Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps allow your pet to go in and out whenever they want without having to let them in or out. They also prevent your cat from urinating inside the house.
It is simpler to install the cat flap on a upvc panel than one made of glass but you'll require some knowledge and appropriate tools.
Measure the Door
Installing a cat door into a front door can be difficult however, so long as the cat flap is the right type and you follow the guidelines, it shouldn't be too difficult. We will show how to trace the shape, use an jigsaw for cutting out the area in the door and then finish off the job by fixing the flap to the door. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and shields the door from rain and wind which can cause damage.
To determine the size of the cat flap that you require, take a measurement of the width of your pet. This will ensure that the flap is large enough that your pet can leave and enter the home without having to open or close the door every time, yet small enough to keep them from moving too far in either direction.
If your kit comes with an illustration of where to drill, you can put it on the door, and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has a sill or moulding at the bottom, be sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and the moulding or sill.
Set a square to make sure you're cutting correctly and to make sure the hole is in a rectangle shape. When you are satisfied with the result, you can begin removing the rest of the door material. If you own a square that you have cut, use it to check whether you're cutting in the right way and to ensure that the hole is a proper rectangular shape. Once you are happy with this you can begin to take off the remaining door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great way to allow your pet to go out and in without worrying about them coming in with a visitor, or leaving unwanted gifts inside the house. It also reduces drafts and helps to keep the temperature inside your home steady. The installation of a cat flap your door might seem difficult to those who haven't done it before. Many people will call an expert joiner or carpenter to do the work. This is a viable option, however you can do it yourself if your tools are right and the directions are adhered to.
While this is far simpler to accomplish with a timber door, it is still possible in uPVC doors, but you should be careful not to scratch the doors, as this can end the warranty. The first step is to examine the door's measurements to ensure that it can accommodate the new cat-flap. If you have a standard uPVC panel it should be a breeze. However, if your door is composite or a different type of door, you might need to be more careful.
The next step is to measure the size of your cat's belly. This is the height from the floor to the bottom of the cat's stomach, and you'll need find a spot in the door that will be within the range that your cat can comfortably pass through. Once you've got the information you'll have to mark the area with a spirit-level and a pencil so that you are certain that the hole will fit your cat.
Once you have marked out the area, it's time to make the hole. It is important to be patient and use a jigsaw to ensure the cuts are smooth and clean not rough and uneven. This could damage your door. Be sure to wear safety glasses and a dust mask at all times when using the jigsaw, since dust from the saw could be harmful to your health. Once you have completed the cutting process, you will need to smooth out the edges of the hole with sandpaper so that your cat flap can be fitted easily in place.
Cut 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 you have experience in DIY it is recommended to hire a professional in to do the job for you. A shoddy job might not only look ugly, but also an enigma for security and also allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape when inside.
Mark the hole position on the door using the help of a pencil and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is correctly positioned and runs flush with the rest of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper on hand for any rough edges.
Wear any safety equipment you require when working with an electric tool. If you are concerned about the noise of the jigsaw, you can purchase a cordless version which is much quieter and easier to use.
It is important that you only cut away the material required for the fitment of the cat flap. It is essential to leave a little extra material for the wall thickness of the flap. However cutting off too much material can cause problems or even damage the frame of the door.
A upvc door may have a metal frame or panel which could block the microchip cat flap, and if this is the case, you'll need to cut an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal does not come into contact with the the cat flap. If this is the case, it is crucial to fill in the gap and make it watertight.
If you want to install a cat flap in a upvc or double-glazed window with metal frames it is necessary to speak with an expert. They can provide you with a new piece of glass with the hole already pre-made for the cat flap. It is cheaper to get this done rather instead of trying to install the flap to an existing pane of glass that hasn't been designed specifically for this purpose.
Install 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 want to. However, if you own an uPVC door, it may be difficult to install a cat flap, particularly when you don't have glass panes that can be cut for one. If you're looking to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to add an additional cat flap. It's not as easy as simply making a hole in the door however, and there are a few things you'll need to do first to ensure that it's secure.
A composite, uPVC, or GRP door panel is generally composed of a plastic skin that is bonded to an insulating polystyrene base. The material is fairly fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid damaging. This type of door usually comes with a template drawing which you can use as a guide to cut the hole in the door.
Once you've determined the position of the hole in your door, now it's time to fit the cat flap. how much to install a cat flap can choose from a wide range of models, ranging from simple push-button models to microchip-activated ones that only let your pet in. However, regardless of what kind of cat flap you select, it is essential to ensure that your cat can comfortably use the flap without getting trapped outside in bad weather.
A circular fitting is more effective than a square because circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes are more likely to crack the glass when they are drilled. This is also a safer choice because you won't need to drill into the toughened glass which could shatter and harm your pet or family. This is particularly crucial if you have children or elderly people in your home that might be injured by glass fragments.