Cat flaps allow your pet to go inside and out at their own pace, without having to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from urinating inside the house.
Installing a cat flap on a door panel made of upvc door panel cat flap is a lot easier than glass doors, however it requires some knowledge and the proper tools.
Take a look at the Door
The installation of a cat flap inside the door can be a challenge but if you use the correct type of cat flap make sure you take your time and follow the steps provided it shouldn't be a problem. We will show you how to mark the shape and use an jigsaw to cut the door area. Then we'll complete the job by affixing the flap. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the door from wind and rain which can cause damage.
The first thing to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet in order to get a precise measurement of the size of cat flap you will need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to allow your pet to leave and enter the home without having to open and close the door each time, yet small enough to prevent them from moving too far either way.
Once you have the measurements you can determine where on the door the template should be positioned, usually this is done with an X. However, some kits come with a drawing that shows where to drill, if yours does, then you can stick it to the door and draw a line around the door. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, be sure you leave enough space between your cat and these elements.
Then put on your eye protection and dust mask, and using a jigsaw, begin cutting according to the lines you have pencilled in, don't try to push the blade too hard, as this could make it cut faster than you'd like it to. If you own a square that you have cut, cat flap in upvc door panel use it to ensure whether you're cutting in the right way and also to ensure that the hole is in a rectangle shape, once you are satisfied with this you can begin to take off the remaining door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap lets you to let your pet in and out without worrying about unwanted visitors or unwanted gifts. It also helps prevent draughts and keeps your home's temperature stable. Installing a cat flap on your door can be a daunting task to those who haven't done it before. A lot of people will hire a professional carpenter or joiner to do the work. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to complete the task yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions with care.
While this is far simpler when using a timber door it is still possible in uPVC doors, though you must be careful to avoid damaging the doors as this will invalidate the warranty. The first step is to measure the door, ensuring that it can fit the new cat flap. This should be simple enough for the standard uPVC door, however you may need to take extra care if you are using an alternative type of door as these can be more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.
The next step is to determine the height of your cat's stomach. This is the height from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach, and you'll need to locate a place in the door that will be within the range your cat can comfortably pass through. Once you have this information then you be required to mark the area with 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 is time to make the hole. It is important to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth not uneven and rough. This could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while using a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. Once you have completed the cutting, you'll need to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper, so that your cat flap will fit easily.
Make a hole
It isn't easy to put the cat flap onto a door panel or sealed double glazing unit. You may be tempted to do it yourself, but unless have experience with DIY, it's recommended to hire an expert to complete the job for you. A botched job may not only be unsightly but it could also be a security risk and also allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside, and hot air to escape once inside.
The first thing you need to do is draw the position of the hole in the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly positioned and that it runs in a straight line with the other parts of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper in your possession to smooth any rough edges.
Wear the safety equipment you require when working with an electric tool. If you are worried about the sound produced by a jigsaw you can buy an electric version that is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
You should only remove the material required to make the cat flap. It is important to leave a bit of material to make the wall thickness of the cat flap. However, removing too much can cause issues or even damage to the door frame.
A upvc door may contain a metal frame or a panel inside that will interfere with the microchip cat flap and if this is the case, you'll need to cut an oversize hole to ensure the metal doesn't touch the wall of the cat flap, if this is the case, it is essential to fill in the oversize gap and render it watertight.
If you're installing the cat flap fitting flap onto an upvc door or a double-glazed window with a frame made of metal, you'll need to speak to a specialist who can provide you with a brand new pane of glass cat flap installation near me with the hole for the cat flap premade inside. This will be less expensive than trying to fit a cat flap inside an existing pane that was not designed specifically for this purpose.
Install the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet leave and come whenever they want, allowing them the ability to unwind in the home whenever they're feeling like it. If you have an uPVC front door, it might be hard to install a cat flap. This is especially the case in the event that you don't own glass panels that is cut. If you are willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to add an additional cat flap. It's not as easy as cutting a hole in the door, however there are some things you'll need to do first to make sure it's secure.
A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is generally made up of a thin plastic skin which is bonded to an insulating polystyrene core. The material is fairly fragile and care should be taken when cutting into it to avoid causing damage. This type of door usually includes a template that you can use as a guide for cutting the hole in your door.
Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, it's time to fit the cat flap. You can pick from a range of designs, from simple push-button units to microchip-activated ones that only let your pet in. Whatever type of cat flaps you select it is essential that your cat flap in upvc door Panel can use the flap comfortably without getting caught in bad weather.
A circular fitting cat flap in upvc door panel is superior 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 they're drilled. It's also a safer option as you're not putting yourself at risk by having to drill into toughened glass that could shatter and hurt your pet or your family. This is particularly important if you have child or elderly person in your home who may be injured by shards of glass.