Installing catflap in upvc door - advice please!

[RustyParker]

We have a back door which is upvc with a metal plate through the middle - although this is not my door this photo is very similar Door

Most video tutorials on youtube etc. show cutting the wood outline but not a metal plate plus the doors are usually has beading but as you can see from the above door, my door doesn't have beading, just grooves going inwards so I'm a little worried that a catflap won't sit airtight on the door?

I'm reasonably confident DIY-wise although very much a beginner so was wondering if this might be a bit too complicated and if it might be worth getting a glazier in to fit it instead?

Any tips or advice?? Thank you.

[RustyParker]

• Please excuse the awful grammar I'm tired and have been busy on the football sticker swap thread..

[Aberchips]

Oooh watching with interest as we are moving soon (I hope!) and will have to install a cat flap in our new uPVC back door. I don't think we could do it ourselves - but if we didn't who would we get to do it? Would a glazier do it RustyParker?

Hopefully someone very knowledgeable in the ways of cat flap installation will be along soon.

[flopsytherabbit]

When I had my new UPVC doors fitted, the company fitted the cat flap for me - door arrived with it pre-installed. Like you say, the metal plate is a problem.

I would speak to an installer - they may be able to provide you with a new panel, with the cat flap fitted. The benefit is that if you move, you can fit / leave the old panel for the new owners.

[RustyParker]

Aberchips I googled "cat flap installer " and a glazing / upvc door company came up and on their website they say they fit them but I don't know if that's common. No guide price which although I understand why, it also made me a bit nervous it might be quite expensive but I'm beginning to think it might be cheaper than a new door installed as an emergency if I mess up!!

Flopsy thanks for the advice. Might be worth looking into that but worried that the panels might not be straight forward?

The cat has already destroyed my curtains and now the cat flap seems like it's going to be a faff! Just as well I love the tabby beast!

[Spickle]

We have a cat flap in a UPVC back door, which is half glazed and half UPVC. They took out the whole centre UPVC panel and cut it to fit the cat flap and then put the panel back. Absolutely fine, but I would check that your centre panel is wide enough, as this is what they will fit it into, not the frame itself. Cost around £120 including the flap! It was a glazier who fitted it.

[mrskitty]

We had a cat flap fitted in a glass panel upvc door which cost £140. Would be less in upvc panel I believe.

[RustyParker]

£120!! Eeek

Did you see the link to the photo in my op of a similar door to mine spickle? Is your door like that? Sounds a bit dim but I'm not sure my panels can be removed? Or did they remove the metal plate to put a hole in? Not sure I'm explaining this very well, sorry!

[RustyParker]

I can't believe it's so much mrskitty

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.

[wowfudge]

We had the lower glazed panel in the door replaced with a UPVC one by a local glazier. We provided the cat flap we wanted and they put it into the new panel. We have the original glazed panel stored so it can be replaced in future if needed.

I wonder if you have a composite door rather than a UPVC one? A glazier will have a look for you and give you a quote. If the door is a composite then you might want to consider having the cat flap fitted to an outside wall instead. Shouldn't be a big job.

[Spickle]

My door is something like this:

www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Tamar-Pre-Hung-uPVC-Door-2085x840mm-Right-Opening/p/205903?CAWELAID=120135120000016753&CAGPSPN=pla&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Product+Listing+Ads&tmcampid=104&tmad=c&tmplaceref=&tmcustom=mkwid|W5fPyZGt_dc|pcrid|7531858372|&gclid=COqwn7iTzL8CFSLmwgod4igA6Q

Your link seemed to suggest a front door with narrower panels, is that the one? The centre panels can usually come out, but will depend on how wide the cat flap is.

Hope that link works!

[Spickle]

or this

This

[RustyParker]

Yes, our back door is bizarrely a front door type. It was quite new when we moved in so don't know why the previous owners chose it. Wish we had something like the door from your link, I think it would be so much easier to sort out.

The cat flap is a standard one size, not a large size but it is wider than the bit inbetween the panels.

Thanks Spickle

It's going to be a nightmare and expensive isn't it?? Sigh

[cathabelle]

Not doubting your DIY skills, but I say get a glazier in! It's not just about maybe breaking the panel, but they'll be able to cut it to fit snugly/seal the edges... otherwise it could be draughty!

[RustyParker]

I'm glad to hear you aren't doubting my DIY skills cathabelle

[WetAugust]

seems a strange choice for a back door.

I fitted a cat flap into my Upvc back door recently. my door was top half glazed and bottom half is a composite panel with a metal sheet running through it.

The type of cat flap I installed was one of those that reads the cats microchip and only opens for your cats. The cat flap instructions warned that doors with metal in thei panel into which the cat flap was to be fitted may not work properly as the metal in the door panel interferes with the ability to read the cats microchip. I took the risk and cut a howls in the door panel using a hacksaw with a metal cutting blade. The cat flap works Ok.

It's a difficult, time consuming job that I would leave to the professionals next time. I cannot see how you could fit a cat flap in our front door style back door. You old consider having a cat flap installed in a brick wall next to the door or could consider having the cat flap installed in a window,
also had a metal plate in the lower section of the door

[moggle]

We have this kind of door at the back, with a glass panel at the top and a single plastic-with-metal-plate panel in the bottom half. I put a square hole in it myself for the cat flap. Used the drill to drill holes for the corners and then used a jigsaw to cut between them. I think I got through about 5 jigsaw blades, maybe more, it was really hard on it. And in total it took me a couple of hours probably (I couldn't do it continually, the jigsawing did hurt my hands!). The lines didn't end up perfect (it's a bit jagged) but the flap fit perfectly and the only draughts come around the edges of the actual flap.
I would class myself as an enthusiastic beginner DIYer!

[RustyParker]

Oh don't say that wetaugust!! There's nowhere else it could go! I curse the bloody previous owners for choosing the door, grr!

Ah, moggle just what my DH was hoping to hear

I'm beginning to feel I'm more of a GIAG (Give It A Go-er) rather than a DIYer!)

I shall pluck up courage and let you know how it goes! Thanks again everyone

[WetAugust]

Go for it

I just hacked away with my junior hacksaw until the hole was big enough to accommodate the cat flap and Moggle is quite right , it does hurt your hands.

I have used mastic to seal the gap between the catflap and the door panel, inside and out. That stops draughts and stops rain water seeping in.

[mouselittle]

I got this done a few months ago after moving house. Top of the door was glazed and bottom UPVC.
I gave the cat flap to a glazier who fitted it into a new UPVC panel.
DH then removed the old panel and replaced it with the new one.
It cost just over £40 not including the price of the cat flap.