Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel
From Shiapedia
Cat flaps let your cat go inside and out whenever they want without needing to let them in or out. They also can help to keep your cat from having to go to the bathroom in the house.
It is easier to install the cat flap on a Upvc panel than on a glass one but you'll need some skills and the right tools.
Measure the Door
Installing a cat flap on the door can be a challenge but if you choose the right type of cat flap make sure you take your time and follow the directions provided, it should not prove to be too difficult. We will demonstrate how to draw the shape using an jigsaw to cut the door's area. Then we'll complete the job by attaching the flap. This will ensure the flap stays in position and also protects the doors from the damage caused by rain and wind.
The first step is determine the width of your pet in order to get a precise measurement of the size of cat flap you'll require. This will enable you to choose a cat flap that is large enough for your pet to walk into the house and leave without needing to open the door every time.
If your kit comes with an illustration of where to drill, you can place it on the door and then draw around it. If your door has a sill or moulding along the bottom of it ensure that you have enough space to ensure your cat flap fitters near me's safety and stop them from gaining access to your home.
Then put on your eye protection and a dust mask and using a jigsaw, begin to cut along the line that you've drawn in. Don't push the blade too hard because this will cause it to cut faster than you would like it to. If you have a set square then use it to ensure that you are cutting correctly and also to ensure that the hole is a good rectangular shape. Once you are satisfied with the shape, you can begin to take off the rest of the door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great method to let your pet out and in without having to worry about them being in the house with guests or leaving unwanted gifts inside the home. It also helps prevent draughts and helps keep your home's temperature stable. Fitting a cat flap to your door can be a daunting task to those who haven't tried it before. A lot of people will hire an expert carpenter or joiner to complete the work. While this is certainly an option, it's possible to do the work yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions with care.
It is much easier to accomplish on doors made of wood, however it is still possible using uPVC. However you should be cautious not to scratch the doors since this could make it impossible to claim your warranty. First, you must measure the door to ensure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be simple enough if you are using an ordinary upvc door panel replacement cat flap door, however you may require more care if you have an insulated or composite type of door since these can be more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.
The next step is to determine the size of your cat's belly. This is the amount of height between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. It is important to find an area on the door that allows your cat to comfortably pass through. Once you have the information, you'll need to mark the area with a spirit-level and a pencil, so that you are certain that the hole will fit your cat flap installation.
After you have marked the area, it is time to cut out the hole. You will need an jigsaw. It is important that you take your time to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth instead of uneven and rough, as it could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with the 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 fitted into place.
Make a hole
The process of fitting a cat flap into an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. It is tempting to tackle the task yourself, but unless have experience in DIY it is likely to be best to have a professional in to do the task for you. A shoddy job might not just be ugly, but it could also be an issue for security and also allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside, and hot air to escape once inside.
The first thing you have to do is mark the position of the hole in the door using a pencil and an ax level. This will ensure that it is correctly located and is in a straight line with the other components of the door. You should make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at ready to smooth any edges.
After the line is drawn, you can cut the hole using the jigsaw. Remember to wear any safety equipment when working with an electric tool. If you are concerned about the noise of a jigsaw you can buy one that is cordless, which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
It is best to only remove the material needed to make the cat flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the flap, but removing more than that could cause issues and cause damage to the door frame.
If the upvc door panels with cat flap door is made of metal, or has a frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In this scenario, you will need to make an oversize hole to ensure that the metal does not touch the wall of the flap.
If you're planning to install a cat flap into the frame of a double glazed window with a metal frame then you'll need to talk to a professional who will provide you with a new pane of glass that already has the hole for the cat flap in it. It is much less expensive to do this than to attempt to fix the flap to an existing glass pane that was not designed specifically for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to go and come anytime they want and allow them to be comfortable in the house when they'd like. However, if you have an uPVC door it can be difficult to install a cat flap, particularly when you don't have a glass pane that can be cut to accommodate one. If you're able 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 a matter of slicing an opening in the door. You'll also have to perform a few steps to ensure that the door is secure.
A composite door panel usually has an extremely thin plastic outer skin joined to a soft insulating polystyrene core. It is important to be careful when cutting the material. This type of door usually comes with a template drawing which you can use as a guide to cut the hole into your door.
After you've marked the location of the hole in your door, it's now time to fit the cat flap in upvc door panel flap. You can buy and fit a wide variety of different models, from basic push-button operated ones to microchip-activated ones that allow only your pet. Whatever kind of cat flap you pick, it's vital that your cat is able to utilize the flap with ease without getting caught in bad weather.
It's a good idea choose a circular fitting rather than one that is square, because circles are more securely cut into the door glass. It's because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they're drilled. This is also a safer choice since you don't have to drill into the toughened glass which could break and cause harm to your pet or your family members. This is particularly important if there are elderly or children living at home who could be hurt by glass shards.
