Can a cat flap be fitted to Georgian wired glass?

very_skint

Rex_Mundi wrote:

I've had a thought of how you could do this job using a cheaper method.

Take out the glass, and replace it with a piece of plywood (you can paint it the same colour as the door). This would be easy to cut (including the hole for the catflap).

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea, would probably cost less than asking a glazer and is only temporary as we will be getting a new door in the near future (council improvements).

Definately worth considering. Might even try the glass first and then when I mess it up replace with the wood.

Rex_Mundi

very_skint wrote:

Definately worth considering. Might even try the glass first and then when I mess it up replace with the wood.

I can't stress to you how bad an idea this is. Once the outside circle has been cut and run on GWPP. Getting the hole out is a very difficult job. I use swan necked plate pliers, a hammer, a normal glass cutter (after the circle cutter), and a LOT of care. The glass has to be hit until it is almost powder to start removing it. Splinters of glass fly all over the place. It really is a dangerous process, and should be left in the hands of people with experience. It is normally only experienced personel that do this kind of job with this glass because the extra work/danger/chance of breaking the glass involved.

If putting plywood in is an option. I would go straight for this if I was you.

Rex_Mundi

Dee123 wrote:

Jay-Jay

Just be aware that it might invalidate your guarantee on the door if you have one. I'm currently getting quotes and just dealt with a company that wont even fit a door knocker as that's considered "introducing a weak point" on the product.

I can't in any way see how putting a hole in the panel could compromise the structural integrity of the door. Maybe if the hole was in the framework of the door it would make a difference, not in the panel though.

These panels are treated, and fitted the same as a double glazed unit in a door. If there is any chance of invalidating your warranty (not something I've ever come accross). Then take your panel out, take it to a glaziers and buy a new panel with the catflap cut into it. This way, you will still have the original panel (uncut), and if you ever have a problem with the door. You can quickly put the old panel back in to make the door look the same as its original state.

I would be amazed if putting a catflap in will affect your warranty (in 25 years in the trade, I've never heard of it).

Dee123_2

Hi Rex

Was told by rep from Everest that they NEVER fit a door knocker. Whereas they were happy to fit a catflap if it was done in their factory, this wasnt an option for the door knocker. Any alterations at a later date would invalidate their warranty.

All other firms seem happy to supply almost identical style and strength door complete with all furniture.

Whether adding extra "features" to the door compromise or not, I felt this was something Jay-Jay should be aware of.

Cheers

Dee

Jay-Jay_4

Thank you :T


We had our double glazing done as a foreigner so we don't have a guarantee. I had a look at my door and the panels are quite high (it's like a frame within a frame within a frame. The catflap would have to be about 12 inches up and there's a step on the other side..... so the poor cat would need to jump about 2 feet in the air to use a cat flap from outside

Maybe it's not such a good idea after all

Rex_Mundi

Dee123 wrote:

Hi Rex

Was told by rep from Everest that they NEVER fit a door knocker. Whereas they were happy to fit a catflap if it was done in their factory, this wasnt an option for the door knocker. Any alterations at a later date would invalidate their warranty.

All other firms seem happy to supply almost identical style and strength door complete with all furniture.

Whether adding extra "features" to the door compromise or not, I felt this was something Jay-Jay should be aware of.

Cheers

Dee

Sorry Dee..............I knew I'd read enough of your message as soon as I got the word Everest.

This company sell themselves to the public as the best in the UK (and have the advertising budget to back it up).

Having worked in the glass trade for so long (25 years or so), I can tell you absolutely that this company is not as good as they would like you to believe. It has always been a bit of a joke in the glass trade about how this company is the 'best' (we've always had a good laugh when this has been mentioned).

They use salesmen to sell their product (who are paid mainly in commision). Please believe me when I say that this will sway the info given to you. They are after selling the product and boosting their wage rather than giving you the advice (and price) that is absolutely best for you.

The fitters they use are paid per job. They are not waged by the company. This gives them the incentive to get your fitting done ASAP. Everest do hold back a percentage of the job price to the fitter for a while, but from what I've seen, this does not work well. Their staff turnover has always been too quick to guarantee a good job all the time.

I remember once a lady came into the shop and asked about new windows. She gave me a list of sizes, and we beat the Everest quote by about £2000 (£3000 quote (+10 year guarantee) compared to their £5000 quote). She kept saying to me how she had been quoted by the best (3 hours of sales talk for you). I had to keep going out the back of the shop to stop myself laughing in front of her.

Dee123_2

Rex_Mundi wrote:

I remember once a lady came into the shop and asked about new windows. She gave me a list of sizes, and we beat the Everest quote by about £2000 (£3000 quote (+10 year guarantee) compared to their £5000 quote). She kept saying to me how she had been quoted by the best (3 hours of sales talk for you). I had to keep going out the back of the shop to stop myself laughing in front of her.

LOL everyone has fallen over when I've told them the price they were offering me just for a door £3k which they then reduced by 50% with "promotional discounts". No chance.

Reminds me of another national company I asked for a quote from when I had the six small windows in my one bed house fitted. Started off at £11k! If I'd had 11k I would have just moved to a bigger house!