Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

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

It is easier to install an animal flap on a upvc panel than on a glass one, but you will require some knowledge and right tools.

Take a look at the Door

Installing a cat door into the front door is difficult however, so long as the cat flap is the appropriate one and you follow the directions you can make it less difficult. We will be showing how to trace the shape, use an jigsaw for cutting out the door's area and then complete the job by attaching the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and protects the door from wind and rain causing damage.

The first thing you need to do is measure the width of your pet in order to get a precise measurement of what size of cat flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to let your pet leave and enter the home without having to open or close the door each time, but it is also small enough to keep the pet from straying too far in either direction.

Once you have the measurements you can determine the area on the door where the template should be positioned, typically this is done using an X. However, some kits include a drawing that shows where to drill. If you have one, then attach 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.

Utilize a set square to check that you're cutting correctly and to ensure the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. When you are satisfied with this, you can begin to remove the rest of the door material. If you have a square that you have cut, use it to check whether you're cutting in the right way and also to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangular 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 let your pet in and out without having to worry about them coming in with a visitor, or leaving unwanted gifts in the home. It also stops draughts and helps keep the temperature in your home steady. However, installing the cat flap to your door could be an overwhelming task for those who've never done it before, leading many people to seek out a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the task. It is an option, but you can do it yourself if your tools are appropriate and the directions are followed.

It is much easier to accomplish on wooden doors, but it is still possible with uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to scratch the doors with cat flap since this could cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. The first step is to examine the door's measurements to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be simple enough when you have the standard uPVC door, however you may need to take more care if you have an insulated or composite type of door since these 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 from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach and you'll need to find a place in the door where this measurement will fall within the range that your pet can comfortably go through. Once you know this then you need to mark out the area with a pencil and a spirit level so that you can ensure that the hole you will create will fit your cat.

After you've marked the area, you're now ready to cut the hole. You will need to use the jigsaw, and it is important that you be patient to ensure that the cuts are smooth and straight, rather than uneven and rough, since this could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when using a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you'll need sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap can be easily fitted into place.

Cut a hole

Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be 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 let cold air in when the cat is outside and hot air out when the cat is inside.

The first thing to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door using a pencil and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is correctly located and is in a straight line with the other components of the door. Make sure to have sandpaper in your possession to smooth any rough edges.

Wear the safety equipment you'll need to use a power tool. If you are concerned about the noise of the jigsaw, you can purchase a cordless version which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.

It is crucial to only cut away the material needed to fit the cat flap. A small amount of material is required to increase the thickness of the the flap but removing more than this can cause problems or cause damage to the door 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 does not get in contact with the wall of the flap.

If you're planning to install a cat flap into a upvc or double-glazed window with cat flap with metal frames it is necessary to speak with a specialist. They will provide you with a brand new piece of glass with the hole already pre-made for the cat flap. This will be cheaper than trying to fit the flap into an existing pane of glass that wasn't designed for this purpose.

Place the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to move around whenever they like, allowing them to relax in the house when they like. If you've got an uPVC door, it might be difficult to put in an animal flap, especially in the absence of a glass pane that can be cut for one. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to add a cat flap. It's not as easy as cutting a hole through the door however, and there are a few things you'll need to do first to ensure it's secure.

A composite door panel typically comprises an extremely thin plastic outer skin bonded to a soft insulating polystyrene core. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting into it to avoid causing damage. This kind of door has a template you can use to make the hole.

After you have carved out the hole in your front door, it's time to install the cat flap cost flap. You can choose from a variety of models, ranging from simple push-button flaps to microchip activated ones that allow your pet in. But, regardless of the type of cat flap you choose it's crucial to ensure that your cat can comfortably use the flap and not get stuck outside in the rain.

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. It's because square holes are more likely to break the glass when they are drilled. This is also a safer choice because you won't need to drill into the toughened glass which could break and hurt your pet or family. This is particularly important if there are elderly or children living in your home that could be injured by glass fragments.