Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go whenever they want without needing to let him in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from urinating in the house.

Fitting a cat flap in a upvc door panel is a lot easier than glass doors, however it requires some knowledge and the proper tools.

Measure the Door

Fitting a cat flap in the door isn't easy but as long as you select the right kind of cat flap be patient and follow the directions provided, it should not prove to be too difficult. We will help you mark the shape and use a jigsaw in order to cut the door area. Then we will finish the job by affixing the cat flap. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and shields the door from wind and rain which can cause damage.

To determine the size of the cat flap that you require, measure your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to allow your pet to leave and enter the home without needing to open and close the door every time, yet small enough to stop the pet from straying too far in either direction.

If your kit comes with an illustration of the location to drill then you can place it on the door, and then use a pencil around it. If your door has a sill or moulding on the bottom edge of it then make sure you have enough clearance from these to keep your cat safe and stop them from gaining access to your home.

Next put on your eye protection and dust mask, and using a jigsaw start cutting according to the lines you've drawn in, but don't press the blade too hard, as this could cause it to cut faster than you'd like it to. Utilize a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material in a proper manner and that the cut is a rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with the result, you are able to remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great method to allow your pet to go in and out without having to worry about them being a nuisance to visitors or leaving unwelcome gifts in the home. It also stops draughts and keeps your home's temperature stable. Fitting a cat flap to your door might seem difficult to those who haven't done it before. A lot of people will hire an expert carpenter or joiner to do the job. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the work yourself if you have the appropriate tools and follow the instructions carefully.

This is much easier to accomplish on wooden doors, but it is possible with uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to scratch the doors because this will cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. First, you must examine the door's measurements to ensure that it can accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have a standard uPVC panel it should be a breeze. However when your door is made of composite or another kind of door, you may require more care.

The next step is to determine the height of your cat's stomach. This is the distance from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach and you'll need to find a place near the door where this measurement will fall within the range that your pet can comfortably go through. Once you know this then you be required to mark the area using pencil and a spirit level so that you can ensure that the hole you will make will be a good fit for your window cat flap.

Once you have marked out the area, it is time to cut out the hole. You will require an jigsaw. It is essential to take your time to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean instead of rough and uneven, as it could cause damage to your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust protection mask whenever using the jigsaw, as inhaling the sawdust can be dangerous to your health. After you've completed the cutting, you'll need to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper so that your cat flap will fit easily in place.

Cut a Hole

The process of fitting a cat flap into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. You might be tempted to tackle the task yourself, but unless have a lot of experience in DIY it is likely to be best to have an expert to complete the job for you. A mistake in the process may not only look ugly, but it could also be an issue for security and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when inside.

Mark the hole position on the door with a pencil and spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly positioned and aligns with the rest of the door. You should make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at the ready for any rough edges.

After the line is traced, you must cut the hole using a jigsaw, remember to wear any safety equipment when working with an electric tool. If you are worried about the sound of a jigsaw you can buy one that is cordless, which is much quieter and easier to use.

It is essential to only cut away the material required for the fitment of the cat flap installer flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the the flap, but removing more than that could cause issues and damage the doors frame.

If the door is made of upvc and has a metal panel or frame, it may interfere with the microchip flap. In this case, you will need to make an oversize hole to ensure that the metal does not touch the walls of the flap.

If you're looking to install a cat flap in windows made of double-glazed or upvc with metal frames it is necessary to speak with a specialist. They can provide you with a new piece of glass with the hole that is already designed for the cat flap. It is much less expensive to get this done rather than trying to fix a cat flap into an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for the purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet to move around as they please, giving them the freedom to relax inside the house when they feel like it. If you've got a uPVC door, it may be difficult to fit a cat flap, especially if you don't own a glass pane that can be cut to accommodate one. If you're able to purchase and Fitting A Cat Flap install a replacement half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to install an animal flap onto these doors. It's not just a matter of cutting a hole into the door. It is also necessary to do a few things to ensure that the door is secure.

A uPVC, GRP or composite door panel is typically made up of an flimsy plastic outer layer joined to a soft insulating polystyrene core. The material is fairly fragile and care should be taken when cutting into it to avoid damaging. This type of door has a template you can use to cut the hole.

Once you have marked the location of the hole in your door, it's now time to put in the cat flap itself. You can purchase and install a wide variety of different models that range from simple push-button operated models to microchip activated units that only let in your pet. Whatever type of cat flaps you select it's essential that your cat is able to utilize the flap window with cat flap ease without getting caught in bad weather.

A circular fitting is more effective than a square, because circles can be cut more securely into glass. It's because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they're drilled. This is also a safer choice, as you won't have to drill into the toughened glass which could break and hurt your pet or your 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.