Fitting Cat Flap In UPVC Door Panel
Cat flaps let your pet move around as they please without having to let him in or out. They also prevent your cat from urinating inside the house.
Installing a cat flap on a upvc door panel is much simpler than installing one in a glass door, however it does require some skills and the appropriate tools.
Take a look at the Door
The installation of a cat flap inside a door can be tricky but as long as you choose the right type of cat flap be patient and follow the instructions provided it should not prove to be too difficult. We will help you draw the shape using an jigsaw to cut the door's area. Then we will finish the job by affixing the flap. This will ensure that the flap remains in place and protects the door from wind and rain damaging the door.
The first thing you need to do is determine the width of your pet to get an accurate measurement of the size of cat flap you will require. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to let your pet enter and leave the house without having to open and close the door each time, yet small enough to stop the pet from straying too far in either direction.
If your kit comes with a drawing showing where to drill then you can put it on the door, and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, be sure you leave plenty of space between your cat and these elements.
Utilize a set square to check that you are cutting correctly and ensure that the hole is a good rectangle shape. When you are satisfied with this, you are able to begin to remove the rest of the door material. Set the square with a ruler to ensure that you're cutting the material correctly and that the cut is a rectangle. Once you are satisfied with the final result, you can take out the rest of the door material.
Draw a Line
The cat flap is a great way to let your pet in and out without having to worry about them being in the house with a visitor, or leaving unwelcome gifts in the home. It also stops draughts and keeps your home's temperature in check. Fitting a cat flap to your door might seem difficult to those who haven't done it before. Many people call a professional carpenter or joiner to complete the work. While this is certainly an option, it is possible to do the work yourself if you have the appropriate tools and follow the instructions carefully.
It is much easier to do with wooden doors, but it is still possible using uPVC. However, you must be careful not to damage the doors since this could cause the door to be damaged and invalidate your warranty. The first step in the process is to take measurements of the door, making sure that it will fit the new cat flap. If you have a standard uPVC panel it's easy. However when your door is composite or another type of door, you may have to be more cautious.
The next step is to measure the height of your cat flap In upvc door panel's stomach. This is the height from the floor to the lower part of the cat flaps for french doors's stomach, and you'll need to find a place on the door that will be within the range that your cat is able to comfortably walk through. Once you have this information you'll need to mark out the area with pencil and a spirit level so that you can ensure that the hole you make will be suitable for your cat.
After you have marked the area, it's now time to cut the hole. You will need to use the jigsaw, and it is essential to take your time to ensure that the cuts are clean and smooth rather than rough and uneven, as it could cause damage to your door. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while using a jigsaw. Inhaling sawdust can be harmful for your health. After you've cut the hole, you'll need sandpaper to smooth the edges so that the cat flap can be easily inserted into the hole.
Cut a Hole
It can be a challenge to install the cat flap onto a door panel or sealed double glazing unit. If you are not very proficient in DIY, it is recommended to hire an expert to do the job for you. A shoddy job might not just be ugly, but also an enigma for security and also allow cold air to enter when the cat is outside and hot air to escape inside.
The first thing to do is mark the location of the hole in the door with an eraser and a spirit level. This will ensure that it is correctly located and is in a straight line with other parts of the door. Make sure you have a piece of sandpaper at the ready to smooth out any rough edges.
Wear the safety equipment you need to work with the power tool. If you're concerned about the noise, you can get a jigsaw with a cord that is quieter and more user-friendly.
You should only remove the material required to fit the cat flap. A little bit of extra material will be required for the thickness of the the flap but removing more than that can cause problems and even harm the frame of the door.
A upvc door panel replacement cat flap 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 make an over-sized hole to ensure that the metal doesn't touch the wall of the cat flap installer flap, if this is the case, it is crucial to fill in the oversize gap and render it watertight.
If you're planning to install a cat flap into the frame of a double glazed window with a metal frame, you'll need to speak to a professional who can supply you with a new glass pane with 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 has not been manufactured specifically for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
cat flap fitters flaps allow your pet the freedom to move around whenever they want and allow them to be comfortable in the home whenever they'd like. If you've got an uPVC door it can be difficult to install a cat flap, especially when you don't have glass panes that can be cut to accommodate one. Luckily, if you're happy to buy and install a half-glazed replacement uPVC panel, it's possible to add the cat flap to the doors. It's not a simple matter of slicing an opening in the door. It is also necessary to perform a few steps to ensure that the door is secure.
A composite, uPVC or GRP door panel is usually comprised of a thin plastic skin which is bonded to an insulating polystyrene base. It is essential to be cautious when cutting the material. This type door has a template you can use to make the hole.
After you've marked the position of the hole in your door, it's time to fit the cat flap itself. You can purchase and install a wide variety of different models, from basic push-button operated ones to microchip activated units that allow only your pet. Whatever type of cat flap you pick it is essential that your cat is able to utilize the flap with ease without getting stuck outside in the rain.
A circular fitting is more effective than a square, because circles can be cut more securely into glass. This is because square holes leave the glass vulnerable to cracking when a drill is used on it. It's also a much safer choice to use since you don't risk drilling into toughened glass that could shatter and cause injury to your pet or family members. This is especially crucial if you have elderly or children living in your home that could be injured by glass shattering.