Fitting A Cat Flap In A UPVC Door

The freedom to let your cat go in and out of the house as it pleases is a great method to keep your pet active and mentally engaged. Having a flap can also help reduce toileting accidents by making it easier for your cat to leave the house when it needs to.

Measure the Door

A cat flap lets your pet move around as they'd like without needing to open the door. This is ideal to keep them in the house when you're home or away and helps keep unwanted pests out of your home too!

You should examine the door's measurements to ensure that you have the right size cat flap. There are many sizes available. This ensures that you get the right size to fit into your upvc door, otherwise, it could be too small or too large, and your cat may be unable to use it.

Get a ruler and take measurements of the width at various points along the edge of the door. You should also measure the door's height in a few spots. This is because a door that is too high could cause your cat to do an exercise routine like a gymnast every time they need to use the flap!

Ask a glazier for assistance if you aren't sure what to measure for the door. They will be able to assist you in determining whether your door is suitable for a cat flap and advise you on the right size of flap to purchase.

After you've gotten your measurements, the next step to do is to mark the outline of the hole on the door. This will aid you when you cut the hole, and will save you money!

It is also important to ensure that the hole you're making is in the right place. If you're fitting a cat flap installation near me flap in a upvc door (official Metooo blog) an apex flap to a patio door it is vital that the hole does not reach too close to the hinges. This could cause leakage or problems with the seal.

If you have glass doors it is best to delegate this task to a professional glazier. It can be difficult to insert a cat flap into an existing glass pane and you might be surprised to find that the process causes it to break and lose its weatherproof seal.

Measure the Cat

A cat flap allows your pet to come and go whenever they want without having to leave them to themselves. It also stops draughts from entering your home, which is not healthy for your cat as well as you.

If you do have a replacement upvc door panel with cat flap or composite door it could be a challenge to put in a cat flap. These doors are constructed of different materials and the installation is different. Make sure you check with the manufacturer to see if it is compatible before you install a cat flap on your uPVC composite or uPVC door. Modifications can be detrimental to warranties.

They are designed to be tough and durable with insulation. This makes them more resistant to the elements of weather than other doors, however they can be difficult to install the cat flap. Make sure to consult a professional prior to installing a cat flap on a upvc door panels cat flap door or composite.

You'll need to take their height in order to ensure they fit through the door. It's easiest to measure their height when they're at peace or asleep, which means they don't move around. Once you know their height and weight, you can determine the distance from their stomach to the floor in order to determine the position of the flap's bottom. This position can be outlined on the door.

If your composite or uPVC door is made from metal (either aluminium or steel) you'll need to be extremely cautious when cutting it using power tools. The drilling process can make it crack, especially when the area is composed of toughened glass. This is why it's highly recommended to engage a glazier when installing your cat flap inside the glass pane. This will stop the glass from becoming fragile or shattering. Glaziers can also provide you with a circular hole to use for the cat flap, which is less likely to break and is safer for your cat to use.

Cut the Hole

If not however, you can make one yourself by using a piece of paper that is thin (tracing paper is ideal). If it doesn't, you can make your own using a thin piece of paper (tracing papers are great). After the shape is pencilled in on the door you can then use your spirit level to make sure that the shape is completely horizontal. This will ensure that your cat flap is properly positioned in the opening and will not open or close.

Next, use your jigsaw to cut out the design that is on the door. Use a blade designed specifically for uPVC doors. It will typically be marked with this information. If not, ask the staff in the DIY store for assistance. After the hole has been cut, place the flap section against it and open it to make sure the flap moves easily. If it binds at any point, use a filer or rasp to fix this.

You should also check whether there are no electrical cables or gas pipes inside the door that you will be cutting through as they could be damaged by the Jigsaw. Similarly you should be aware of any handles or other door fixtures that need to be removed in order to install the cat flap and be cautious not to scratch them in the process.

Most people who fit a cat flap on their own will have the standard solid uPVC door and will not be dealing with any of these problems. If your door is made of timber or has decorative panels that cannot be removed, this could make it more difficult to complete the job.

For these kinds of jobs, it's important to get advice from a cat flap insulation flap fitter. It is important to perform them correctly to avoid future problems. If you do it wrong, it could lead to the door being damaged and could cause the warranty to be invalidated.

Fit the Flap

After you've made the hole drilled, place the flap on to see whether it opens easily. If you find any points which catch or stick, use a hand file or sandpaper to file them down until they fit perfectly and open without any problems. Make sure the flap is in line with the door.

If your kit doesn't include templates, you can use tracing paper that is thin, such as a piece of paper or Acetate. Place the paper against the door and mark the area where you'll will need to place the flap (this will be your cutting guide). Then using the pencil lines you've drawn on the door, draw four screw holes in each corner of the flap - these will be the screws you'll use to put the flap into place.

Most upvc door panel with cat flap door are solid and easy to cut. However, if your door is made of GRP or a composite material, this may be more difficult. If you're not familiar with this, it might be wise to get a professional to handle the job for you. They can also tell you if your door is suitable to install a cat flap.

If you are planning to install a cat flap in composite doors, it is important to first consult with the manufacturer or a professional joiner. Any alterations made to the doors could invalidate the warranty. If you decide to do the work yourself, bear in mind that it could be messy and even dangerous.

When you have composite doors, you'll typically need to use a grinder or saw to cut through the door's frame instead of just cutting through the GRP. This is a potentially dangerous job, and you'll need to take extra care to avoid damaging the door. It is important to note that it is much more difficult to create the door glass than in a uPVC door or a solid wood door.