Hole in double glazed patio door for cat flap.

melstanley

Thanks you everyone, I was a cats whisker from calling that Colin Darrell person, thank goodness I didn't!

ClaireLC25

williamrobb88 wrote: »

Just to keep people up to date....

It's rare that I get on here these days to visit this thread and update you but I need to update some facts...

1. Somebody mailed me and suggested there was a lot of money to be made at this. That is not 100% true. Take a look at the thread by the user 'knowloads' (about 3 posts back). That is exactly why there are not a lot of firms doing this. cutting a hole in a piece of glass is very difficult. Cutting a matching hole (in the same place on the glass) in another is even harder! Then youi have to Toughen it. All this without breaking it!

2. d.a solutions mentioned in his post that it would have to be replaced with 'K'. That is not technically true. It only needs to be 'K' (Or Low 'E', to use the correct term, because 'K' is a brand name and one of many Low 'E' glass types) if the unit is already 'K' (Low E). If the existing glass is not 'K' then it doesn't have to be repalced with 'K'

3. In reply to a lot of other messages I have received please observe the following that should help you in describing your requirements:

Patio doors slide from Left to right (Or right to left), whereas French doors have 2 doors that open out.

These doors ALWAYS contain Toughened Glass.

Remember...Patios slide, so if there was a Cat Flap in one door it would crash into the other.

4. It is literally IMPOSSIBLE to take any cost prices from this thread because of the volatile nature of the glass price market. This is because the price of glass is dependant on the cost of Oil. I won't bore you all with the details why this is so, but the cost of Glass from the major manufacturers fluctuates wildly and can rise as much as 60% from 3 month to 3 month. So, nobody can say it should only be £xxx etc, unless they know the current cost of glass PLUS the CURRENT ENERGY SURCHARGE.

I am collecting my kitten in 2 weeks and wondered if you could help me.

I need to fit a cat flap in my back door, which is a double-glazed FRENCH door. It's 'split' into 6 panels by some white plastic, but is actually only 1 unit of glass.

Please can you let me know your company details? I am based in Berkshire but seen a post to another user where you mention sending the glass by courier...

Many thanks,
Claire

Upsetmum

A word of warning for anyone who needs a cat flap fitted. I recently used a man called Colin Darrall from the above website to fit our cat flap last October. After initially doing a great job and some other small jobs we asked him to quote for some French windows. The quote was very competitive and Colin was very charming so we agreed and applied for the necessary permissions from the Dulwich Estate etc. Over Christmas we contacted him to go ahead with the order and on the 4th January transferred £600 to him so that he could place an order with the manufacturers. We were told that there would be approx a 2 week lead time. We stressed that we needed it done ASAP as we had a new baby due in Feb and were planning a home birth. After numerous excuses and delays I contacted the manufacturer that Colin said he used but they had never heard of him or the order. For the last few weeks none of my calls, texts and emails have been responded to and I am now considering legal action to try and recover my deposit. I can only assume that I have been conned.
Checking the forum it appears that I am not the only one in this situation. If you have had a similar experience please get in touch. Also if you report this to the police & Trading Standards they are more likely to do something if there is a clear pattern.

Grovey1

If anyone needs cat flap fitted get a quote first
then if your happy with the quote ask them to do it if they
insist on cash upfront just tell them you want the job done first or you will go elswhere.

mynameis*_2-2

Hi,

I took in a stray cat a few months ago and have been looking into getting her a cat flap fitted, in the internal sliding double glazed door between the conservatory & the lounge. At the moment she uses a window but it means keeping the door into the lounge open as well (not too happy about it all being accessible overnight), hence was going to get a cat flap fitted in that door. I'm gobsmacked at the potential cost though !

Only other way I can think to do it is keep the door open but close the window and have the cat flap in the brickwork, in the conservatory itself. Would this be more viable ? Estimate on cost ? Haven't even looked at a flap that would need to allow access through about 11" of brick (a tunnel !) - how would that compare with one that goes through glass (about £16) ?

I'm in Berkshire, if that's any use.

Thanks

Belenzinha

Hi,
I came across someone who calls himself the catflapman in Surrey. Has anyone had any experience of his services?
Thanks for any help you can give me. As you can imagine, after a narrow escape I am quite weary about contacting anyone who does work in this 'field'.
thanks
b

EmsLdn

Hello Everyone!
This forum has been brilliant for information on cat flaps and double glazing. If anyone has the contact for an East London based company, reasonable rates who can install a flat, I'd very much appreciate their contact details in my inbox.

Also, in relation to CATFLAPMAN, I've seen a website with the same name but it's run by a man named Michael and he also appears to have a page with a video showing him installing a catflap.
http://vimeo.com/21011621
Not sure if I'm allowed to post the above video but if this is the con man, have people considered contacting Watchdog also?

Belenzinha

Hi there,
Just a clarification, the catflapman called Michael is NOT the conman. The conman, from what I've gathered here is Colin Darral from catflapfitter.
Someone in my estate has actually recommended Michael the Catflapman as someone who can be trusted to do a good job. I'll now have to wait a bit before I can get this job done in my house - given that it's likely to cost upwards of £250 - but I'm hoping to ask Michael from catflapman for a quote.
I did get a quote from the "alleged" conman Colin and he said it'd be about £275 + VAT but who knows now if this is a fair quote. I read on this thread that oil prices have an impact on pricing of glass so I suspect we are likely to have to pay more than anticipated given the current state of affairs in the oil market.

Grovey1

Belenzinha wrote: »

Hi there,
Just a clarification, the catflapman called Michael is NOT the conman. The conman, from what I've gathered here is Colin Darral from catflapfitter.
Someone in my estate has actually recommended Michael the Catflapman as someone who can be trusted to do a good job. I'll now have to wait a bit before I can get this job done in my house - given that it's likely to cost upwards of £250 - but I'm hoping to ask Michael from catflapman for a quote.
I did get a quote from the "alleged" conman Colin and he said it'd be about £275 + VAT but who knows now if this is a fair quote. I read on this thread that oil prices have an impact on pricing of glass so I suspect we are likely to have to pay more than anticipated given the current state of affairs in the oil market.

It is true the cost of the oil going up does have an effect on the price of glass but not a great deal all this means there is an energy surcharge to all glass suppliers which unfortunatly goes to the customer making it a little more expensive.£250 seems a lot but it does depend on the size of the glass as well.

Good

Can confirm

Colin Darrell - catflapfitter.co.uk is a fraud. Many people have complained about his services on this and other forums. I have also been a victim. Deposit taken, no follow up. impossible to contact. Avoid. Unfortunately his web service provider does not want to act. Extremely frustrating that his "business model" does not appear to have any easy means of intervention to prevent future victims. Trading standards need to take action on this one.