Fitting a Cat Flap in a UPVC Door

Allowing your cat to come and go out of the home at its own pace is a great idea to keep it physically and mentally engaged. Having a flap can also aid in reducing toilet accidents by making it easier for your cat to leave the house when it is required to.
Take a measurement of the door
A cat flap allows your pet to come and go whenever they want without opening the door for them. This makes it ideal to keep them inside when you're home or away and helps keep unwanted pests out of your house as well!
You should take measurements of the door to ensure that you have the right size cat flap. There are a variety of sizes available. This ensures that you get the correct size to fit into your upvc door, otherwise, it could be too small or too large, and your cat may struggle to use it.
Take a ruler, and take measurements of the width at various locations along the edge of the door. Also, you should determine the door's height in a few spots. This is because a door that is too high could cause your cat to perform an exercise routine like a gymnast every time they need to use the flap!
Ask a glazier for help in case you're not sure what to measure for the door. They'll be able help you determine whether or not your door is suitable for a cat flap and advise you on the right size of flap you should purchase.
Draw the shape of your hole on the door after you have taken the measurements. This will give you an outline to cutting the hole out and will stop you from making mistakes that could cost you money in the long run!
Make sure you make the hole in the correct position. For example, if you're installing the cat flap inside a patio door, you must ensure that the hole is not too close to hinges, since this could cause leakage and issues with the seal.
If you have glass doors it is best to leave this task to a professional glazier. It can be a challenge to insert the cat flap onto the glass pane, and you may 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 go and come whenever they want without having to leave them alone. It can also prevent draughts entering your home, which is not healthy for your cat as well as you.
However, if you own a uPVC or composite door it may be difficult to install a cat flap. These types of doors are usually constructed from different materials than standard wooden or uPVC doors and the procedure for installing them is different as well. Before you consider fitting a cat flap in your uPVC or composite door, ensure that it's compatible, and you have checked with the manufacturers as alterations may affect any warranties.
Generally speaking, these kinds of doors are built to be tough and durable and have insulation built-in. This makes them more resistant to weather elements than other types of doors, but they may be difficult to install a cat flap into. Consult a professional before installing a cat flap onto a uPVC door or composite.
To make sure that your cat can access the door, you'll need to determine their height. This is easier if they are sleeping or calm, so that they don't move around too much. Once you have their height and weight, you can determine the distance between their stomachs and the floor in order to determine the position of the flap's bottom. You can then mark this location on the door.
If your uPVC or composite door is made of metal (either aluminium or steel) you'll need be extra cautious when cutting it using power tools. The process of drilling into the metal may cause cracks, particularly in the case of toughened glass. It is highly recommended to hire an experienced glass installer to install a cat flap in a pane. This will stop the glass from breaking and becoming hard. A Glazier is also able to provide you with a cat flap that is less likely to break and safer for your cat to use.
Cut the Hole
A good quality cat flap should come with a drawing template that you can use to mark the area on your door where the hole needs to go. If it doesn't, you could make your own using a thin sheet of paper (tracing papers are great). Once the shape has been drawn in pencil on the door you can then use a spirit level to ensure that the shape is horizontal. This will allow your cat's flap to sit properly in the door and prevent it from being able to slide open or closed.
Next, take your jigsaw, and cut the shape marked on the door. Use a blade that is specifically designed specifically for uPVC doors. It will usually be labeled with this information. If not then ask the staff at your DIY store for assistance. Once you have the hole cut out and the flap section is in place, put it against it and push it out to ensure that the action of the flap is smooth. If it binds at any point, make use of a file or a rasp to correct this.
Verify that there aren't gas or electric pipes inside the door you're planning to cut through. Your jigsaw could damage them. You should also be aware of any handles, or other fittings in the door, which must be removed to fit the cat flap. Be careful not to damage these items during the process.
Most people who install the cat flap themselves have an ordinary solid uPVC door and will not have to worry about any of these issues. But, if your door is made of timber or has an ornamental panel that can't be removed, this could make it more difficult to complete the job.
It is always worth seeking assistance from an expert cat flap fitter for these kinds of jobs as it is essential to do the job done correctly to avoid potential issues in the future. If you do it wrong, it could result in the door becoming damaged and may make it impossible to honor the warranty.
Fit the Flap
Once you've got your hole drilled, put the flap in place to test whether it is able to open easily. If you notice any spots that stick or catch or stick, you can file them down using an sandpaper or hand file until it is a perfect fit and opens without any problems. Make sure the flap is flush with the door too.
If your kit doesn't include templates, you can use thin paper like tracing or Acetate. Place the paper on the door, and draw a line to show where the flap should be placed (this will serve as your cutting guide). Mark four screw holes on every corner of the flap with the pencil marks you created on the door. These will be the screw holes you'll need to use to fix the flap in place.
The majority of uPVC doors are strong and easy to cut. However, if the door is made of GRP or a composite material, this can be more complicated. If you're not familiar with this, it's recommended to consult a professional. They will also be able to help you determine whether or not your door is suitable for cat flap installation.
You can install the cat flap onto composite doors but it's important to check with the manufacturers or a professional joiner first as any alterations to these types of doors may invalidate the warranty. If replacement upvc door panels with cat flap decide to do the work yourself, be aware that it can be messy and dangerous task.
With composite doors, you'll usually need to use the aid of a saw or grinder to cut through the door's panel rather than just through the GRP. Be aware that this could be a very hazardous job and you'll need to take great care not to hurt the door or yourself as it's extremely fragile. It's important to remember that it's more difficult to cut a hole in a door glass than it is for a uPVC door or a solid wood door.