|
|
How to Install a Pet Door
As much as you love your pet, being its gatekeeper can be a drag. Cats in particular haven't quite figured out whether they want to be lions or lap animals, so they're continually in and out. Made of plastic or aluminum, pet doors have a waterproof flap and a lockable panel to keep out unwanted visitors. So installing a pet door in an exterior door will give both you and your pet newfound independence.
Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro?
Installing a pet door in a wooden door is easy even for beginners because it requires minimal carpentry experience. A carpenter would charge about $80 to install a pet door for a medium-size animal, but you can buy the door and install it for less than $40. Installation takes less than two hours, so it's a good project to tackle yourself. Cutting a hole in your door requires a little planning, but the paper template that comes with the unit makes it easy to lay out the cut.
If your door is made of steel or fiberglass, it's a better idea to hire a carpenter. He or she will have the heavy-duty saw and specialty blade required to cut through these dense materials. |
 |
Choosing a Pet Door
To buy the right-size pet door, get a rough sense of your pet's dimensions. This is not an exact science, but measuring his or her chest with a cloth tape measure is a start. Most pet doors have a flexible flap that your pet pushes to get through and a sliding lockout panel to close the passage. Better models have weatherstripping and magnets that hold the flap shut. For a sliding patio door, you'll need a pet door designed as part of a full-height door panel that you insert in the slider frame. |
|
Here are our approximate pet door sizes:
| Size |
Width |
Height |
Best fits |
| Small |
5 inches |
7 inches |
Most cats and the Taco Bell Dog |
| Medium |
8 inches |
12 inches |
Fat cats and small dogs |
| Large |
11 inches |
16 inches |
Lassie on a diet |
| Extra large |
15 inches |
20 inches |
Big dogs, small burglars |
|
 |
Step by Step
1. Tape the template. Position the template so it's in the center of the door. If you have a panel door, it should be a few inches above the door's bottom rail. If you have a door with a high bottom rail and and a small pet, you may want to use a different door. On a flush door, keep the template about 4 inches above the door's bottom. Tape the template to the door. The bottom of the pet door should be parallel to the bottom of the door. |
 |
|
2. Bore the corner holes. Bore a 1/2-inch hole just inside each corner of the template so you'll have a starting point to insert your saw blade. |
 |
|
3. Cut from hole to hole. Use a jigsaw or keyhole saw to cut from hole to hole. After you cut three sides of the opening, apply duct tape across the cuts to support the scrap piece as you complete the cut. |
 |
|
Step 4. Mark the bolt holes. Use a torpedo level or tape measure to position the frame, then tape it in place. Mark the holes with a pencil, then remove the frame and drill the bolt holes (one bit-size larger than the mounting bolts' diameter) through the door. |
 |
|
Step 5. Assemble the door. Insert the mounting bolts though the inside frame, then the door, then the outside frame. Tighten all bolts finger-tight, then finish with an adjustable wrench. Saw off the excess bolt length with a hacksaw. Use a file or coarse sandpaper to remove any sharp burrs on the bolt ends.
If your pet resists using its new door, open the flap and tape it open. After a few days, lower the flap halfway. Gradually your pet will figure out that pushing the flap opens it.
Hire a Pro
A carpenter can do the job in about an hour, including setup and cleanup. Since it's a small job, consider waiting to hire a carpenter until you have a list of similar carpentry work to make it worthwhile for both of you.
|
|
|
