Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet come and go whenever they want, without you having to let him in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from urinating inside the home.
It is much easier to put a cat flap on a upvc panel than one made of glass however, you'll need some skills and the right tools.
Measure the Door
Installing a cat door into a front door could be difficult however, so long as the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the instructions you can make it less difficult. We will show you how to mark the shape and use an jigsaw to cut out the door area. Then we will finish the job by affixing the flap. This will ensure that the flap stays in position and shields the doors from damage caused by wind and rain.
To determine the size of the cat flap that you require, take a measurement of your pet's width. 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 every time, yet small enough to keep them from moving too far either way.
If your kit has a drawing showing where to drill then you can put it on the door, and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, be sure that you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.
Use a set square to check that you are cutting correctly and to make sure the hole is in a rectangle shape. Once you are happy with this, you are able to start removing the remaining door material. If you own a set square then use it to check that you are cutting correctly and to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangle. Once you are happy with this you can begin to take off 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 being a nuisance to guests or leaving unwelcome gifts in the home. It also stops draughts and helps to keep the temperature in your home steady. However, installing the cat flap to your door could be an overwhelming task for those who've never done it before. window with cat flap can lead many people to call an expert joiner or carpenter to do the job instead. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself, provided the tools are in order and the steps are adhered to.
While this is much easier to do with a wooden door, it is still possible in uPVC doors, though you must be careful not to scratch the doors, as this can invalidate your warranty. The first step is to take measurements of the door to ensure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel it's easy. However, if your door is composite or a different type of door, you may have to be more cautious.
The next step is to determine the size of your cat's belly. This is the distance from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach and you'll need to find a place on the door that will be within the range your pet can comfortably go through. Once you know this, you will have to draw the area using a pencil and a spirit level so that you can be sure that the hole you will make will be suitable for your cat.
Once you've marked the area, it is time to cut out the hole. You will require the jigsaw, and it is essential to be patient to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean rather than uneven and rough, since it could cause damage to your door. Be sure to wear safety glasses and a dust mask at all times when using the jigsaw, as dust from the saw could be hazardous to your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you'll need sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted.
Cut a hole
It can be difficult to fit a cat flap into a door panel or sealed double glazing unit. You might be tempted to do it yourself, but unless you have experience with DIY, it's recommended to hire a professional to do the task for you. A mistake could not only be ugly, but also pose security risks. It could allow cold air to enter when the cat is outdoors and hot air out when the cat is inside.
The first thing you have to do is mark the location of the hole in the door with a pencil and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is correctly positioned and that it runs flush with all the other components of the door. Make sure you have sandpaper in your possession to smooth any rough edges.
After the line is traced, you must cut the hole with the jigsaw. Remember to wear any safety gear for working with an electric tool. If you're worried about noise, you can get an electric jigsaw that is more quiet and easy to use.
It is important that you only cut away the material needed to make the cat flap. It is essential to leave a bit of material to make the wall thickness of the cat flap. However cutting off too much material can cause problems or even damage the frame of the door.
A door made of upvc could include a metal frame, or panel that will interfere with the microchip cat flap and if this is the case, you will need to cut an oversize hole so that the metal doesn't touch the the cat flap. If this is the case, it is crucial to fill in the gap and seal it with water.
If you're installing an animal flap to a upvc door or double-glazed window with a metal frame, you'll need to speak to a professional who can provide you with a brand new glass pane that already has the hole for the cat flap premade inside. This will be less expensive than fitting a cat flap in an existing pane of glass that wasn't designed specifically for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet move around at their own pace, giving them the freedom to relax in the home whenever they're feeling like it. However, if you have a uPVC door, it may be difficult to put in a cat flap, particularly when you don't have glass panes that can be cut for one. If you are willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to add a cat flap. It's not a simple matter of slicing a hole into the door. It is also necessary to take a few steps to ensure that the door is safe.
A uPVC, GRP or composite door panel is typically made up of a flimsy plastic outer skin bonded to a soft insulating polystyrene core. It is important to be careful when cutting the material. This type of door usually comes with a template drawing that you can use as a guide to cut the hole into your door.
Once you've determined the location of the hole in your door, it's time to put in the cat flap. You can buy and fit many different models that range from simple button operated ones to microchip-activated ones that allow only your pet. However, no matter what kind of cat flap you select, it's important to make sure that your cat can comfortably use the flap and not get trapped outside in bad weather.
A circular fitting is superior than a square, because circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes are more likely to break the glass when they are drilled. It's also a much safer option to use as you're not putting yourself at risk by having to drill into toughened glass that could shatter and injure your pet or your family. This is particularly important if you have a child or an elderly person living in your home who could be injured by shards glass.