Fitting Cat Flap in UPVC Door Panel

Cat flaps let your cat go inside and out whenever they want without having to let them in or out. They also prevent your cat from urinating in the house.
It is easier to install the cat flap on a Upvc panel than on a glass one, but you will need some skills and the correct tools.
Take a look at the Door
Fitting a cat door in the front door is difficult however, provided that the cat flap is of the right type and you follow the instructions you can make it less difficult. We will show you how to draw the shape, use a jigsaw to cut out the door's area and then finish off the job by securing the flap to the door. This will ensure the flap is in place and also protects the doors from damage caused by wind and rain.
To determine the size of the cat flap that you need, measure your pet's width. This will ensure that the flap is big enough to allow your pet to go inside and out of the house without having to open and close the door every time, but also small enough to stop the pet from straying too far in either direction.
If your kit has an illustration of where to drill, then stick it on the door and then draw a pencil around it. If your door has moulding or a sill at the bottom, make sure that you leave enough space between your cat and the moulding or sill.
Put on your eye protection as well as a dust mask and using a jigsaw begin cutting according to the lines you penciled in, don't try to push the blade too hard, as this could make it cut faster than you'd like it to. Use a set square to ensure you are cutting the material properly and that the hole is a rectangle shape. Once you are satisfied with the final result, you can take the door material off.
Draw a Line
The cat flap lets you to let your pet in and out without having to worry about unwanted visitors or unwelcome gifts. It also reduces drafts and helps to keep the temperature of your home in a stable manner. However, fitting the cat flap to your door could be an intimidating task for those who have never done it before. This can lead many people to call a professional joiner or carpenter to complete the task. While upvc cat flap door panels is definitely an option, it's possible to do the job yourself if you have the right tools and follow the instructions with care.
While this is much easier to do when using a timber door it is still possible in uPVC doors, though you must be cautious not to damage 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. This should be simple enough when you have an ordinary uPVC door, but you may need to take extra care if you are using a composite or other kind of door, as they are more difficult to cut than solid uPVC panels.
Next, you will need to determine the height of your belly for your cat. This is the measurement from the floor to the underside of the cat's stomach and you will need to find a spot on the door where this measurement will fall within the range your pet can comfortably go through. Once you know this, you will be required to mark the area using an eraser and a spirit level to be certain that the hole you make will be suitable for your cat.
Once you've marked the area, it's time to cut the hole. You will need to use a jigsaw and it is essential to be patient to ensure that the cuts are smooth and clean instead of rough and uneven, as it could cause damage to your door. You should also remember to wear safety glasses and a dust-proof mask when using the jigsaw, as dust from the saw can be dangerous to your health. After you have finished cutting the hole, you will require sandpaper for smoothing the edges so that the cat flap can be easily inserted.
Cut a Hole
The process of fitting a cat flap to an existing door panel or double glazing sealed unit can be difficult. It is tempting to do it yourself, but unless you have expertise in DIY, it's likely to be best to have an expert to complete the task for you. A faulty job can not only look ugly, but also pose an security risk. It could allow cold air in when the cat is outside and hot air out when the cat is inside.
Mark the hole position on the door with a pencil and spirit level. This will ensure that it is properly positioned and is flush with the rest of the door. Make sure you have some sandpaper in your possession to smooth out any rough edges.
Wear the safety equipment you require when working with an electric tool. If you are worried about the sound produced by a jigsaw you can buy a cordless version which is quieter and more user-friendly to use.
You should only remove the material needed to create the cat flap. A little bit of extra material is required to increase the thickness of the wall of the cat flap itself but removing more than that can cause problems and even damage the doors frame.
If the door is made of upvc and is made of metal, or has a frame, it could interfere with the microchip flap. In this case, you will need to create an extra-large hole to ensure that the metal doesn't come into contact with walls of the flap.
If you're installing a cat flap into a upvc door or double-glazed window with a metal frame, you'll need to talk to a professional who can provide you with a brand new pane of glass that already has the hole for the cat flap already drilled inside. It will be much cheaper to have this done than to attempt to fix the flap to an existing pane of glass that was not designed specifically for this purpose.
Fit the Flap
Cat flaps let your pet come and go at their own pace, giving them the freedom to lounge inside the house whenever they want to. If you have an uPVC front door, it can be hard to install a cat flap. This is especially true in the event that you don't own a glass panel which can be cut. If you're willing to install a half-glazed uPVC replacement panel, it's possible to install an additional cat flap. It's not a matter of slicing holes in the door. It is also necessary to take a few steps to ensure that the door is safe.
A uPVC, GRP or composite door panel typically comprises a flimsy plastic outer skin that is bonded to a soft, polystyrene insulating core. The material is quite fragile and care must be taken when cutting through it to avoid causing damage. This kind of door typically includes a template which you can use as a reference for cutting the hole in the door.
Once you have marked the location of the hole in your door, it's time to install the flap. You can buy and fit a wide variety of different models that range from simple push-button operated ones to ones that are activated by microchips that allow access only to your pet. Whatever type of cat flap you pick, it's vital that your cat can utilize the flap with ease without getting caught in bad weather.
It's a good idea to opt for a circular fitting rather than one that is square, since circles are more securely cut into the door glass. This is because square holes can make the glass more susceptible to cracking when drilling is applied to it. It's also a much safer choice to use since you're not at risk of having to drill into toughened glass that may break and hurt your pet or family members. This is particularly crucial if you have children or elderly people at home who could be hurt by glass shattering.