Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet come and go at their own pace without you needing to let him in or out. They can also help keep your cat from having to go to the bathroom inside the house.

Fitting a cat flap in the door panel made of upvc is a lot easier than a glass door, but it does require some skills and the appropriate tools.

Take a look at the Door

Fitting a cat door in a front door can be difficult, but as long as the cat flap is the right type and you follow the guidelines, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will be showing you how to mark out the shape, use the jigsaw to slice the door's area 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 rain and wind damaging the door.

The first step is measure the width of your pet to get a precise measurement of the size of cat flap you'll require. This will allow you to select a cat flap that is large enough to allow your pet to go into the home and exit without needing to open the door each time.

If your kit comes with an illustration of the location to drill, then place it on the door, and then draw around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, make sure you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Utilize a set square to check that you are cutting correctly and to ensure the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with this, you can begin removing the remaining door material. If you own a set square then use it to check that you are cutting correctly and to make sure the hole is a proper rectangle shape, once you are satisfied with this you can begin to remove the rest of the door material.

Draw a Line

The window cat flap flap is a great way to let your pet in and out without having to worry about them being a nuisance to visitors or leaving unwelcome gifts in the house. It also prevents drafts and helps keep the temperature in your home stable. However, fitting a cat flap fitting flap in your door can seem like an overwhelming task for those who haven't done it before, leading many people to call a professional joiner or carpenter to do the job instead. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself, provided the tools are appropriate and the steps are adhered to.

This is much easier to do on a wooden door, but it is still possible using uPVC. However, you must be careful not to harm the doors since this could invalidate your guarantee. The first step in the process is to measure the door and ensure that it can accommodate the new cat flap. This should be simple enough if you are using a standard 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 determine the height of your cat's belly. This is the distance between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. It is important to locate a space at the entrance that will allow your pet to move through easily. Once you have this information you'll have to draw the area using an eraser and a spirit level so that you can ensure that the hole you will create will fit your cat.

After you have marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is important to take your time 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 is dangerous for your health. Once you have completed the cutting, you'll have to smooth out the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that the cat flap can be fitted easily in place.

Cut a hole

It isn't easy to install an animal flap on the door panel or double glazing unit. You might be tempted to tackle the task yourself, but unless you have expertise in DIY, it's likely to be best to have a professional in to do the job for you. A mistake in the process may not just be ugly, but also an enigma for security and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape once inside.

The first thing you have to do is mark the position of the hole in the door with pencil and an ax level. This will ensure that it is properly placed and runs in a straight line with the other components of the door. Make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at the ready to smooth any edges.

Once the line has been traced, you must cut the hole using a jigsaw, remember to wear the appropriate safety gear for working with a power tool. If you are concerned about the sound produced by the jigsaw, consider buying a cordless version which is much quieter and easier to use.

It is best to only remove the material needed to fit the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the wall of the flap but removing more than that can cause problems or cause damage to the door frame.

A upvc door may contain a metal frame or panel which could block the microchip cat flap if this is the case, you'll need to cut an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal does not get in contact with the the cat flap in upvc door Panel flap, if this is the case, it is crucial to fill in the gap and render it watertight.

If you're planning to install the cat flap onto a upvc door or double glazed window cat flap with a metal frame then you will need to speak to a professional who will provide you with a brand new glass pane that already has the hole for the cat flap in it. This will be less expensive than fitting the flap into an existing pane of glass that was not designed for this purpose.

Install the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to move around whenever they want and let them relax at home whenever they like. If you have a uPVC front door, it may be hard to install a cat flap. This is especially the case in the event that you don't own glass panels that can be cut. If you're willing to purchase and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to install an animal flap onto the doors with cat flap. It's not just a matter of drilling an opening in the door. You'll also have to do a few things to ensure that the door is secure.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is usually comprised of a thin plastic skin which is bonded to an insulating polystyrene core. The material is quite fragile and care should be taken when cutting through it to avoid causing damage. This kind of door comes with a template that can be used to cut the hole.

Once you have marked the position of the hole in your door, it's now time to fit the cat flap itself. You can buy and fit many different models including basic push-button operated models to microchip-activated ones that only let in your pet. Whatever kind of cat flaps you select it is essential that your cat can use the flap comfortably without getting stuck outside in the rain.

It's a good idea to select circular fittings instead of one that is square, because circles are more securely cut into the door glass. It's because square holes are more likely to break the glass when drilled. This is also a safer option, as you won't have to drill into the toughened glass, which could break and hurt your pet or your family members. This is particularly important if there are elderly or children at home who could be injured by glass fragments.