Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps let your pet move around whenever they want, without you needing to let him in or out. They also help prevent your cat from toileting in the house.
Installing a cat flap into a upvc door panel is a lot easier than glass doors, however it requires some knowledge and the appropriate tools.
Take a measurement of the door
Installing a cat door into the front door is difficult, but as long as the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the instructions, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show how to trace the shape, use the jigsaw to slice the door's opening and then complete the job by fixing the flap to the door. This will ensure the flap stays in position and also protects the doors from the damage caused by rain and wind.
To determine the size of the cat flap that you require, measure your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is big enough that your pet can enter and leave the house without having to open or close the door every time, but also small enough to prevent them from going too far either way.
If your kit comes with an illustration of the location to drill, you can place it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has a moulding or sill on the bottom of it then make sure you have enough clearance from these to ensure your cat's safety and prevent them gaining access to your home.
Then put on your eye protection and a dust mask, and using a jigsaw, begin cutting along the line you have pencilled in, but don't push the blade too hard because this can make it cut faster than you'd like it to. Utilize a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material correctly and that the cut is a rectangle. Once you are satisfied with the result, you are able to take the door material off.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great way to let your pet out and in without having to worry about them being a nuisance to visitors or leaving unwanted gifts in the home. It also prevents drafts and helps to keep the temperature inside your home stable. However, installing a cat flap in your door can seem like an intimidating task for those who have never done it before. This can lead many people to seek out a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job. It is an option, but you can do it yourself if the tools are appropriate and the directions are adhered to.
Although this is much simpler to accomplish with a wooden door, it is still feasible in uPVC doors, but you need to be very careful not to scratch the doors as this will end the warranty. The first step is to measure the door to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be easy enough for a standard uPVC door, however you may require more care if you have an alternative type of door as these are more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.
The next step is to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the amount of height between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. You'll need to locate a space on the door that will allow your pet to comfortably pass through. Once you have the information you'll have to mark the area with a spirit-level and a pencil so you know the hole will be suitable for your cat.
After you have marked the area, it is time to make the hole. It is crucial to take your time 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 the jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is dangerous for your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you will require sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap can be easily fitted into place.
Cut a hole
It can be difficult to put the cat flap onto the door panel or double glazing unit. It is tempting to tackle the job yourself, but unless you have plenty of experience with DIY, it's likely to be best to have an expert to complete the task for you. A mistake in the process may not just be ugly, but it could also be an enigma for security as well as allowing cold air to get in when the cat is outside, and hot air to escape inside.
Mark the hole's position on the door using a pencil and spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly positioned and runs flush with the rest of the door. Make sure you have sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.
After the line is drawn, you can cut the hole with a jigsaw, remember to wear any safety equipment when working with a power tool. If you are worried about the sound produced by a jigsaw you can buy a cordless version which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
It is important that you only remove the material required to fit the cat flap. It is important to leave a little extra material to make the wall thickness of the flap. However, removing too much can cause issues or even damage the door frame.
A door made of upvc may have a metal frame or panel within it that could 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 done it is crucial to fill in the oversize gap and render it watertight.
If you're planning to install the cat flap onto the frame of a double glazed windows with a metal frame, you'll need to talk to a specialist who can provide you with a new pane of glass that already has the hole for the cat flap premade in it. This will be less expensive than trying to fit the flap into an existing pane of glass that was not made for this purpose.
Install the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet to move around at their own pace, giving them the ability to unwind in the home whenever they feel like it. If you have a uPVC front door, it may be hard to install the cat flap. This is especially true in the event that you don't own an glass panel which can be cut. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it is possible to install a cat flap. It's not a matter of cutting a hole into the door. cat flap installer is also necessary to do a few things to ensure that the door is safe.
A composite door panel typically comprises an extremely thin plastic outer skin that is bonded to a soft, insulating polystyrene core. The material is extremely fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid causing damage. This type of door has a template you can use to make the hole.
Once you've determined the position of the hole in your door, now it's time to install the flap. You can pick from a range of designs, from simple push-button models to ones that are microchip-activated and only let your pet in. No matter which type of cat flap you pick it is essential that your cat is able to use the flap without getting caught in bad weather.
It's a good idea to opt for circular fittings rather than a square one, as circles can be more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes can leave the glass vulnerable to cracking when a drill is used on it. This is also a safer choice, as you won't have to drill into the toughened glass, which could break and cause harm to your pet or family. This is particularly crucial if you have children or elderly people in your home that could be hurt by glass fragments.