Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel
Cat flaps let your pet move around whenever they want, without you having to let them in or out. They also can help stop your cat from urinating in the home.
Installing a cat flap into a door panel made of Upvc is a lot easier than glass doors, however it does require some skills and the right tools.
Measure the Door
The installation of a cat flap inside the door can be a challenge however, as long as you select the right kind of cat flap make sure you take your time and follow the instructions provided it shouldn't be too difficult. We will be showing how to trace the shape, then use an jigsaw for cutting out the door's area and then finish off the job by attaching the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap stays in position and protects the doors from the damage caused by wind and rain.
The first step is take a measurement of the width of your pet to determine an accurate estimate of what size of cat flap you'll need. This will enable you to select a cat flap that is large enough for your pet to enter the house and leave without needing to open the door each time.
If your kit has an illustration of where to drill then you can put it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, make sure that you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.
Next put on your eye protection and a dust mask, and using a jigsaw start cutting according to the lines you penciled in, don't try to push the blade too hard as this can make it cut faster than you would like it to. Use a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material in a proper manner and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are happy with the result, you can take the door material off.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to go out and in without worrying about them being in the house with a visitor, or leaving unwanted gifts in the house. It also prevents drafts and helps to keep the temperature in your home stable. Fitting a cat flap to your door may seem daunting for those who haven't attempted it before. Many people call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the work. While this is certainly an option, it's possible to do the job yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions carefully.
While this is far simpler to accomplish with a timber door, it is still feasible in uPVC doors, but you should be cautious not to damage the doors as this will cause damage to the warranty. The first step is to measure the door, ensuring that it can fit the new cat flap. This should be simple enough for an ordinary uPVC door, however you might need to take more care if you have an insulated or composite type of door since these are more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.
Next, you will need to determine the height of your belly for your cat. This is the height from the floor to the lower part of the cat's stomach, and you'll need to locate a place in the door that will be within the range that your cat is able to comfortably walk through. Once you know this, you will have to draw the area with an eraser and a spirit level so that you can be certain that the hole you create will fit your cat.
After you've marked the area, you're now ready to cut the hole. It is essential to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure the cuts are smooth and clean not rough and uneven. This could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when using a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is hazardous for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you'll require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap can be easily fitted into place.
Make a hole
Installing a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. If cat flap installer 're not skilled in DIY, it's best to hire a professional to complete the work for you. A mistake could not only be unsightly but also pose a security threat. It could let cold air to enter when the cat is outdoors and hot air to escape when the cat is inside.
The first thing you need to do is mark out the position of the hole in the door with a pencil and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly positioned and that it runs in a straight line with the other parts of the door. You should make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at ready to smooth out any rough edges.
Once the line has been drawn, you can cut the hole with a jigsaw, remember to wear the appropriate safety equipment for working with the power tool. If you are worried about the noise of the jigsaw, consider buying an electric version that is quieter and simpler to use.
You should only remove the material needed to fit the flap. It is important to leave a little extra material for the wall thickness of the flap. However cutting away too much could cause issues or even damage the frame of the door.
A upvc door may include a metal frame, or a panel inside that will interfere with the microchip cat flap if this is the case you will need to cut an oversize hole so that the metal doesn't come into contact with the the cat flap, if this is done it is crucial to fill in the gap and render it watertight.
If you're installing the cat flap onto the frame of a double glazed windows with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak to a professional who can supply you with a new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap premade inside. It is much less expensive to get this done rather instead of trying to install the flap to an existing glass pane that hasn't been designed specifically for the purpose.
Place the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet leave and come whenever they want, allowing them the freedom to lounge inside the house whenever they want to. If you have a uPVC front door, it can be hard to install a cat flap. This is especially true in the event that you don't own an glass panel that can be cut. If you're looking to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to install the cat flap. It's not as easy as simply cutting a hole in the door however, and there are some things you'll need to do first to ensure that it's safe.
A uPVC, GRP or composite door panel is typically made up of a flimsy plastic outer skin joined to a soft polystyrene insulating core. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid causing damage. This kind door comes with a template that you can use to make the hole.
After you've marked the location of the hole in your door, it's now time to put in the cat flap. You can purchase and install many different models that range from simple push-button operated ones to microchip activated units that allow only your pet. Whatever type of cat flap you pick it's essential that your cat can utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck outside in the rain.
A circular fitting is superior than a square because circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes leave the glass vulnerable to cracking when a drill is used on it. It's also a much safer choice to use since you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that could shatter and injure your pet or your family. This is particularly crucial if you have a young or elderly person in your home who may be injured by shards glass.