Fitting a Cat Flap in a UPVC Door

The ability of your cat to come and go from the house at its own pace is a great idea to keep it physically and mentally active. A flap can help reduce toileting incidents by making it easier for cats to leave the house if required.

Take a look at the Door

A cat flap allows your pet to come and go whenever they'd like without needing to open the door. This is ideal to keep them in the house the home when you're away and helps to keep unwanted pests from the house as well!

It is important to take measurements of the door to ensure you get the right size cat flap. There are many sizes available. This ensures you get the right size to fit inside your door made of upvc door panel cat flap, otherwise, it could be too small or too large for your cat and he will have trouble using it.

Before doing anything however, you should use a ruler to measure the length of the door in several places along its edge. You should also take measurements of the height of the door in a few spots. This is because the door that is too high will cause your cat to do a gymnast's routine every time they use the flap!

If you're unsure of how to measure a door, it might be best to seek assistance from a glazier or someone who is familiar with this type of work regularly. They will be able determine if your door is suitable for cat flaps and help you decide on the size of flap to buy.

Draw the outline of the hole on your door once you have your measurements. This will give you an outline to cutting the hole and will stop you from making mistakes that could cost you money in the end!

Make sure that you put the hole in the correct position. If you're fitting a cat flap in a upvc door the cat flap onto a patio door it is crucial that the hole doesn't reach too close to the hinges. This could lead to leakage or issues with the seal.

It is recommended to leave the installation of the cat flap on a glass door to an experienced glazier. It can be very tricky to insert a cat flap inside the glass pane and fitting a cat Flap in a Upvc door you could be surprised to find that the process causes it to crack and lose its weatherproof seal.

Measure the Cat

A cat flap lets your pet to move around as they please without you having to leave them home on their own. It can also prevent draughts entering your home, which is not good for your cat as well as you.

If you own a uPVC door or composite, it may be difficult to install a cat flap. These doors are made from different materials and the process of installing them is different. Make sure you check with the manufacturer to see if it is compatible before installing the cat flap on your uPVC composite or uPVC door. Changes to the door could be detrimental to warranties.

In general, these kinds of doors are made to be durable and tough, with insulation built in. This makes them more resistant to elements of the weather than other types of doors, but they may be difficult to fit the cat flap. If you're not sure if your uPVC or composite door will accommodate a cat flap, check with a professional jointer prior to starting.

To ensure that your cat is able to access the door, you'll have to take a measurement of their height. This is easier if they are sleeping or calm, so that they aren't moving around too often. Once you've determined their height, you can measure the distance between their stomach and the floor to determine where the bottom of the cat flap needs to go. You can then mark this spot on the door.

If your composite or uPVC door is made from metal (either aluminium or steel) it is important to be very careful when cutting it with power tools. Drilling into metal can cause cracks, especially if the area is made of toughened glass. This is the reason it's recommended to employ a glazier when installing your cat flap double glazing flap in the glass pane. This will stop the glass from shattering or becoming fragile. A glazier will also provide you with a circular hole for the cat flap cost near me flap, which will be less likely to break and is safer for your kitty to use.

Cut the Hole

A good quality cat flap will come with a template that you can use to mark the spot on your door where the hole should be. If it doesn't, you can make your own using a thin sheet of paper (tracing papers are great). After the shape has been penciled on the door, use your spirit level and ensure that it is horizontal. This will ensure that your cat flap sits properly in the door, and it will not open or close.

Then, you can use your jigsaw, and cut the design that was drawn on the door. Make sure you are using a blade that is suitable for use on uPVC doors - usually it will be marked accordingly however, if not, ask the staff at your DIY store for advice. Once you have the hole made, place the flap section up against it and push it open to ensure that the action of the flap is smooth. If it becomes stuck on any point, then you can use a file or a sandpaper to fix it.

Check that there aren't any electric or gas pipes within the door you plan to cut into. Your jigsaw could damage them. Similarly you should be aware of any handles or other door fixtures that need to be removed in order to install the cat flap. You should be careful not to harm them in the process.

Most people who install a cat flap on their own have an ordinary solid uPVC front door, meaning they won't have to deal with these issues. However, if your door is made of wood or has decorative panels that cannot be removed then this will add to the complexity of the job.

For these kinds of jobs, it is worth getting expert advice from fitting a cat flap in a upvc door cat-flap fitter. It is crucial to complete the job correctly to avoid any future issues. Getting it wrong can result in the door becoming damaged and could cause the warranty to be invalidated.

Fit the Flap

After you've made the hole drilled, place the flap in place to check whether it will fit and can be opened easily. If you spot any areas that catch or stick to the door, smooth them out using an sandpaper or hand file until it fits properly and opens without any problems. Make sure the flap is in line with the door.

If your kit doesn't include an example, you could make use of thin paper such as tracing or Acetate. Lay the paper against the door and draw the area where you'll want to position the flap (this will be your cutting guide). Make four screw holes on each corner of the flap with the pencil marks you created on the door. These will be the screws will be used to secure the flap in place.

Most uPVC doors are strong and therefore easy to cut into. However, if the door is made from GRP or a composite, this may be more difficult. If you're unfamiliar in this area, it might be beneficial to engage a professional to handle the job for you. They can also tell you if your door is suitable for the installation of an animal flap.

You can install a cat flap into composite doors. However, it's essential to consult with the manufacturer or a professional joiner first because any changes to these types of doors could void the warranty. If you decide to carry out the work yourself, remember that this could be messy and possibly dangerous job.

With composite doors, you'll generally need to use a saw or grinder to cut through the door's panel rather than just through the GRP. Be aware that this can be extremely dangerous work and you'll need to take great care not to hurt the door or yourself since it is extremely fragile. It's important to remember that it's more difficult to make holes in door glass than it is for a uPVC door or solid wood doors.