oversize hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the walls of the flap.

If you are fitting an animal flap to an upvc door or a double-glazed window with cat flap with a metal frame then you'll need to talk to a professional who can provide you with a brand new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap premade inside. This is less expensive than trying to install a cat flap in an existing pane that wasn't designed specifically for this purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go as they please, giving them the freedom to relax inside the house when they want to. However, if you own an uPVC door, it may be difficult to install a cat flap, particularly if you don't own glass panes that can be cut to accommodate one. If you're willing to purchase and install a half-glazed replacement uPVC panel, then it's possible to add a cat flap to the doors. It's not as simple as simply cutting a hole through the door though and there are some things you'll need first to ensure that it's safe.

A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is generally comprised of a plastic skin which is bonded to an insulating polystyrene base. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting into it to avoid damaging. This kind of door has a template can be used to cut the hole.

After you have marked out the opening in your front door, it is time to install the cat flap. You can pick from a wide range of options, from simple push-button models to ones that are microchip-activated and allow your pet in. However, regardless of what kind of cat flap you pick, it is essential to ensure that your cat can use the flap without becoming trapped outside in bad weather.

It's a good idea to select a circular Fitting cat flap in upvc door Panel rather than a square one, as circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they're drilled. 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 members. This is especially crucial if you have elderly or children in your home who could be hurt by glass fragments.