Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel
Cat flaps allow your pet to come and go as they please without you having to let him in or out. They also help prevent your cat from toileting in the house.
It is easier to install an animal flap on a Upvc panel than one made of glass however, you'll require some knowledge and right tools.
Take a measurement of the door
Fitting a cat flap in the door isn't easy but as long as you choose the right type of cat flap make sure you take your time and follow the steps provided it should not prove to be too much trouble. We will show how to trace the shape, using an jigsaw for cutting out the area in the door and then finish the job by attaching the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in place and shields the door from rain and wind which can cause damage.
The first thing you need to do is determine the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of the size of cat flap you will need. 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, yet small enough to prevent the pet from straying too far in either direction.
Once you have the measurements, you can determine the area on the door where the template should be placed, usually this is done with an X. However, some kits come with drawings that show where to drill, if yours does then stick it to the door and use a pencil to draw around it. If your door has sill or moulding on the bottom edge ensure that you have enough space to keep your cat safe and prevent them gaining access to your home.
Set a square to ensure that you're cutting properly and to make sure the hole is in a rectangle shape. Once you are happy with this, you are able to begin removing the remaining door material. If you own a set square then make use of it to verify that you're cutting properly and also to ensure that the hole is in a rectangle. Once you are satisfied with this you can begin to remove the remaining door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great method to allow your pet to go out and in without worrying about them coming in with visitors or leaving unwelcome gifts in the home. It also reduces drafts and helps to keep the temperature of your home stable. However, putting a cat flap in your door could be an overwhelming task for those who've never done it before, leading many people to seek out a professional joiner or carpenter to complete the task. While this is certainly an option, it's possible to do the work yourself if you have the proper tools and follow instructions carefully.
This is much easier to do window with cat flap doors made of wood, however it is still possible using uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to harm the doors because this will make it impossible to claim your warranty. First, you need to examine the door's measurements to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel it should be a breeze. However when your door is composite or a different type of door, you might need to be more careful.
The next step is to measure the height of your cat's stomach. This is the distance between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. You will need to locate a space on the door that will allow your pet to pass through wall cat flap comfortably. Once you have this information then you need to mark out the area using an eraser and a spirit level to ensure that the hole you create will fit your cat.
Once you've marked the area, you're now ready to cut the hole. It is important to be patient and use a jigsaw in order to ensure the cuts are clean and smooth, not rough and uneven. This could damage your door. It is also important to wear safety glasses and a dust protection mask when using the jigsaw, as breathing in the dust could be hazardous to your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you will require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted into the hole.
Cut a Hole
The process of fitting a cat flap into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. If you are not very proficient in DIY, it is recommended to hire an expert to do the job for you. A botched job could not only be ugly and unattractive, but could also be a security threat. It could let cold air to enter when the cat is outdoors and hot air out when inside.
The first thing you have to do is mark out the location of the hole in the door with an eraser and an ax level. This will ensure that it is correctly located and is parallel to the other components of the door. Make sure you have an sandpaper piece on the ready to smooth out any rough edges.
Wear any safety equipment you need to work with the power tool. If you're worried about noise, you can purchase an electric jigsaw that is more quiet and easy to use.
You should only remove the material needed to make the flap. A small amount of material will be required for the thickness of the wall of the flap, but removing more than this can cause problems or cause damage to the door frame.
If the door is made of upvc and has a metal panel or 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 touch the wall of the flap.
If you're looking to install a cat flap into windows made of double-glazed or upvc with frames made of metal you'll need to talk to a specialist. They can provide you with a new piece of glass that has the hole that is already designed for the cat flap. This will be cheaper than trying to fit the flap into an existing pane that was not made for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet leave and come whenever they want, allowing them the freedom to relax in the home whenever they feel like it. If you have an upvc door panel with cat flap fitted front door, it might be hard to install a cat flap. This is particularly true in the event that you don't own a glass cat flap installation near Me panel that is cut. If you're able to buy and install a half-glazed replacement uPVC panel then it is possible to fit an animal flap onto the doors. It's not as simple as cutting a hole through the door, however there are a few things you'll need to do first to ensure it's safe.
A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is generally comprised of a thin plastic skin which is bonded to an insulating polystyrene base. It is essential to be careful when cutting the material. This type of door usually comes with a template drawing 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 put in the cat flap itself. You can pick from a wide range of models, ranging from simple push-button flaps to microchip-activated ones that only let your pet in. But, regardless of the kind of cat flap you pick, it's crucial to ensure that your cat can use the flap without becoming trapped in the weather.
A circular fitting a cat flap in a upvc door is superior than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes can make the glass more susceptible to cracking if drilling is applied to it. This is also a safer choice since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass which could shatter and harm your pet or family. This is especially important if there are elderly or children living in your home who could be injured by glass shattering.