Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel
From Shiapedia
cat flap In upvc door panel flaps allow your pet to leave and come back at their own pace, without needing to let them in or out. They also help stop your cat from urinating in the house.
Installing a cat flap into a upvc door panel is much simpler than installing one in a glass door, but it requires some knowledge and the proper tools.
Measure the Door
Installing a cat flap on the door isn't easy but as long as you select the right kind of cat flap be patient and follow the steps provided it should not prove to be too difficult. We will be showing how to trace the shape, use the jigsaw to slice the door's opening and then complete the job by attaching the cat flap to the door. This will ensure the flap is in place and protects the doors from the damage caused by wind and rain.
To determine the size of the cat flap that you need, measure your pet's width. This will let you select a flap that is large enough for your pet to enter the house and leave without having to open the door every time.
If your kit has an illustration of the location 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 along the bottom edge ensure that you have enough space because this will keep your cat safe and will prevent them from getting access to your home.
Next put on your eye protection and dust mask and using a jigsaw begin cutting along the line you've drawn in, but don't push the blade too hard, as this could cause it to cut more quickly than you'd like it to. If you have a square that you have cut, make use of it to verify that you are cutting correctly and also to ensure that the hole is a good rectangle. Once you are satisfied with this you can begin to take off the rest of the door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap allows you to let your pet go inside and outside without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwanted gifts. It also helps prevent draughts and keeps your home's temperature stable. The installation of a cat flap installation flap your door might seem difficult to those who haven't tried it before. Many people will call an expert carpenter or joiner to complete the work. While this is definitely an option, it's possible to do the work yourself if you own the proper tools and follow instructions with care.
It is much easier to accomplish on a wooden door, but it is possible with uPVC. However, you must be careful not to scratch the doors because this will make it impossible to claim your warranty. The first step in the process is to measure the door, ensuring that it is able to be able to accommodate the new cat flap. This should be easy enough if you are using the standard uPVC door, but you might need to take extra care if you are using an insulated or composite type of door as these are more difficult to cut into than solid uPVC panels.
Next, you will need to determine the height of your belly for your cat. This is the amount of height between the floor and the bottom of your cat flap step's stomach. You will need to locate a space on the door that will allow your pet to comfortably pass through. Once you know this then you have to draw the area using an eraser and a spirit level so that you can ensure that the hole you will create will fit your cat.
Once you have marked out the area, it is time to cut the hole. It is essential to be patient and use a jigsaw in order to ensure that 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 working with a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you have 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 a challenge to fit a cat flap into the door panel or double glazing unit. If you are not very skilled in DIY, it's best to hire a professional to complete the job for you. A shoddy job might not just be ugly, but it could also be an enigma for security and also allow cold air to get in when the cat is outside and hot air to escape inside.
Mark the hole's position on the door with the help of a pencil and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly positioned and is flush with the door's other parts. You should make sure you have an sandpaper piece on ready for any rough edges.
Wear any safety gear you'll need to use the power tool. If you are concerned about the noise of the jigsaw, you can purchase one that is cordless, which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
It is important that you only cut away the material required for the fitment of the cat flap. A small amount of material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the cat flap itself but cutting off more than this can cause problems or harm the frame of the door.
A upvc door may include a metal frame, or a panel inside that could interfere with the microchip cat flap and if this is the case you'll need to make an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't come into contact with the the cat flap, if this is the case, it is crucial to fill in the oversize gap and seal it with water.
If you are fitting a cat flap into an upvc door or a double glazed windows with a frame made of metal, you will need to speak to a professional who can provide you with a brand new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap installer flap in it. It is cheaper to do this than to attempt to fix the flap to an existing pane of glass that has not been manufactured specifically for this purpose.
Install the Flap
Cat flaps allow your pet the freedom to come and go anytime they want, allowing them to relax at home whenever they like. If you have an uPVC front door, it may be difficult to install a cat flap. This is particularly true if you do not own an glass panel which can be cut. If you're able to purchase and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel, then it's possible to add the cat flap to the doors. It's not a simple matter of slicing holes in the door. It is also necessary to do a few things to ensure it's safe.
A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel typically comprises an extremely thin plastic outer skin joined to a soft insulating polystyrene core. The material is quite fragile and care should be taken when cutting into it to avoid damaging. This kind of door has a template you can use to make the hole.
Once you have marked the position of the hole in your door, it's time to install the flap itself. You can choose from a range of models, ranging from simple push-button models to microchip-activated ones that allow only your pet to enter. But, regardless of the kind of cat flap you choose it is essential to ensure that your cat can comfortably use the flap without becoming stuck outside in the rain.
A circular fitting is better than a square because circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes make the glass more susceptible to cracking if drilling is applied to it. It's also a safer choice to use since you're not at risk of drilling into toughened glass that might break and cause injury to your pet or your family. This is especially important if you have young or elderly person in your home who may be injured by shards of glass.
