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Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel
Cat flaps allow your pet to go inside and out as they please without you having to let them in or out. They also prevent your cat from urinating inside the home.

It is much easier to put a cat flap on a Upvc panel than one made of glass, but you will require some expertise and correct tools.

Measure the Door

The installation of a cat flap inside a door can be tricky however, as long as you use the correct type of cat flap, take your time and follow the instructions provided it should not prove to be too much trouble. We will be showing how to trace the shape, use a jigsaw to cut out the door's opening and then finish the job by fixing the flap to the door. This will ensure the flap is in place and also protects the doors from damage caused by rain and wind.

To determine the size of the cat flap you need, measure your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is large enough to allow your pet to enter and leave the house without having to open or close the door every time, yet small enough to stop them from going too far in either direction.

Once you have the measurements, you can mark the location on the door where the template should be positioned, usually this is done with an X, but some kits include an illustration that outlines the location to drill, if yours does then stick it to the door and use a pencil to draw around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, make sure you leave enough space between your cat and these elements.

Next put on your eye protection and a dust mask, and using a jigsaw begin to cut according to the lines you penciled in, but don't press the blade too hard, as this could make it cut faster than you'd like it to. Utilize a set square to ensure that you're cutting the material in a proper manner and that the hole is a rectangle. When you are satisfied with the result, you are able to take the door material off.

Draw a Line

The cat flap is a great way to let your pet out and in without having to worry about them being in the house with a visitor, or leaving unwanted gifts in the home. It also stops draughts and helps keep the temperature inside your home in a stable manner. However, installing the cat flap to your door might seem like an overwhelming task for those who haven't done it before, leading many people to call a professional joiner or carpenter to do the job. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself, provided the tools are right and the directions are followed.


Although this is much simpler when using a timber door it is still possible to do this in uPVC doors, though you need to be very careful to avoid damaging the doors since this could cause damage to your warranty. The first step is to examine the door's measurements to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have an ordinary uPVC panel it's easy. However when your door is composite or another type of door, you may require more care.

The next step is to measure the height of your cat's belly. This is the height between the floor and the bottom of your cat's stomach. cat flaps for french doors 'll need to locate an area on the door that allows your cat to move through easily. Once you have the information, you'll need to mark the area with a spirit level and a pencil so you are certain that the opening will fit your cat.

Once you've marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is important to take your time and use a jigsaw in order to ensure the cuts are clean and smooth not uneven and rough. This could damage your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while working with the Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is hazardous for your health. After you've completed the cutting process, you will have to smooth out the edges of the hole using sandpaper, so that the cat flap will fit easily in place.

Make a hole

It isn't easy to fit the cat flap onto the door panel or double glazing unit. It is tempting to tackle the task yourself, but unless you have a lot of experience in DIY it is likely to be best to have a professional to do the job for you. A mistake could not only look ugly, but also pose an security risk. It could let cold air in when the cat is outside and hot air out when the cat is inside.

The hole's location should be marked on the door using an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is correctly positioned and runs flush with the door's other parts. It is important to have a piece of sandpaper at hand to smooth any edges.

After the line is drawn, you can cut the hole using the jigsaw. Remember to wear any safety equipment for working with an electric tool. If you're worried about noise, you can purchase a cordless jigsaw which is more quiet and easy to use.

You should only remove the material that is required to fit the flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the the flap but cutting off more than this can cause problems and even harm the frame of the door.

If the door is made of upvc and features a metal panel or frame, it may interfere with the microchip flap. In this scenario you'll need make an oversize hole to ensure that the metal doesn't come into contact with walls of the flap.

If you're installing the cat flap onto the frame of a double glazed window with a metal frame then you'll need to talk to a professional who will supply you with a new pane of glass with the hole for the cat flap inside. This will be cheaper than trying to install a cat flap inside an existing pane that was not made specifically for this purpose.

Place the Flap

Cat flaps give your pet the freedom to come and go whenever they like and allow them to be comfortable at home whenever they'd like. If you have a uPVC front door, it can be difficult to install the cat flap. This is especially the case when you don't have glass panels that is cut. If you're looking to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to add an additional cat flap. It's not just a matter of cutting a hole into the door. It is also necessary to take a few steps to ensure it's safe.

A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is typically made up of an extremely thin plastic outer skin that is bonded to a soft, insulating polystyrene core. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting into it to avoid damaging. This type of door typically comes with a template drawing that you can use as a guide for cutting the hole in your door.

Once you have marked the position of the hole in your door, it's time to fit the cat flap itself. You can buy and fit various models that range from simple push-button operated ones to ones that are activated by microchips that allow only your pet. No matter which type of cat flap you pick, it's vital that your cat is able to utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck outside in bad weather.

A circular fitting is superior than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into glass. It's because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they are drilled. It's also a much safer choice to use since you're not at risk of having to drill into toughened glass that might break and injure your pet or family members. This is particularly important if there are elderly or children living at home who could be hurt by glass shattering.

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