Installing a catflap in a pvc door?

gorilla

Hi all.

We currently have a pvc backdoor with a glass panel top and bottom. We would like to install a catflap, but are not sure if this can be done in a glass panel or whether we have to get that replaced with a pastic panel or indeed if it's not easier just to replace the door.

I'd appreciate any comments from MSE'ers who have a setup similar to this.

Many thanks,

Gorilla

xela_17

I'd also like to know the answer to this question. Also, if anyone knows whether you can buy a PVC door with a catflap already installed.

Quincy_3

You will have to get a Glazier to measure the Glass in the door as you WILL need a new DG Unit, just pick out the catflap you want and then phone a company for a measure up and they will take catflap with them and do all the measurements back at the workshop then order a unit with the correct hole in and then come out and fit the new unit, expect to pay about £80 or so just get a quote first.

thetope

what we did was we popped out the double glazing panel and stored it somewhere safe, got some marine plywood (cant remember the thickness, but the same as the double glazing unit), sprayed it white gloss to match the door, then cut out the cat flap shape in the wood, installed the panel and that was that. you would never know it wasn't meant to be there. Of course it does cut down on the light through the door but the glass panel always needed cleaned etc. This means we can replace it back to the original state easily if the time comes to sell the house - and can take the cat flap to the next house if they have a pvc door!

Quincy_3

Also you can get a proper Blank to go in the door instead of glass, thats the white blank panels that you see at the bottom of some doors and a Glazing firm will cut a hole out of that, whilst this may take a day or so an ordered unit will take about a week or so but the old unit will be left in place at all times whilst the new one is being sorted, plus this has the proper white plastic finish and wont flake.

gorilla

Thanks to all your replies. There seems to be something wrong with the thanks button at my end????

wobbley

Why not just give the cat a key?

phil76414

thetope wrote:

what we did was we popped out the double glazing panel and stored it somewhere safe, got some marine plywood (cant remember the thickness, but the same as the double glazing unit), sprayed it white gloss to match the door, then cut out the cat flap shape in the wood, installed the panel and that was that. you would never know it wasn't meant to be there. Of course it does cut down on the light through the door but the glass panel always needed cleaned etc. This means we can replace it back to the original state easily if the time comes to sell the house - and can take the cat flap to the next house if they have a pvc door!

How easy was it to pop out the panel?

We want a cheap to solution to this situation as we are renting and have to restore the door back to it's original state when we leave.

Cheers, Phil

HugoSP

There was another thread on this very subject recently.

IIRC the concensus of opinion was the insulated upvc panel. Cut a hole in this just as you would with wood.

The insulated panel will perform better from an insulation point of view than wood, assuming the cat flap won't let too much cold air in.

Alikay

We had to change the decorative moulded panel in the bottom of our door for a plain flat pvc one, and fit the cat flap into that. It cost us about £80 for the panel and the chap from the windows-and-doors company fitted it for us for free. You will probably need a cat flap with a "tunnel" type liner, as pvc doors are basically two layers of plastic and hollow in the middle. We got a staywell one that does the job fine for less than £20

fimonkey

Have been up against this many times,all research pointed to the best option being ...
changing the bottom glazed panel by popping the beads off (a filling knife is good for this) and cutting a board of the same thickness and size as the glass.
Next,cut the hole according to instructions.
Then prime the board with a 50/50 mix of PVA and water and repeat after first (generous) coat.
then spray or paint the surface with sufficient coats to cover well,i prefer a spray as it gives a better finish.
Next you need to fit the catflap into the board.
then pop the board in the door and re-bead it!
###TOP TIP### cover your hammer with an old white sock/cleanwhite rag to protect the beads as you tap them back in!
Itll can be an idea to use a board 1-2mm thinner than the glazed unit to allow for paint and ease of refitting.

Apologies if im teaching my gran to suck eggs?