Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet leave and come as they please, without you having to let him in or out. They also can help stop your cat from urinating inside the house.
Installing a cat flap into a upvc door panel is much easier than in a glass door, but it will require some expertise and the right tools.
Measure the Door
The installation of a cat flap in a front door can be difficult however, so long as the cat flap is the correct one 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 fixing the flap to the door. This will ensure the flap stays in position and also protects the doors from damage caused by wind and rain.
The first thing to do is measure the width of your pet to determine an accurate estimate of the size of cat flap you will need. This will allow you to choose a cat flap that is large enough to allow your pet to go into the house and leave without needing to open the door every time.
If your kit comes with an illustration of the location to drill, then put it on the door and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has sill or moulding along the bottom edge of it ensure that you have enough space because this will ensure your cat's safety and stop them from gaining access to your home.
Then put on your eye protection and dust mask. Then using a jigsaw, begin cutting along the line you have pencilled in, don't try to push the blade too hard because this will cause it to cut faster than you want it to. If you have an already-cut square, make use of it to verify that you are cutting correctly and to ensure that the hole is a good rectangle shape, once you are happy with this you can start to remove the remaining 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 reduces drafts and helps keep the temperature inside your home in a stable manner. However, fitting a cat flap in your door can seem like an overwhelming task for those who have never done it before, which is why many to hire a professional carpenter or joiner to do the job. This is an option but you can do it yourself, provided the tools are in order and the instructions are adhered to.
It is much easier to accomplish on doors made of wood, however it is still possible using uPVC. However, you must be careful not to harm the doors as this could cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. First, you must measure the door to make sure it will accommodate the new cat-flap. This should be simple enough for a standard uPVC door, but you might need to take more care if using a composite or other type of door since these can be more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.
The next step is to determine the belly height of your cat. This is the height between the floor and the underside of your cat's stomach. It is important to locate an area at the entrance that allows your cat to pass through comfortably. Once you know this, you will need to mark out the area with an eraser and a spirit level to ensure that the hole you create will fit your cat.
After you have marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. It is crucial to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure the cuts are clean and smooth, not rough and uneven. This could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when using a Jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust is dangerous for your health. Once you've finished cutting the hole, you'll require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap can be easily fitted into place.
Cut a Hole
Getting a cat flap fitted to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be quite difficult. If cat flap installation are not very proficient in DIY, it's best to hire a professional to do the job for you. A shoddy job might not just be ugly, but it could also be an enigma for security as well as allowing cold air to enter when the cat is outside, and hot air to escape once inside.
The first thing to do is draw the location of the hole in the door with a pencil and a spirit level, this will ensure that it is correctly placed and runs parallel to the other parts of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.
Wear any safety gear you require when working with a power tool. If you're worried about the noise, you can get a jigsaw with a cord that is quieter and more user-friendly.
It is best to only remove the material required to fit the flap. A small amount of material will be required for the thickness of the wall of the cat flap itself but removing more than that can cause problems and even cause damage to the door frame.
A upvc door may have a metal frame or panel within it that could interfere with the microchip cat flap, and in this case you will need to cut an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the the cat flap, if this is done it is crucial to fill in the oversize gap and seal it with water.
If you're looking to install a cat flap inside windows made of double-glazed or upvc with frames made of metal, you'll need to consult an expert. They will provide you with a new piece of glass that has the hole that is already designed for the cat flap. This is less expensive than trying to install a cat flap in an existing pane that wasn't designed specifically for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet come and go as they please, giving them the freedom to relax in the home whenever they feel like it. If you have an uPVC front door, it might be difficult to put in the cat flap. This is especially the case in the event that you don't own a glass panel that can be cut. If you're able to buy and install a new half-glazed uPVC panel then it is possible to fit a cat flap to the doors. It's not a matter of cutting an opening in the door. You'll also have to take a few steps to ensure that the door is safe.
A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is generally composed of a plastic skin which is bonded to an insulating polystyrene core. It is crucial to be careful when cutting the material. This type door comes with a template that you can use to cut the hole.
Once you've marked the hole in your front door, it's time to install the cat flap. You can buy and fit many different models, from basic button operated ones to microchip activated units that allow access only to your pet. Whatever type of cat flaps you select, it's vital that your cat can utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck outside in the rain.
A circular fitting is better than a square one, as circles can be cut more securely into the glass. This is because square holes can make the glass more susceptible to cracking if drilling is applied to it. This is also a safer choice, as you won't have to drill into the toughened glass which could break and cause harm to your pet or family members. This is particularly important if you have child or an elderly person living in your home who could be injured by shards glass.