Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel
cat flap step flaps let your pet come and go as they please, without you having to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from urinating inside the home.
It is much easier to put a cat flap on a upvc panel than on a glass one however, you'll require some expertise and correct tools.
Measure the Door
The installation of a cat flap in the front door is difficult however, provided that the cat flap is the correct one and you follow the guidelines you can make it less difficult. We will show how to trace the shape, use the jigsaw to slice the door's area and then complete the job by securing the cat flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and shields the door from wind and rain which can cause damage.
The first step is take a measurement of the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of the size of cat flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to allow your pet to go inside and out of the house without needing to open and close the door every time, but also small enough to prevent them from going too far in either direction.
Once you have the measurements, you can mark out where on the door the template should be placed. typically this is done using an X, however some kits include a drawing that shows where to drill, if yours does then stick it to the door and draw a line around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, make sure you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.
Set a square to make sure you are cutting correctly and ensure that the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. When you are satisfied with the result, you can begin removing the remaining door material. If you have a square that you have cut, make use of it to verify that you're cutting properly and to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangle. Once you are satisfied with the shape, you can start to remove the remaining door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap allows you to let your pet go inside and outside without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwanted gifts. It also stops draughts and keeps your home's temperature stable. However, fitting a cat flap in your door can seem like an intimidating task for those who have never done it before. This can lead many people to call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the task. While this is definitely an option, it is possible to complete the task yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions with care.
This is much easier to do on wooden doors, but it is possible with uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to scratch the doors because this will make it impossible to claim your warranty. The first step in the process is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it is able to fit the new cat flap in upvc door panel flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel it's easy. However when your door is made of composite or another kind of door, you might need to be more careful.
The next step is to measure the size of your cat's belly. This is the measurement from the floor to the lower part of the cat's stomach and you'll need locate a place near the door that will be within the range that your pet can comfortably go through. Once you know this you'll need to mark out the area using pencil and a spirit level to be sure that the hole you will make will be suitable for your cat.
After you have marked the area, it's time to cut the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure the cuts are clean and smooth not rough and uneven. This could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while working with the jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you'll require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted into the hole.
Make a hole
Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. You may be tempted to do it yourself, but unless you have experience in DIY it is probably best to get an expert to complete 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 when inside.
The first thing you have to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door with an eraser and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is properly positioned and that it runs parallel to other parts of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper in your possession to smooth out any rough edges.
Wear the safety equipment you'll need to use the power tool. If you are concerned about the noise of the jigsaw, consider buying a cordless version which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
It is important that you only remove the material that is required to fit the cat flap. It is important to leave a bit of material to cover the wall of the flap. However cutting off too much material can cause issues or even damage to the frame of the door.
A upvc door may include a metal frame, or panel within it that will interfere with the microchip cat flap and if this is the case you'll need to make an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal does not get in contact with the the cat flap. If this is done it is important to fill in the oversize gap and seal it with water.
If you're planning to install the cat flap onto a upvc door or double-glazed window with cat flap with a metal frame, you will need to speak to a professional who can supply you with a new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap already drilled inside. It will be much cheaper to do this instead of trying to install the cat flap onto an existing glass pane that was not designed specifically for this purpose.
Place the Flap
Cat flaps give your pet the freedom to come and go whenever they like and allow them to be comfortable in the house when they like. If you have an uPVC front door, it can be difficult to put in the cat flap. This is especially the case in the event that you don't own glass panels that can be cut. Luckily, if you're happy to buy and install a replacement half-glazed uPVC panel, it's possible to install an animal flap onto these doors. It's not just a matter of slicing an opening in the door. You'll also need to perform a few steps to ensure it's safe.
A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is typically composed of a thin plastic skin that is attached to an insulating polystyrene core. It is important to be careful when cutting the material. This type door comes with a template that you can use to make the hole.
After you have marked out the opening in your front door, it's time to install the cat flap. You can purchase and install various models, from basic push-button operated models to microchip activated units that only let in your pet. But, regardless of the type of cat flap in upvc door panel flap you pick, it's important to make sure that your cat can use the flap and not get trapped in the weather.
A circular fitting is more effective than a square because circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes are more likely to break the glass when they're drilled. 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 members. This is especially important if you have a child or elderly person in your home who could be hurt by shards of glass.