Cat flap in new build french doors

racheyrooney

Hi All,

I have just bought a 2 bed house under the affordable housing scheme (I will own it outright with a mortgage on 80% rather than it being shared equity). The house is a new build and will be completed in December/January.

When I originally enquired about the property I explained to them that I have a cat who will need a cat flap. The house will be a terrace with French Doors going out into the garden which is where I want the cat flap. From previous experience I know that this needs to be done at the time of manufacture as you cannot cut glass once it has been toughened. I asked if it was possible for this to be done as the house was not yet built. I was told this was not a problem but I might have to pay a bit extra.

Once I paid my reservation fee I had a meeting with the site manager and sales rep and I mentioned this again. I was again told this would not be a problem and we would sort it out nearer the time (this was about 2 months before building was due to start).

This was then raised with the firm who make the French Doors. I was asked to get a cat flap and phone up with the measurements needed for the door which I did. They then put in a request.

When I phoned up to enquire if they had heard back they said that the manufacturer had refused it but the site manager was appealing it.

I phoned again this weekend and was told it would not be possible for the following reasons:

1. The manufacturers of the french doors have had trouble with leaks by putting in cat flaps (in my experience this is usually due to bad workmanship)
2. The site manager has said he cannot issue a NBHC warranty on a house that has a cat flap in as it is not deemed as secure - this was never mentioned before. Does anyone know if this is actually true? I can't be the only one who has a cat and needs a cat flap in a new build!!

My only option seems to be to sort the cat flap once I am in however it will prove costly as I will have to replace the whole unit the cat flap will be in and it seems a bit pointless to do this when a new door has just been put in.

I don't want the cat flap in the front door as it will mean him going straight out onto the road, although it is just a cul de sac I wouldn't be happy about it. Also he wouldn't be able to easily access our garden as I am the middle house.

Any advice/tips greatly appreciated!

snaffs

Can they make one of the doors so it is split into two panels?

Top panel being glazed, bottom panel just solid plastic which is then really easy to fit any standard cat flap to.

Had this done on my conservatory which is fully glazed the whole way round.

Not the most attractive look, but the cat flap meets my needs purrfectly.

pleasedelete

A French door usually has a lot of small individually glazed panels. Is that what you mean?

If it is a glazier will remove one and refit another double glazed unit with a cat flap fitted (you supply them the flap and they cut the glass).

Cost me about £50 plus cat flap.

racheyrooney

snaffs wrote: »

Can they make one of the doors so it is split into two panels?

Top panel being glazed, bottom panel just solid plastic which is then really easy to fit any standard cat flap to.

Had this done on my conservatory which is fully glazed the whole way round.

Not the most attractive look, but the cat flap meets my needs purrfectly.

Thanks that's definitely an idea :T I'm just cross that they've gone back on what they've said.

racheyrooney

pleasedelete wrote: »

A French door usually has a lot of small individually glazed panels. Is that what you mean?

If it is a glazier will remove one and refit another double glazed unit with a cat flap fitted (you supply them the flap and they cut the glass).

Cost me about £50 plus cat flap.

It won't have lots of glazed panels just one big pane per door, they have called them French doors maybe that isn't the right terminology! Thank you though

poppysarah

French doors sound right description... Two doors opening out anyway?

Ask the manufacturer what they'd recommend. Our front porch has side panel with cat lap fitted in.

Cheeky_Monkey

About 4 years ago, I wanted to have a cat flap fitted in my fully double glazed back door and it cost me £180 to have the glass replaced with a cat flap in it

hcb42

yes I have done the same, just paid for the replacement panel

racheyrooney

hcb42 wrote: »

yes I have done the same, just paid for the replacement panel

Roughly how much? If you don't mind me asking!

chris_m

Won't you have a kitchen door to the back garden? If so, could a cat flap not be fitted in that?

DVardysShadow

racheyrooney wrote: »

Thanks that's definitely an idea :T I'm just cross that they've gone back on what they've said.

Don't get cross on them going back on what they said. Look on it as an opportunity.

Their supplier does not want to do a catflap and has explained the reasons. Those reasons mean that you are about as likely to get a catflap as to get the moon on a stick. However, it does not mean that your builder is not embarrassed. So offer them a way out.

If they give you doors which have rails half way up, giving 2 panels, then you can get your own contractor to replace a lower glass unit with a catflap in a plastic panel.

If you argue till you are blue in the face to get a catflap, you are unlikely to get one - and if you have doors with just one pane of glass, you are not going to have a rail to provide the option to fit a catflap in the lower half. So make sure that you get a door with rails half way up