Cat flaps allow your pet to go inside and out at their own pace, without needing to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from peeing in the home.
Fitting a cat flap in a upvc door panel is a lot easier than a glass door, however it requires some knowledge and the right tools.
Measure the back door with cat flap fitted
The installation of a cat flap in a front door can be difficult however, so long as the cat flap is of the correct one and you follow the guidelines it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show you how to mark out the shape, using 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 thing you need to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet in order to get an accurate measurement of the size of cat flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to let your pet go inside and out of the house without needing to open and close the door each time, but also small enough to keep the pet from straying too far in either direction.
If your kit comes with an illustration of where to drill, you can place it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has moulding or sill on the bottom edge ensure that you have clearance from these as this will ensure your cat's safety and stop them from gaining access to your home.
Then put on your eye protection and dust mask and using a jigsaw begin to cut along the line that you penciled in, don't try to push the blade too hard as this can cause it to cut faster than you'd like it to. Set the square with a ruler to ensure you are cutting the material properly and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are happy with the result, you are able to remove the remaining door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap lets you to let your pet inside and outside without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also stops draughts and helps to keep the temperature inside your home stable. The installation of a cat flap your door may seem daunting to those who haven't tried it before. Many people call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the job. This is an option but you can do it yourself if the tools are appropriate and the instructions are followed.
While this is far simpler to accomplish with a wooden door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors - although you need to be very careful not to scratch the doors since this could cause damage to the warranty. The first step in the process is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it can accommodate the new cat flap. This should be simple enough if you are using an ordinary uPVC door, however you might need to take more care if using an alternative kind of door, as they are more difficult to cut than solid upvc door panel cat flap panels.
Next, you will need to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the measurement from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach, and you will need to find a spot near the door where this measurement is 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 certain that the hole you make will be suitable for your cat.
Once you've marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is important 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 damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while working with a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is hazardous for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you'll require sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap can be easily fitted into place.
Cut a Hole
Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. You may be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have a lot of expertise in DIY, it's likely to be best to have a professional to do the task for you. A mistake could not only be ugly and unattractive, but could also be a security threat. It could allow cold air to enter when the cat flap in Upvc Door panel is outdoors and hot air out when the cat is inside.
The hole's location should be marked on the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure it is correctly positioned and is flush with the rest of the door. Make sure to have sandpaper on hand to smooth out any rough edges.
After the line is marked you should cut out the hole with the jigsaw. Remember to wear the appropriate safety gear for working with the power tool. If you are concerned about the noise of a jigsaw you can buy one that is cordless, which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
It is crucial to only remove the material required for the fitment of the cat flap. A small amount of material will be needed to cover the thickness of the the flap, but removing more than this can cause problems or harm the frame of the door.
A upvc door may have a metal frame or panel that could interfere with the microchip cat flap if this is the case you'll need to make an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the the cat flap. If this is done, it is essential to fill in the oversize gap and seal it with water.
If you're planning to install an animal flap to an upvc door or a double glazed windows with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak to a professional who can supply you with a new glass pane that already has the hole for the cat flap already drilled in it. This is less expensive than fitting a cat flap inside an existing pane that wasn't designed for this purpose.
Place the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet leave and come at their own pace, giving them the freedom to lounge in the home whenever they feel like it. However, if you own a uPVC door, it may be difficult to install a cat flap, especially when you don't have glass panes that could be cut to accommodate one. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to add the cat flap. It's not as simple as simply cutting a hole through the door however, and there are a few things you'll need first to ensure it's secure.
A uPVC, GRP or composite door cat flap door panel usually has a flimsy plastic outer skin bonded to a soft polystyrene core that is insulating. It is essential to be cautious when cutting the material. This kind of door typically includes a template which you can use as a guide to cut the hole in your door.
After you have carved out the opening in your front door, it is time to put in the cat flap. You can choose from a range of models, ranging from simple push-button models to microchip activated ones that only let your pet in. But, regardless of the kind of cat flap you pick, it is essential to ensure that your cat can comfortably use the flap without becoming stuck outside in the rain.
It's a good idea to choose circular fittings rather than a square one, as circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes make the glass more susceptible to cracking when drills are used on it. It's also a much safer choice to use since you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that might break and injure your pet or family members. This is particularly crucial if you have elderly or children living in your home who could be hurt by glass shards.
Fitting a cat flap in a upvc door panel is a lot easier than a glass door, however it requires some knowledge and the right tools.
Measure the back door with cat flap fitted
The installation of a cat flap in a front door can be difficult however, so long as the cat flap is of the correct one and you follow the guidelines it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show you how to mark out the shape, using 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 thing you need to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet in order to get an accurate measurement of the size of cat flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to let your pet go inside and out of the house without needing to open and close the door each time, but also small enough to keep the pet from straying too far in either direction.
If your kit comes with an illustration of where to drill, you can place it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has moulding or sill on the bottom edge ensure that you have clearance from these as this will ensure your cat's safety and stop them from gaining access to your home.
Then put on your eye protection and dust mask and using a jigsaw begin to cut along the line that you penciled in, don't try to push the blade too hard as this can cause it to cut faster than you'd like it to. Set the square with a ruler to ensure you are cutting the material properly and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are happy with the result, you are able to remove the remaining door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap lets you to let your pet inside and outside without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also stops draughts and helps to keep the temperature inside your home stable. The installation of a cat flap your door may seem daunting to those who haven't tried it before. Many people call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the job. This is an option but you can do it yourself if the tools are appropriate and the instructions are followed.
While this is far simpler to accomplish with a wooden door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors - although you need to be very careful not to scratch the doors since this could cause damage to the warranty. The first step in the process is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it can accommodate the new cat flap. This should be simple enough if you are using an ordinary uPVC door, however you might need to take more care if using an alternative kind of door, as they are more difficult to cut than solid upvc door panel cat flap panels.
Next, you will need to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the measurement from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach, and you will need to find a spot near the door where this measurement is 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 certain that the hole you make will be suitable for your cat.
Once you've marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is important 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 damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while working with a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is hazardous for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you'll require sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap can be easily fitted into place.
Cut a Hole
Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. You may be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have a lot of expertise in DIY, it's likely to be best to have a professional to do the task for you. A mistake could not only be ugly and unattractive, but could also be a security threat. It could allow cold air to enter when the cat flap in Upvc Door panel is outdoors and hot air out when the cat is inside.
The hole's location should be marked on the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure it is correctly positioned and is flush with the rest of the door. Make sure to have sandpaper on hand to smooth out any rough edges.
After the line is marked you should cut out the hole with the jigsaw. Remember to wear the appropriate safety gear for working with the power tool. If you are concerned about the noise of a jigsaw you can buy one that is cordless, which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
It is crucial to only remove the material required for the fitment of the cat flap. A small amount of material will be needed to cover the thickness of the the flap, but removing more than this can cause problems or harm the frame of the door.
A upvc door may have a metal frame or panel that could interfere with the microchip cat flap if this is the case you'll need to make an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the the cat flap. If this is done, it is essential to fill in the oversize gap and seal it with water.
If you're planning to install an animal flap to an upvc door or a double glazed windows with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak to a professional who can supply you with a new glass pane that already has the hole for the cat flap already drilled in it. This is less expensive than fitting a cat flap inside an existing pane that wasn't designed for this purpose.
Place the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet leave and come at their own pace, giving them the freedom to lounge in the home whenever they feel like it. However, if you own a uPVC door, it may be difficult to install a cat flap, especially when you don't have glass panes that could be cut to accommodate one. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to add the cat flap. It's not as simple as simply cutting a hole through the door however, and there are a few things you'll need first to ensure it's secure.
A uPVC, GRP or composite door cat flap door panel usually has a flimsy plastic outer skin bonded to a soft polystyrene core that is insulating. It is essential to be cautious when cutting the material. This kind of door typically includes a template which you can use as a guide to cut the hole in your door.
After you have carved out the opening in your front door, it is time to put in the cat flap. You can choose from a range of models, ranging from simple push-button models to microchip activated ones that only let your pet in. But, regardless of the kind of cat flap you pick, it is essential to ensure that your cat can comfortably use the flap without becoming stuck outside in the rain.
It's a good idea to choose circular fittings rather than a square one, as circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes make the glass more susceptible to cracking when drills are used on it. It's also a much safer choice to use since you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that might break and injure your pet or family members. This is particularly crucial if you have elderly or children living in your home who could be hurt by glass shards.
