Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps let your cat go in and out whenever they want without having to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from peeing in the house.
Installing a cat flap on the door panel made of upvc is much simpler than installing one in a glass door, however it will require some expertise and the right tools.
Take a measurement of the door
Fitting a cat flap in the door isn't easy but if you choose the right type of cat flap make sure you take your time and follow the steps provided it shouldn't be too difficult. We will be showing you how to draw the shape, using the jigsaw to slice the door's area and then finish the job by securing the cat flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap is in place and also protects the doors from damage caused by rain and wind.
The first thing you need to do is take a measurement of the width of your pet in order to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you will require. This will let you choose a cat flap that is large enough to allow your pet to enter the house and leave without having to open the door each time.
If your kit has an illustration of where to drill, you can stick it on the door and then use a pencil around it. If your door has a sill or moulding on the bottom edge of it ensure you have enough space because this will ensure your cat's safety and will prevent them from getting access to your home.
Put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask. Then using a jigsaw start cutting according to the lines you penciled in. Don't push the blade too hard as this can cause it to cut faster than you'd like it to. Utilize a set square to ensure that you are cutting the material correctly and that the hole is a rectangle shape. When you are satisfied with the final result, you can take out the rest of the door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great method to allow your pet to go in and out without worrying about them coming in with guests or leaving unwelcome gifts in the house. It also reduces drafts and helps keep the temperature inside your home in a stable manner. Fitting a cat flap to your door can be a daunting task to those who haven't done it before. A lot of people will hire a professional joiner or carpenter to do the job. It is an option, but you can do it yourself, provided the tools are in order and the instructions are adhered to.
This is much simpler to do with doors made of wood, however it is still possible with uPVC. However it is important to be cautious not to damage the doors since this could make it impossible to claim your warranty. The first step is to take measurements of the door to ensure that it can accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be simple enough when you have an ordinary uPVC door, but you may need to take more care if using a composite or other type of door as these can be more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.
Next, you will need to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the height between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. You will need to locate a space at the entrance that will allow your pet to pass through comfortably. Once you have this information, you will have to draw the area using pencil and a spirit level to ensure 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. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw in order to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean, not rough and uneven. This could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when using a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you've cut the hole, you will require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted.
Cut a hole
Getting a cat flap fitted into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. You may be tempted to tackle the job yourself, but unless have a lot of experience in DIY it is likely to be best to have an expert to complete the job for you. A shoddy job might 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 you need to do is mark out the location of the hole in the door using pencil and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly placed and runs flush with all the other parts of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper on hand to smooth any rough edges.
After the line is traced, you must cut the hole using a jigsaw, remember to wear any safety equipment when working with the power tool. If you're concerned about the noise, you can get a cordless jigsaw which is quieter and easier.
It is important that you only remove the material required for the fitment of the cat flap. It is necessary to leave a little extra material for the wall thickness of the flap. However, removing too much can cause issues or even damage to the frame of the door.
If the door is made of upvc and is made of metal, or has a frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In cat flap fitting near me need create an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal does not touch the wall of the flap.
If you're installing the cat flap onto an upvc door or a double glazed windows with a frame made of metal, you'll need to talk to a specialist who can provide you with a brand new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap already drilled inside. It is cheaper to have this done than trying to fix the cat flap onto an existing pane of glass that has not been manufactured specifically for this purpose.
Place the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet to move around whenever they want, allowing them the freedom to relax inside the house when they're feeling like it. If you have a uPVC front door, it can be difficult to put in the cat flap. This is especially true in the event that you don't own an glass panel that can be cut. If you are willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to install the cat flap. It's not just a matter of cutting a hole into the door. It is also necessary to perform a few steps to ensure that the door is safe.
A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is usually comprised of a thin plastic skin which is bonded to an insulating polystyrene base. The material is fairly fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid damaging. This type of door usually comes with a template drawing that you can use as a reference for cutting the hole in your door.
Once you have marked the position of the hole in your door, now it's time to install the flap itself. You can pick from a wide range of options, from simple push-button models to microchip-activated ones that only let your pet in. But, regardless of the type of cat flap you choose it's crucial to ensure that your cat is able to use the flap without becoming trapped in the weather.
It's a good idea to choose circular fittings instead of a square one, as circles can be more securely cut into the door glass. It's because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they are drilled. It's also a safer option as you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that could shatter and hurt your pet or family members. This is particularly crucial if you have elderly or children in your home that could be hurt by glass shards.