Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel
Cat flaps let your cat go in and out as they please without you needing to let them in or out. They also prevent your cat from urinating in the home.
Installing a cat flap into the door panel made of upvc is a lot easier than a glass door, however it will require some expertise and the proper tools.
Measure the Door
Installing a cat door into a front door could be difficult however, as long as the cat flap is the appropriate one and you follow the guidelines you can make it less difficult. We will show you how to mark out the shape, use a jigsaw to cut out the door's area and then finish off the job by securing the flap to the door. This will ensure the flap stays in position and protects the doors from the damage caused by wind and rain.
The first thing to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet to determine an accurate estimate of what size of window cat flap flap you will need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough that your pet can leave and enter the home without having to open or close the door every time, but it is also small enough to stop them from moving too far in either direction.
Once you have the measurements, you can determine where on the door the template should be placed. usually this is done with an X. However, some kits include drawings that show 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 the moulding or sill.
Put on your eye protection and a dust mask, and using a jigsaw begin cutting along the line that you penciled in, but don't press the blade too hard, as this will cause it to cut more quickly than you would like it to. If you own a square that you have cut, use it to check that you are cutting correctly and to ensure that the hole is in a rectangular shape. Once you are satisfied with the shape, you can begin to take off the remaining door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap allows you to let your pet in and out without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also prevents drafts and helps keep the temperature in your home stable. The installation of a cat flap your door might seem difficult to those who haven't done it before. Many people will call an expert joiner or carpenter to do the work. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the job yourself if you own the right tools and follow the instructions with care.
This is much easier to do on wooden doors, but it is still possible using upvc cat flap door panels. However it is important to be cautious not to harm the doors since this could make it impossible to claim your warranty. The first step is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it can accommodate the new cat flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel it's easy. However in the case of made of composite or another kind of door, you may have to be more cautious.
The next step is to determine the height of your cat's stomach. This is the height from the floor to the underside of the cat flap installation cost's stomach, and you will need to locate a place in the door where this measurement will fall within the range your cat flap bifold doors is able to comfortably walk through. Once you've got the information you'll have to mark the area using a spirit level and a pencil, so that you are certain that the opening will fit your cat.
After you have marked the area, it's time to make the hole. You will need an jigsaw. It is crucial to take your time in order to ensure that the cuts are smooth and straight instead of uneven and rough, as this could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is dangerous for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you'll need sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted.
Cut a hole
It can be difficult to put an animal flap on the door panel or double glazing unit. You may be tempted to do it yourself, but unless you have experience with 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 only look ugly, 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 when inside.
The first thing you have to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door with a pencil and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is located and is flush with all the other parts of the door. Make sure you have sandpaper in your possession to smooth any rough edges.
Once the line has been traced, you must cut the hole with the jigsaw. Remember to wear the appropriate safety gear for working with an electric tool. If you're worried about noise, you can buy a cordless jigsaw which is more quiet and easy to use.
It is essential to only remove the material required to fit the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be needed to cover the thickness of the the cat flap itself but cutting off more than this could cause issues and harm the frame of the door.
If the door is made of upvc and has a metal panel or frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In this scenario you'll need to make an oversize hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the wall of the flap.
If you're installing an animal flap to a upvc door or double glazed windows with a metal frame, you'll need to talk to a professional who can provide you with a new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap in it. It is much less expensive to have this done than trying to fix the cat flap onto an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to move around anytime they want, allowing them to relax 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 in the event that you don't own an glass panel which can be cut. If you're willing to purchase and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to fit a cat flap to these doors. It's not as easy as making a hole in the door, however there are some things you'll need to take care of first to ensure it's safe.
A composite back door with cat flap fitted panel usually has a flimsy plastic outer skin joined to a soft polystyrene core that is insulating. It is important to be careful when cutting the material. This type of door usually has a template which you can use as a guide to cut the hole in your door.
Once you've marked the opening in your front door, it's time to install the cat flap. You can pick from a variety of models, ranging from simple push-button flaps to microchip-activated ones that allow your pet in. However, no matter what kind of cat flap you choose it's important to make sure that your cat is able to use the flap without becoming trapped outside in bad weather.
A circular fitting cat flap in Upvc door panel is better than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they are drilled. This is also a safer choice, as you won't have to drill into the toughened glass which could shatter and harm your pet or family. This is particularly important if you have young or elderly person in your home who may be injured by shards glass.