Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

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

Fitting a cat flap in the door panel made of upvc is much simpler than installing one in glass doors, however it will require some expertise and the appropriate tools.

Measure the Door

Installing a cat door into the front door is difficult however, so long as the cat flap is the appropriate one and you follow the instructions, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will demonstrate how to draw the shape and then use the jigsaw to cut the door's opening. Then we will finish the job by attaching the flap. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and shields the door from rain and wind damaging the door.

The first thing to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you will require. This will ensure that the flap is large enough that your pet can enter and leave the house without having to open or close the door each time, but also small enough to keep the pet from straying too far either way.

If your kit has a drawing showing where to drill, then put it on the door, and then draw around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, make sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and the moulding or sill.

Next put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask and using a jigsaw, begin cutting according to the lines you've drawn in, but don't press the blade too hard, as this can make it cut faster than you'd like it to. If you own an already-cut square, use it to check whether you're cutting in the right way and also to ensure that the hole is a good rectangular shape. Once you are satisfied with this you can begin to take off the remaining door material.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great method to let your pet in and out without worrying about them being in the house with visitors or leaving unwelcome gifts in the house. It also reduces drafts and helps to keep the temperature of your home in a stable manner. Installing a cat flap on your door may seem daunting to those who haven't tried it before. Many people will call a professional joiner or carpenter to do the work. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the work yourself if you have the proper tools and follow instructions carefully.

Although this is much easier to do with a timber door, it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors, but you should be careful to avoid damaging the doors as this will invalidate your warranty. The first step is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it will be able to accommodate the new cat flap. This isn't too difficult if you are using the standard uPVC door, but you may require more care if you have an insulated or composite type of door since these are more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.

Next, you will need to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the height from the floor to the lower part of the cat's stomach and you'll need to find a place near the door that will be within the range your pet can comfortably go through. Once you've figured out the measurements, you'll be required to mark the space 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 is time to make the hole. It is crucial 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. It is also important to wear safety glasses and a dust mask whenever using the jigsaw, since dust from the saw could be harmful to your health. After you've cut the hole, you'll require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted.

Make a hole

Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be difficult. It is tempting to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have a lot of experience with DIY, it's likely to be best to have a professional in to do the task for you. A mistake could not only look ugly, but also pose security risks. It could allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when it is inside.

The hole's location should be marked on the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure it is properly positioned and aligns with the door's other parts. Make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at hand to smooth out any rough edges.

Wear any safety gear you require when working with the power tool. If you are worried about the noise of the jigsaw, you can purchase a cordless version which is much quieter and easier to use.

You should only remove the material that is required to create the flap. A little bit of extra material will be required for the thickness of the the flap but removing more than this can cause problems and even 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 create an extra-large hole to ensure that the metal doesn't get in contact with the walls of the flap.

If you're installing an animal flap to an upvc door or a double glazed window with a metal frame then you'll need to talk to a professional who can provide you with a brand new glass pane that already has the hole for the cat flap in it. It is much less expensive to have this done than to attempt to fix the flap to an existing pane of glass that has not been manufactured specifically for the purpose.

Install  cat flaps for french doors  give your pet the freedom to move around anytime they want, allowing them to relax in the house when they want to. However, if you have an uPVC door, it might be difficult to put in a cat flap, particularly in the absence of a glass pane that can be cut to accommodate one. If you're willing to purchase and install a replacement half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to add an animal flap onto the doors. It's not a simple matter of cutting a hole into the door. It is also necessary to perform a few steps to ensure it's safe.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is typically comprised of a plastic skin that is bonded to an insulating polystyrene core. The material is extremely fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid causing damage. This type of door usually includes a template which you can use as a guide to cut the hole into your door.

After you have carved out the hole in your front door, it's time to put in the cat flap. You can pick from a wide range of models, ranging from simple push-button units to microchip-activated ones that allow your pet in. No matter which type of cat flap you pick it's essential that your cat is able to utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck in bad weather.

It's a good idea to select circular fittings instead of one that is square, since circles can be more securely cut into door glass. This is because square holes make the glass more susceptible to cracking when drilling is applied to it. This is also a safer choice because you won't need to drill into the toughened glass which could shatter and harm your pet or your family members. This is particularly important if you have a child or elderly person in your home who could be hurt by shards of glass.