Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet to leave and come back as they please without you needing to let them in or out. They also help prevent your cat from toileting in the house.

Installing a cat flap on a door panel made of Upvc is a lot easier than a glass door, however it does require some skills and the proper tools.

Take a measurement of the door

Installing a cat door into a front door could be difficult, but so long as the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the guidelines you can make it less difficult. We will be showing you how to mark out the shape, use the jigsaw to slice the area in the door and then finish the job by fixing the cat flap in upvc Door panel flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays 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 the size of cat flap you will require. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to let your pet enter and leave the house without needing to open and close the door each time, but also small enough to keep them from moving too far either way.

Once you have the measurements you can mark out where on the door the template should be placed. typically this is done using an X, but some kits include a drawing that shows where to drill, if yours does, then you can stick it to the door and use a pencil to draw around the door. If your door has moulding or sill on the bottom of it ensure you have enough clearance from these to keep your cat safe and will prevent them from getting access to your home.

Put on your eye protection and dust mask, and using a jigsaw, begin to cut along the line you have pencilled in. Don't press the blade too hard because this can make it cut faster than you would like it to. If you own a set square then make use of it to verify whether you're cutting in the right way and to make sure the hole is a proper rectangle shape, once you are satisfied with the shape, you can begin to remove the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap lets you to let your pet go inside and outside without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwanted gifts. It also reduces drafts and helps to keep the temperature in your home in a stable manner. However, fitting the cat flap to your door might seem like an intimidating task for those who haven't done it before, leading many people to call a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job instead. While this is certainly an option, it's possible to complete the task yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions carefully.

While this is far simpler with a wooden door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors - although you should be cautious not to damage the doors as this will cause damage to the warranty. The first step in the process is to measure the door and ensure that it is able to accommodate the new cat flap. This should be simple enough for an ordinary uPVC door, however you may need to take more care if you have a composite or other type of door since these are more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

The next step is to determine the height of your cat's belly. This is the measurement from the floor to the bottom of the cat flap step's stomach and you'll need to find a spot on the door where this measurement is within the range your pet can comfortably go through. Once you've got the information you'll need to mark the area with a spirit level and a pencil so you know the opening will fit your cat.

Once you have marked out the area, it's time to make the hole. It is important to be patient and use a jigsaw 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 the jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you've cut the hole, you will need sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted into the hole.

Cut a Hole

Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit is quite difficult. You may be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have plenty of experience with DIY, it's likely to be best to have an expert to complete the job for you. A faulty job can not only look ugly but also pose an security risk. It could let cold air to enter when the cat is outdoors and hot air out when it is inside.

The first thing you need to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door using an eraser and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is correctly placed and runs in a straight line with other parts of the door. You should make sure you have an sandpaper piece on the ready to smooth out any rough edges.

Wear the safety equipment you'll need to use an electric tool. If you are concerned about the sound of the jigsaw, you can purchase a cordless version which is much quieter and easier to use.

It is important that you only cut away the material required to fit the cat flap. It is important to leave some extra material for the wall thickness of the cat flap. However cutting off too much material can cause problems or even damage the frame of the door.

If the upvc door is made of metal, or has a 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 come into contact with walls of the flap.

If you want to install a cat flap in a double-glazed or upvc window with frames made of metal, you'll need to consult a specialist. They can offer you a brand new piece of glass that has the hole that is already designed for the cat flap. It is much less expensive to have this done than to attempt to fix a cat flap into an existing glass pane that hasn't been designed specifically for the purpose.

Fit the Flap

Cat flaps let your pet move around at their own pace, giving them the freedom to lounge inside the house when they're feeling like it. However, if you have an upvc door panel with cat flap door, it might be difficult to fit a cat flap, especially in the absence of a glass pane that can be cut for one. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to install a cat flap bifold doors flap. It's not as easy as making a hole in the door though and there are a few things you'll need first to ensure that it's secure.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is typically composed of a thin plastic skin that is bonded to an insulating polystyrene core. It is important to be careful when cutting the material. This kind of door typically includes a template which you can use as a reference for cutting the hole in the door.

After you've marked the position of the hole in your door, it's time to install the flap itself. You can pick from a variety of designs, from simple push-button flaps to microchip activated ones that allow your pet in. Whatever type of cat flaps you select it is essential that your cat can use the flap comfortably without getting stuck outside in bad weather.

It is a good idea to select a circular fitting rather than one that is square, because circles are more securely cut into door glass. It's because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they're drilled. It's also a much safer option as you're not putting yourself at risk by drilling into toughened glass that might break and cause injury to your pet or family members. This is especially important if you have child or elderly person in your home who may be injured by shards of glass.