Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

cat flap installer flaps allow your pet to leave and come back at their own pace, without needing to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from urinating in the house.

Installing a cat flap on a door panel made of upvc cat flap door panels is much simpler than installing one in a glass door, however it will require some expertise and the appropriate tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Installing a cat flap on a door can be tricky but as long as you select the right kind of cat flap be patient and follow the instructions provided it shouldn't be a problem. We will show you how to mark out the shape, using an jigsaw for cutting out the area in the door and then complete the job by attaching the cat flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and protects the door from wind and rain damaging the door.

To determine the size of the cat flap you need, measure the width of your pet. This will allow you to choose a cat flap cost flap that is large enough for your pet to enter the house and leave without needing to open the door every time.

Once you have the measurements you can determine the area on the door where the template should be placed, typically this is done using an X, but some kits include an illustration that outlines the location to drill, if yours does, then you can stick it to the door and draw a line around it. If your door has moulding or sill on the bottom edge ensure you have enough space to keep your cat safe and prevent them gaining access to your home.

Put on your eye protection and dust mask. Then using a jigsaw begin cutting according to the lines you've drawn in, but don't push the blade too hard as this will cause it to cut faster than you would like it to. If you own a set square then use it to ensure that you are cutting correctly and to ensure that the hole is in a rectangle shape, once you are happy with this you can begin to take off the rest of the door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great way 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 prevents draughts, and keeps your home's temperature steady. Fitting a cat flap installation flap to your door might seem difficult to those who haven't tried it before. Many people call an expert joiner or carpenter to do the work. While this is definitely an option, it's possible to do the work yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions carefully.

This is much easier to do with wooden doors, but it is possible with uPVC. However you should be cautious not to harm the doors as this could cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. The first step is to measure the door, ensuring that it can be able to accommodate the new cat flap. This should be simple enough when you have an ordinary uPVC door, but you may need to take more care if you have a composite or other type of door since these can be more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to measure the height of your cat's stomach. This is the measurement from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach and you will need to find a spot on the door where this measurement will fall within the range your cat is able to comfortably walk through. Once you have this information then you need to mark out the area with an eraser and a spirit level to ensure that the hole you will create will fit your cat.

Once you've marked the area, it's time to cut the hole. You will need the jigsaw, and it is important that you take your time to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean rather than uneven and rough, as this could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when using a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is dangerous for your health. After you've completed the cutting, you will need to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that the cat flap can be fitted easily into place.

Cut a Hole

Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. If you're not skilled in DIY, it is recommended to hire a professional to do the work for you. A mistake in the process may not only look ugly, but also a security risk and also allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when inside.

The first thing you need to do is draw the position of the hole in the door with an eraser and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is correctly placed and runs flush with all other parts of the door. You should make sure you have an sandpaper piece on ready to smooth any edges.

After the line is traced, you must cut the hole with the jigsaw. Remember to wear any necessary safety equipment when working with a power tool. If you're worried about the noise, you can buy a cordless jigsaw which is more quiet and easy to use.

It is essential to only cut away the material required to make the cat flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the cat flap itself but cutting off more than this can cause problems and even harm the frame of the door.

A door made of upvc could have a metal frame or panel that will interfere with the microchip cat flap and if this is the case you'll need to cut an oversize hole so that the metal does not get in contact with the the cat flap. If this is done it is essential to fill in the gap and make it watertight.

If you're planning to install a cat flap into an upvc door or a double glazed windows with a metal frame, you'll need to talk to a specialist who can supply you with a new glass pane with the hole for the cat flap already drilled in it. It will be much cheaper to get this done rather than trying to fix the flap to an existing pane of glass that hasn't been designed specifically for this purpose.

Place the Flap

Cat flaps let your pet leave and come whenever they want, allowing them the ability to unwind inside the house when they feel like it. If you've got a uPVC door, it might be difficult to put in a Cat flap in upvc door panel flap, especially if you don't own glass panes that can be cut for one. If you're able to buy and install a replacement half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to fit the cat flap to the doors. It's not as easy as simply cutting a hole through the door, however there are a few things you'll need to do first to make sure it's secure.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel usually has a flimsy plastic outer skin bonded to a soft insulating polystyrene core. It is essential to be careful when cutting the material. This type of door comes with a template that you can use to make the hole.

Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, it's now time to fit the cat flap. You can buy and fit various models that range from simple push-button operated ones to microchip-activated ones that only let in your pet. No matter which type of cat flaps you choose it is essential that your cat is able to utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck outside in the rain.

A circular fitting is more effective than a square, because circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when drilled. It's also a much safer choice to use since you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that might break and cause injury to your pet or your family. This is particularly important if you have young or elderly person at home who could be hurt by shards of glass.