Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go at their own pace without needing to let them in or out. They also can help to stop your cat from urinating inside the house.

Installing a cat flap on a upvc door panel is a lot easier than glass doors, however it requires some knowledge and the right 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 instructions it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show you how to mark out the shape, using the jigsaw to slice the door's opening and then finish off the job by attaching the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in position and also protects the doors from the damage caused by rain and wind.

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

If your kit comes with an illustration of the location to drill, then 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 enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Put on your eye protection and a dust mask. Then using a jigsaw, begin to cut along the line you've drawn in. Don't press the blade too hard as this can cause it to cut more quickly than you'd like it to. Set the square with a ruler to ensure you are cutting the material properly and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are happy with the result, you can remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap lets you to let your pet in and out without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwanted gifts. It also prevents drafts and helps to keep the temperature of your home steady. Fitting a cat flap fitting flap to your door might seem difficult to those who haven't done it before. Many people will call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the job. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself if your tools are in order and the directions are followed.

This is much easier to do with doors made of wood, however it is still possible using upvc cat flap door panels. However, you must be careful not to harm the doors as this could cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. First, you need to measure the door to ensure that it can accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be simple enough when you have a standard uPVC door, however you might need to take more care if using an insulated or composite type of door since 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 distance between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. You'll need to find an area at the entrance that allows your cat to move through easily. Once you have this information, you will need to mark out the area with pencil and a spirit level so that you can be certain that the hole you will make will be a good fit for your cat.

Once you've marked the area, it's time to cut the hole. You will require an jigsaw. It is important that you take your time in order to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth instead of uneven and rough, since it could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you've finished the cutting, you will have to smooth the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that the cat flap can be fitted easily into place.

Cut a Hole

It can be difficult to put a cat flap in upvc door panel (Continued) flap into a door panel or a sealed double glazing unit. If you're not proficient in DIY, it's best to hire a professional to do the job for you. A shoddy job might not only be unsightly but also an enigma for security and also allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape once inside.

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

Wear any safety gear you need to work with a power tool. If you're worried about the noise, you can get an electric jigsaw that is more quiet and easy to use.

It is important that you only cut away the material needed for the fitment of the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the wall of the cat flap itself but cutting off more than this can cause problems or cause damage to the door frame.

If the upvc door features a metal panel or frame, it may interfere with the microchip flap. In this case you'll 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 frames made of metal, you'll need to consult an expert. They can provide you with a brand new piece of glass that has the hole already made for the cat flap. This will be cheaper than trying to install a cat flap inside an existing pane that was not designed for this purpose.

Install the Flap

Cat flaps give your pet the freedom to come and go whenever they want and let them relax at home whenever 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 a glass pane that can be cut to accommodate one. If you're looking to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to add a cat flap. It's not a simple matter of drilling a hole into the door. It is also necessary to do a few things to ensure that it is safe.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is typically made up of an flimsy plastic outer layer joined to a soft insulating polystyrene core. It is crucial to be cautious when cutting the material. This type of door has a template you can use to cut the hole.

After you have carved out the opening in your front door, it is time to put in the cat flap. You can purchase and install various models including basic push-button operated models to microchip activated units that only let in your pet. But, regardless of the kind of cat flap you choose it's important to make sure that your cat can use the flap without getting trapped in the weather.

It's a good idea to choose circular fittings rather than one that is square, because circles are more securely cut into door glass. This is because square holes make the glass more susceptible to cracking if a drill is used on it. This is also a safer choice because you won't need to drill into the toughened glass which could break and cause harm to your pet or family. This is particularly important if you have child or elderly person at home who could be injured by shards glass.