Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet to go inside and out at their own pace, without having to let them in or out. They can also help stop your cat from urinating in the house.
Fitting a cat flap in a door panel made of Upvc is much simpler than installing one in a glass door, however it requires some knowledge and the proper tools.
Take a measurement of the door
The installation of a cat flap in a front door could be difficult, but as long as the cat flap is the correct one and you follow the directions you can make it less difficult. We will be showing you how to draw the shape, use an jigsaw for cutting out the door's area and then finish the job by securing the cat flap to the door. This will ensure the flap is in place and shields the doors from damage caused by rain and wind.
The first thing to do is determine the width of your pet in order to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you'll need. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to allow your pet to leave and enter the home without having to open and close the door each time, but it is also small enough to stop the pet from straying too far in either direction.
If your kit comes with an illustration of where to drill then you can put it on the door, and then use a pencil around it. If your door has sill or moulding on the bottom edge of it then make sure you have enough space to ensure your cat's safety and will prevent them from getting access to your home.
Set a square to ensure that you are cutting correctly and ensure that the hole is a good rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with this, you are able to start removing the rest of the door material. If you own a set square then use it to ensure that you're cutting properly and to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangle shape, once you are satisfied with the shape, you can begin to take off 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 unwelcome gifts. It also prevents drafts and helps to keep the temperature inside your home steady. Installing a cat flap on your door might seem difficult to those who haven't tried it before. Many people call a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job. This is an option but you can do it yourself, provided the tools are in order and the steps are followed.
While this is far easier to do when using a timber door it is still possible in uPVC doors, but you should be careful not to scratch the doors as this will end your warranty. The first step in the process is to measure the door, ensuring that it can be able to accommodate the new cat flap. This isn't too difficult when you have the standard uPVC door, however you may need to take more care if you have an alternative kind of door, as they can be more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.
The next step is to measure the size of your cat's belly. This is the height from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach and you'll need to locate a place on the door where this measurement is within the range your cat can comfortably pass through. Once you know this, you will be required to mark the area using pencil and a spirit level to be sure that the hole you will make will be a good fit for your cat.
After you've marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is essential to take your time and use a jigsaw ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth, not rough and uneven. This could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while working with the jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is dangerous for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you will need sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap can be easily inserted.
Make a hole
Getting a cat flap fitted to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be difficult. If back door with cat flap fitted are not very proficient in DIY, it's best to employ an expert to do the work for you. A botched job may not just be ugly, but also a security risk and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape once inside.
The first thing to do is mark the position of the hole in the door using pencil and an ax level. This will ensure that it is located and is flush with all the other components of the door. Make sure you have sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges.
Wear any safety gear you need to work with an electric tool. If you're worried about the noise, you can get a cordless jigsaw which is quieter and more user-friendly.
It is essential to only cut away the material that is required to make the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be required for the thickness of the wall of the flap, but removing more than this could cause issues and damage the doors frame.
A door made of upvc could contain a metal frame or panel that could interfere with the microchip cat flap in this case you'll need to make an oversize hole so that the metal doesn't get in contact with the wall of the cat flap. If this is done it is essential to fill in the gap and seal it with water.
If you're installing an animal flap to an upvc door or a double glazed window with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak to a professional who can provide you with a new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap premade in it. 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.
Install the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet move around at their own pace, giving them the freedom to lounge inside the house whenever they're feeling like it. If you have an uPVC front door, it can be difficult to install the cat flap. This is particularly true if you do not own glass panels that is cut. If you're willing to buy and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to install a cat flap to these doors. It's not as simple as just cutting a hole through the door though and there are a few things you'll need first to ensure that it's safe.
A composite door panel typically comprises an flimsy plastic outer layer that is bonded to a soft, polystyrene core that is insulating. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting into it to avoid damaging. This type of door typically has a template that you can use as a reference for cutting the hole in your door.
After you have carved out the opening in your front door, it's time to put in the cat flap. You can buy and fit various models that range from simple button operated ones to ones that are activated by microchips that only let in your pet. Whatever upvc door panel replacement cat flap of cat flaps you choose it is essential that your cat is able to use the flap comfortably without getting stuck 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 make the glass more susceptible to cracking when a drill is used on it. This is also a safer choice because you won't need to drill into the toughened glass which could break and cause harm to your pet or your family members. This is especially important if there are elderly or children in your home who could be hurt by glass fragments.