Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet to leave and come back at their own pace, without having to let them in or out. They can also help keep your cat from having to go to the bathroom inside the house.

Fitting a cat flap in a door panel made of Upvc is much easier than in a glass door, but it requires some knowledge and the right tools.

Measure the Door

fitting a cat flap - visit the next page - in the door can be a challenge but if you choose the right type of cat flap, take your time and follow the directions provided, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will be showing you how to mark out the shape, then use the jigsaw to slice the door's area and then finish off the job by attaching the cat flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the doors from damage caused by rain and wind.

To determine the size of the cat flap that you need, measure your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to allow your pet to enter and leave the house without having to open or close the door each time, but also small enough to keep the pet from straying too far in either direction.

If your kit has a drawing showing where to drill then you can stick it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, be sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and these elements.

Next put on your eye protection and a dust mask, and using a jigsaw begin cutting according to the lines you've drawn in, don't try to press the blade too hard as this will cause it to cut faster than you would like it to. If you own an already-cut square, use it to ensure that you're cutting properly and to ensure that the hole is a good rectangle shape, once you are happy with this you can start to remove the remaining door material.

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 guests or leaving unwanted gifts in the house. It also prevents drafts and helps to keep the temperature in your home in a stable manner. Fitting a cat flap to your door might seem difficult to those who haven't tried it before. Many people will call a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job. While this is definitely an option, it is possible to complete the task yourself if you own the appropriate tools and follow the instructions with care.

Although this is much simpler with a timber door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors, but you need to be very cautious not to damage the doors since this could invalidate the warranty. The first step in the process is to measure the door, ensuring that it can be able to accommodate the new cat flap. This should be easy enough when you have an ordinary uPVC door, but you might need to take more care if you have an insulated or composite kind of door, as they can be more difficult to cut 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 bottom of your cat flap insulation's stomach. You will need to locate a space on the door that will allow your pet to comfortably pass through. Once you know this you'll need to mark out the area with a pencil and a spirit level so that you can be certain that the hole you make will be suitable for your cat.

Once you have marked out the area, it is time to make the hole. You will need the jigsaw, and it is crucial to take your time to ensure that the cuts are smooth and straight instead of rough and uneven, as this could damage your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust mask at all times when using the jigsaw, as breathing in the dust can be dangerous to your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you'll require sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap installers near me flap is easily inserted into the hole.

Cut a Hole

The process of fitting a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. You may be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have experience with DIY, it's probably best to get an expert to complete the task for you. A mistake could not only look ugly, but also pose an security risk. It could allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when the cat is inside.

The first thing you have to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is correctly located and is parallel to other parts of the door. Make sure you have sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges.

Wear the safety equipment you need to work with the power tool. If you are concerned about the sound produced by the jigsaw, you can purchase an electric version that is much quieter and easier to use.

It is essential to only cut away the material that is required to fit the cat flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the flap but removing more than this can cause problems and even damage the doors frame.

A door made of upvc may include a metal frame, or panel within it which could block the microchip cat flap and if this is the case, you'll need to cut an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal does not come into contact with the the cat flap. If this is the case, it is essential to fill in the gap and seal it with water.

If you're planning to install a cat flap inside a double-glazed or upvc cat flap door panels window with metal frames, you'll need to consult a specialist. They will provide you with a new piece of glass with the hole already pre-made for the cat flap. This is less expensive than fitting the flap into an existing pane of glass that wasn't designed specifically for this purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to go and come whenever they like, allowing them to relax in the house when they want to. If you have an uPVC front door, it might be hard to install a cat flap. This is especially true when you don't have glass panels that can be cut. Luckily, if you're happy to buy and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to fit an animal flap onto the doors. It's not as simple as simply cutting a hole in the door though and there are a few things you'll need to take care of first to ensure that it's safe.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel usually has an extremely thin plastic outer skin joined to a soft polystyrene insulating core. The material is extremely fragile and care should be taken when cutting into it to avoid causing damage. This type of door typically has a template which you can use as a guide for cutting the hole in the door.

After you have marked out the opening in your front door, it's time to put in the cat flap. You can pick from a variety of models, ranging from simple push-button units to microchip activated ones that only let your pet in. Whatever kind of cat flaps you choose it's essential that your cat can utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck in bad weather.

It is a good idea to opt for circular fittings instead of a square one, as circles can be more securely cut into door glass. This is because square holes are more likely to break the glass when they're drilled. This is also a safer choice, as you won't have to drill into the toughened glass which could break and cause harm to your pet or your family members. This is especially important if there are children or elderly people in your home that might be injured by glass shattering.