Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

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

Installing a cat flap into a upvc door panel is a lot easier than a glass door, however it does require some skills and the appropriate tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Fitting a cat door in a front door could be difficult however, so long as the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the guidelines, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show you how to draw the shape, using a jigsaw to cut out the door's opening and then complete the job by attaching the cat flap to the door. This will ensure the flap stays in position and shields the doors from the damage caused by rain and wind.

The first thing to do is determine the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you'll require. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to allow your pet to go inside and out of the house without needing to open and close the door each time, but also small enough to keep them from going too far in either direction.

If your kit comes with an illustration of where to drill then you can stick it on the door, and then use a pencil around it. If your door has moulding or sill on the bottom edge of it ensure that you have enough space to ensure your cat's safety and prevent them gaining access to your home.

Put on your eye protection and a dust mask. Then using a jigsaw, begin cutting according to the lines you penciled in. Don't push the blade too hard as this can make it cut faster than you want it to. Use a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material properly and that the hole is a rectangle. When you are happy with the result, you are able to take the door material off.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great method to let your pet out and in without having to worry about them coming in with a visitor, or leaving unwanted gifts in the home. It also reduces drafts and helps keep the temperature of your home stable. However, installing a cat flap in your door can seem like an intimidating task for those who have never done it before, leading many people to seek out a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the job yourself if you own the proper tools and follow instructions with care.

While this is much simpler to accomplish with a wooden door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors, though you need to be very careful to avoid damaging the doors with cat flap since this could invalidate your warranty. The first step in the process is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it can accommodate the new cat flap. This should be easy enough for an ordinary upvc door panel with cat flap fitted door, but you may need to take more care if you have an alternative kind of door, as they are more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to determine the height of your cat's stomach. This is the amount of height between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. It is important to find an area at the entrance that will allow your pet to move through easily. Once you have the information, you'll be required to mark the space with a spirit level and a pencil so that you are sure that the hole will be suitable for your cat.

Once you've marked the area, it's time to make the hole. You will need to use an jigsaw. It is essential to take your time in order to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth, rather than rough and uneven, as this could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while working with the Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is hazardous for your health. After you've completed the cutting, you'll need to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that your cat flap will fit easily in place.

Cut a hole

It isn't easy to install the cat flap onto a door panel or a sealed double glazing unit. If you're not experienced in DIY, it is best to hire an expert to do the job for you. A shoddy job might not only look ugly, but it could also be a security risk and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape inside.

Mark the hole position on the door with a pencil and spirit level. This will ensure it is positioned correctly and aligns with the rest of the door. Make sure you have an sandpaper piece on ready to smooth any edges.

Wear the safety equipment you require when working with an electric tool. If you are concerned about the noise of 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 create the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be required for the thickness of the the flap but removing more than this could cause issues and cause damage to 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 situation you'll need create an extra-large hole to ensure that the metal does not come into contact with wall of the flap.

If you're planning to install a cat flap into a upvc door or double-glazed window with a metal frame then you'll need to talk to a professional who will provide you with a new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap already drilled in it. This will be cheaper than trying to install the flap into an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for this purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go at their own pace, giving them the ability to unwind inside the house whenever they're feeling like it. However, if you have a uPVC door it can be difficult to install an animal flap, especially in the absence of a glass pane that can be cut for one. Luckily, if you're happy to buy and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to fit an animal flap onto the doors with cat flap. It's not as simple as just cutting a hole through the door, however there are a few things you'll need first to ensure it's secure.

A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is generally composed of a thin plastic skin that is bonded to an insulating polystyrene base. It is important to be cautious when cutting the material. This type door has a template you can use to make the hole.

After you have marked out the opening in your front door, it is time to put in the cat flap. You can buy and fit various models, from basic push-button operated models to ones that are activated by microchips that only let in your pet. However, no matter what kind of cat flap you pick, it's crucial to ensure that your cat can use the flap and not get trapped in the weather.

It's a good idea opt for a circular fitting cat Flap In upvc door Panel rather than one that is square, since circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes leave the glass vulnerable to cracking if drilling is applied to it. It's also a safer option to use as you're not at risk of drilling into toughened glass that could shatter and cause injury to your pet or your family. This is particularly crucial if you have a child or elderly person at home who could be injured by shards glass.