Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet leave and come as they please without you needing to let them in or out. They can also help prevent your cat from urinating in the home.
It is easier to install an animal flap on a upvc panel than on a glass one, but you will require some expertise and appropriate tools.
Measure the Door
Installing a cat door into a front door could be difficult however, provided that the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the instructions, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show you how to draw the shape, using an jigsaw for cutting out the door's opening and then finish off the job by attaching the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the door from rain and wind causing damage.
The first thing you need to do is measure the width of your pet in order to get an accurate measurement of what size of cat flap you will need. This will let you choose a cat flap that is big enough for your pet to go into the home and exit without needing to open the door each time.
If your kit has an illustration of where to drill then you can stick it on the door and then use a pencil 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.
Then put on your eye protection and a dust mask and using a jigsaw begin cutting along the line you've drawn in, don't try to push the blade too hard, as this will cause it to cut faster than you want it to. Set the square with a ruler to ensure that you're cutting the material in a proper manner and that the cut is a rectangle. When you are satisfied with the result, you are able to take out the rest of the door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap lets you to let your pet in and outside without worrying about unwanted visitors or unwanted gifts. It also stops draughts and helps to keep the temperature of your home in a stable manner. However, installing the cat flap to your door could be an overwhelming task for those who have never done it before. This can lead many to hire a professional joiner or carpenter to do the job instead. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the work yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions with care.
It is much easier to do on a wooden door, but it is still possible with uPVC. However, you must be careful not to scratch the doors as this could invalidate your guarantee. The first step is to take measurements of the door to ensure that it can accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel, this should be easy. However when your door is made of composite or another kind of door, you may have to be more cautious.
The next step is to determine the height of your cat's belly. This is the distance between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. It is important to find an area on the door that allows your cat to move through easily. Once you have the information, you'll be required to mark the space with a spirit-level and a pencil so that you are sure that the opening will fit your cat.
After you've marked the area, it's time to cut the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw ensure the cuts are clean and smooth, not rough and uneven. This could damage your door. Be sure to wear safety glasses and a dust-proof mask whenever working with the jigsaw as inhaling the sawdust can be dangerous to your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you will need sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap is easily inserted into the hole.
Cut a Hole
It can be difficult to fit an animal flap on a door panel or sealed double glazing unit. It is tempting to tackle the task 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 mistake in the process may not only look ugly, but it could also be a security risk as well as allowing cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when inside.
Mark the hole's position on the door using a pencil and spirit level. This will ensure it is correctly positioned and aligns with the door's other parts. It is important to have some sandpaper on the ready to smooth out any rough edges.
Wear the safety equipment you'll need to use a power tool. If you're worried about the noise, you can get a cordless jigsaw which is quieter and easier.
You should only remove the material required to create the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be required for the thickness of the wall of the flap, but removing more than that could cause issues and damage the doors frame.
A door made of upvc could include a metal frame, or panel within it that will interfere with the microchip cat flap, and if this is the case, you will need to cut an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal does not touch the the cat flap, if this is the case, it is important to fill in the gap and seal it with water.
If you're planning to install a cat flap in a upvc or double-glazed window with frames made of metal you'll need to talk to an expert. They can provide you with a new piece of glass that has the hole already pre-made for the cat flap. upvc door panel cat flap will be much cheaper to get this done rather than to attempt to fix the cat flap onto an existing pane of glass that hasn't been designed specifically for the purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet to leave and come as they please, giving them the freedom to lounge in the home whenever they feel like it. However, if you own an uPVC door, it may be difficult to install an animal flap, especially if you don't own a glass pane that can be cut to fit one. Luckily, if you're happy to purchase and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to install a cat flap to the doors. It's not as simple as just cutting a hole through 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 typically comprises a flimsy plastic outer skin joined to a soft polystyrene core that is insulating. It is essential to be careful when cutting the material. This kind of door typically includes a template which you can use as a guide to cut the hole into your door.
After you have marked out the hole in your front door, it's time to put in the cat flap. You can pick from a variety of models, ranging from simple push-button models to microchip-activated ones that allow your pet in. Whatever kind of cat flaps you choose it is essential that your cat is able to use the flap comfortably without getting stuck outside in bad weather.
A circular fitting is superior than a square, because circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes are more likely to break the glass when drilled. This is also a safer option since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass which could break and hurt your pet or your family members. This is particularly crucial if you have children or elderly people in your home who might be injured by glass fragments.