Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel
cat flap step flaps allow your pet come and go whenever they want, without you needing to let them in or out. They can also help stop your cat from urinating in the house.
Installing a cat flap on a door panel made of Upvc is much simpler than installing one in glass doors, however it requires some knowledge and the proper tools.
Measure the Door
The installation of a cat flap in a front door could be difficult however, as long as the cat flap is the correct one and you follow the guidelines, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will demonstrate how to mark the shape and use an jigsaw to cut out the door area. Then we will finish the job by affixing the flap. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the door from rain and wind causing damage.
The first thing to do is measure the width of your pet in order to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is big enough that your pet can go inside and out of the house without needing to open and 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 the area on the door where the template should be placed. usually this is done with an X. However, some kits include an illustration that outlines the location to drill, if you have one, then attach it to the door and draw a line around the door. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, make sure you leave plenty of space between your cat flap step and the moulding or sill.
Put on your eye protection and dust mask. Then using a jigsaw start to cut along the line that you have pencilled in, don't try to press the blade too hard, as this can make it cut faster than you'd like it to. If you own a set square then use it to ensure that you're cutting properly and also to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangular shape. Once you are happy with this you can start to remove the rest of the door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap allows you to let your pet inside and out without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also reduces drafts and helps keep the temperature of your home stable. However, putting an animal flap on your door might seem like an intimidating task for those who have never 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 if the tools are in order and the steps are followed.
This is much simpler to do with a wooden door, but it is possible with uPVC. However you should be cautious not to scratch the doors since this could invalidate your guarantee. First, you need to take measurements of the door to ensure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have a standard uPVC panel it should be a breeze. However when your door is composite or another type of door, you might require more care.
The next step is to determine the height of your cat's stomach. This is the height between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. You'll need to locate an area on the door that will allow your pet to move through easily. Once you have this information, you will be required to mark the area with pencil and a spirit level so that you can be certain that the hole you will make will be suitable for your cat.
After you've marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is essential to be patient and use a jigsaw ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth not rough and uneven. This could cause damage to your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust protection mask at all times when working with the jigsaw as breathing in the dust can be dangerous to your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you'll require sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted.
Cut a hole
It can be difficult to fit an animal flap on a door panel or a sealed double glazing unit. You may be tempted to tackle the task yourself, but unless you have plenty of expertise in DIY, it's probably best to get a professional to do the job for you. A botched job could not only look ugly and unattractive, but could also be security risks. It could let cold air in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when it is inside.
The hole's location should be marked on the door with an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure it is correctly positioned and runs flush with the rest of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.
Wear the safety equipment you'll need to use a power tool. If you're worried about the noise, you can buy a cordless jigsaw which is more quiet and easy to use.
It is best to only remove the material required to fit the flap. A small amount of material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the flap but removing more than that can cause problems or damage the doors frame.
A door made of upvc may have a metal frame or panel within it which could block the microchip cat flap and in this case you'll need to make an oversize hole so that the metal does not touch the the cat flap, if this is done it is essential to fill in the gap and seal it with water.
If you're installing the cat flap onto an upvc door or a double glazed window cat flap with a metal frame then you'll need to talk to a specialist who can provide you with a new glass pane with the hole for the cat flap already drilled inside. It is cheaper to get this done rather than trying to fix the flap to an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for the purpose.
Install the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to move around anytime they want, allowing them to relax in the house when they want to. If you have a uPVC front door, it can be hard to install a cat flap. This is especially true in the event that you don't own an glass panel that is cut. If you're able to buy and install a half-glazed replacement uPVC panel, it's possible to fit a cat flap to the doors. It's not just a matter of slicing a hole into the door. You'll also have to take a few steps to ensure it's safe.
A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel usually has an flimsy plastic outer layer bonded to a soft polystyrene insulating core. The material is fairly fragile and care must be taken when cutting into it to avoid damaging. This kind door has a template you can use to make the hole.
Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, it's time to fit the cat flap itself. You can buy and fit a wide variety of different models including basic push-button operated models to microchip activated units that allow only your pet. However, no matter what kind of cat flap you choose it's important to make sure that your cat can use the flap without getting stuck outside in the rain.
A circular fitting cat flap in upvc door panel is better than a square because circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes make glass more vulnerable to cracking if drilling is applied to it. It's also a safer choice to use since you're not at risk of having to drill into toughened glass that might break and cause injury to your pet or your family. This is especially important if there are elderly or children living in your home who could be injured by glass fragments.