Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel

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

Installing a cat flap on the door panel made of upvc is much easier than in a glass door, but it will require some expertise and the appropriate tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Fitting a cat flap in the door can be a challenge however, as long as you select the right kind of cat flap be patient and follow the steps provided it shouldn't be a problem. We will be showing you how to mark out the shape, then use an jigsaw for cutting out the door's area and then finish the job by attaching the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the door from rain and wind which can cause damage.

The first thing to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet to get a precise measurement of the size of cat flap step flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to let your pet go inside and out of the house without having to open or close the door each time, yet small enough to prevent the pet from straying too far in either direction.

If your kit has an illustration of where to drill, you can place it on the door and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, be sure that you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Utilize a set square to ensure that you're cutting correctly and ensure that the hole is a perfect rectangle shape. When you are satisfied with this, you are able to start removing the remaining door material. Use a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material in a proper manner and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are satisfied with the result, you are able to take the door material off.

Draw a Line

The cat flap allows you to let your pet go inside and out without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also stops draughts and helps to keep the temperature of your home stable. However, fitting the cat flap installation flap to your door can seem like an overwhelming task for those who have never done it before. This can lead many to hire a professional joiner or carpenter to do the job instead. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the job yourself if you own the right tools and follow the instructions carefully.

This is much easier to accomplish on doors made of wood, however it is possible with uPVC. However, you must be careful not to damage the doors because this will invalidate your guarantee. First, you need to measure the door to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be easy enough for the standard uPVC door, however you may need to take more care if you have an insulated or composite type of door since these are more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.

Next, you will need to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the measurement from the floor to the lower part of the cat's stomach and you'll need find a place in the door where this measurement will fall within the range that your cat is able to comfortably walk through. Once you have this information, you will need to mark out the area using pencil and a spirit level to be certain that the hole you make will be a good fit for your cat.

After you've marked the area, you're now ready to cut the hole. It is essential to take your time and use a jigsaw in order to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean not rough and uneven. This could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you've cut the hole, you will require sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap can be easily inserted.

Make a hole

Getting a cat flap fitted to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. You may be tempted to tackle the task yourself, but unless have expertise in DIY, it's recommended to hire a professional to do the job for you. A faulty job can not only be ugly and unattractive, but could also be a security threat. It could allow cold air in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when it is inside.

Mark the hole position on the door with an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is correctly positioned and runs flush with the rest of the door. You should make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at hand to smooth any edges.

Wear the safety equipment you require when working with the power tool. If you are worried about the sound of the jigsaw, consider buying a cordless version which is much quieter and easier to use.

It is crucial to only remove the material that is required for the fitment of the cat flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the cat flap double glazing flap itself but removing more than that can cause problems or damage the doors frame.

If the upvc door is made of metal, or has a frame, it may interfere with the microchip flap. In this situation, you will need to create an extra-large hole to ensure that the metal doesn't come into contact with walls of the flap.

If you want to install a cat flap inside windows made of double-glazed or upvc with frames made of metal, you'll need to consult an expert. They will provide you with a new piece of glass with the hole already made for the cat flap in upvc door panel flap. It is much less expensive to do this than to attempt to fix the cat flap onto an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for this purpose.

Place the Flap

Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to go and come anytime they want, allowing them to relax in the home whenever they like. However, if you have an uPVC door it can be difficult to fit a cat flap, particularly if you don't own glass panes that could be cut for one. Luckily, if you're happy to buy and install a replacement half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to install the cat flap to these doors. It's not a matter of drilling an opening in the door. You'll also have to take a few steps to ensure it's safe.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is typically made up of a thin plastic skin that is attached to an insulating polystyrene core. The material is extremely fragile and care must be taken when cutting into it to avoid causing damage. This kind of door typically has a template that you can use as a reference to cut the hole in the door.

After you've marked the location of the hole in your door, it's now time to install the flap itself. You can buy and fit many different models that range from simple button operated ones to microchip-activated ones that allow only your pet. But, regardless of the kind of cat flap you choose it's important to make sure that your cat flap fitting can comfortably use the flap without getting stuck outside in the rain.

A circular fitting is superior than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes can make glass more vulnerable to cracking when a drill is used on it. This is also a safer option since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass, which could break and hurt your pet or your family members. This is especially important if there are children or elderly people in your home that could be injured by glass shards.