Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps let your cat go in and out whenever they want without needing to let them in or out. They also prevent your cat from peeing in the home.

It is simpler to install a cat flap on a upvc panel than a glass one however, you'll require some knowledge and right tools.

Measure the Door

The installation of a cat flap in a front door could be difficult, but as long as the cat flap is the appropriate one and you follow the directions, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will be showing how to trace the shape, using a jigsaw to cut out the door's area and then complete the job by fixing the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and shields the door from rain and wind damaging the door.

To determine the size of the cat flap you require, measure your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to allow your pet to go inside and out of the house without having to open and close the door each time, but also small enough to prevent them from moving too far in either direction.

If your kit has an illustration of where to drill then you can put 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.

Set a square to check that you're cutting correctly and to ensure the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with this, you can start removing the rest of the door material. If you have an already-cut square, use it to ensure whether you're cutting in the right way and to ensure that the hole is a good rectangle shape, once you are satisfied with the shape, you can begin to remove the rest of the door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap lets you to let your pet inside and out without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwanted gifts. It also stops draughts and helps keep the temperature in your home stable. 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 job. This is an option but you can do it yourself if your tools are right and the directions are adhered to.

It is much easier to do with a wooden door, but it is still possible using uPVC. However you should be cautious not to damage the doors as this could invalidate your guarantee. First, you must examine the door's measurements to ensure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be easy enough if you are using an ordinary uPVC door, however you may need to take more care if you have a composite door cat flap or other type of door since these can be more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to determine the height of your cat flap installer's belly. This is the distance between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. You will need to locate an area at the entrance that will allow your pet to move through easily. Once you know this you'll have to draw the area with pencil and a spirit level so that you can be sure that the hole you will create will fit your cat.

Once you have marked out the area, it's time to make the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw in order to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean, not rough and uneven. This 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. Once you have completed the cutting process, you will have to smooth out the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that your cat flap will fit easily into place.

Cut a hole

The process of fitting cat flap in upvc door panel a cat flap into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. If you are not very skilled in DIY, it's best to employ a professional to do the job for you. A botched job could not only look ugly, but also pose an security risk. It could let cold air in when the cat is outside and hot air out when inside.

The first thing you need to do is mark the position of the hole in the door with an eraser and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is properly located and is in a straight line with the other components of the door. You should make sure you have an sandpaper piece on the ready to smooth any edges.

Wear any safety gear you'll need to use a power tool. If you are concerned about the noise of the jigsaw, you can purchase one that is cordless, which is quieter and simpler to use.

You should only remove the material needed to make the cat flap. It is important to leave a little extra material for the wall thickness of the cat flap. However cutting off too much material can cause issues or even damage the frame of the door.

A door made of upvc could contain a metal frame or panel within it which could block the microchip cat flap and if this is the case, you'll need to make an oversize hole so that the metal does not get in contact with the the cat flap. If this is done, it is crucial to fill in the oversize gap and render it watertight.

If you're planning to install an animal flap to the frame of a double glazed windows with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak 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 to attempt to fix the cat flap onto 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 like and allow them to be comfortable at home whenever they'd like. If you have an uPVC front door, it can be difficult to install the cat flap. This is especially the case when you don't have a glass panel that can be cut. Luckily, if you're happy to buy and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to fit an animal flap onto the doors. It's not a matter of drilling holes in the door. You'll also need to take a few steps to ensure it's secure.

A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is generally composed of a plastic skin that is attached to an insulating polystyrene core. It is crucial to be cautious when cutting the material. This kind door comes with a template that you can use to make the hole.

After you have carved out the hole in your front door, it is time to install the cat flap installation flap. You can buy and fit a wide variety of different models, from basic push-button operated ones to microchip activated units that allow access only to your pet. No matter which type of cat flaps you choose it is essential that your cat can use the flap without getting stuck outside in the rain.

A circular fitting is better than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes can leave the glass vulnerable to cracking if drilling is applied to it. This is also a safer choice, as you won't have to drill into the toughened glass that could break and hurt your pet or family members. This is especially crucial if you have a child or elderly person in your home who could be injured by shards of glass.