Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

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

Installing a cat flap on a door panel made of Upvc is a lot easier than a glass door, but it does require some skills and the right tools.

Measure the Door

fitting cat flap in upvc door panel - take a look at the site here - a cat door in a front door can be difficult, but so long as the cat flap is of the appropriate one and you follow the directions it shouldn't be too difficult. We will help you draw the shape and then use the jigsaw to cut out the door's area. Then we will finish the job by affixing the flap. This will ensure the flap remains in place and protects the doors from damage caused by rain and wind.

The first thing to do is determine the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of the size of cat flap you will need. This will ensure that the flap is big enough that your pet can enter and leave the house without having to open and close the door every time, but it is also small enough to stop the pet from straying too far in either direction.

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

Put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask and using a jigsaw start to cut along the line you have pencilled in. Don't push the blade too hard because this could make it cut faster than you would like it to. If you have a square that you have cut, make use of it to verify that you are cutting correctly and also to ensure that the hole is a proper 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 way to allow your pet to go out and in without having to worry about them being in the house with visitors or leaving unwanted gifts in the house. It also stops draughts and helps to keep your home's temperature in check. Installing a cat flap on your door can be a daunting task to those who haven't tried it before. A lot of people will hire an expert joiner or carpenter to do the work. It is an option, but you can do it yourself, provided the tools are in order and the steps are followed.

While this is far easier to do when using a timber door it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors - although you need to be very careful not to scratch the doors, as this can cause damage to your warranty. The first step is to measure the door to ensure that it can accommodate the new cat flap installer near me-flap. This should be easy enough when you have an ordinary uPVC door, however you may require more care if you have an insulated or composite type of door as these are more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to determine the size of your cat's belly. This is the measurement from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach, and you'll need locate a place in the door where this measurement is within the range that your cat can comfortably pass through. Once you've got the information you'll have to mark the area with a spirit-level and a pencil so that you are certain that the hole will fit your cat.

After you've marked the area, it's time to cut the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw in order to ensure the cuts are smooth and clean not uneven and rough. This could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while using a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is hazardous for your health. After you've finished the cutting, you'll have to smooth the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that your cat flap will fit easily.

Make a hole

It isn't easy to put a cat flap into the door panel or double glazing unit. It is tempting to tackle the job yourself, but unless have plenty of experience in DIY it is probably best to get a professional in to do the task for you. A botched job may not just be ugly, but also an issue for security and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape once inside.

Mark the hole position on the door with an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure it is positioned correctly and is flush with the door's other parts. You should make sure you have some sandpaper on ready for any rough edges.

After the line is marked you should cut out the hole using a jigsaw. Be sure to wear the appropriate safety equipment when working with a power tool. If you're concerned about the noise, you can purchase a cordless jigsaw which is more quiet and easy to use.

It is best to only remove the material that is required to create the cat flap. It is essential to leave a bit of material to cover the wall of the cat flap. However cutting away too much could cause issues or even damage the door frame.

A door made of upvc could have a metal frame or a panel inside that could interfere with the microchip cat flap and if this is the case, you will need to cut an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal does not get in contact with the wall of the cat flap. If this is done, it is essential to fill in the oversize gap and seal it with water.

If you want to install a cat flap in a upvc or double-glazed window with metal frames it is necessary to speak with an expert. They can provide you with a new piece of glass that has the hole that is already designed for the cat flap. It will be much cheaper to have this done instead of trying to install the flap to an existing glass pane that hasn't been designed specifically for the purpose.

Install the Flap

Cat flaps give your pet the freedom to come and go whenever they want, allowing them to relax at home whenever they like. If you've got a uPVC door, it may be difficult to fit a cat flap, especially when you don't have glass panes that can be cut to fit one. If you're looking to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to install an additional cat flap. It's not as simple as cutting a hole in the door however, and there are a few things you'll need first to ensure it's secure.

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

Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, now it's time to install the flap. You can pick from a variety of models, ranging from simple push-button units to ones that are microchip-activated and allow your pet in. Whatever kind of cat flap you pick it is essential that your cat can utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck outside in the rain.

It's a good idea to opt for a circular fitting cat flap in upvc door panel rather than one that is square, because circles are more securely cut into door glass. This is because square holes can leave the glass vulnerable to cracking when drilling is applied to it. This is also a safer option since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass, which could break and hurt your pet or family. This is especially important if you have child or an elderly person living in your home who could be hurt by shards of glass.