Hire A Trusted Handyman For Pet Door Installation & Repairs

Pet doors are useful in allowing your dog or cat to enter or exit your home. The convenience of a pet door means you don’t have to constantly open and close the door for your pet every time they want to come in or go out.

Multiple types of pet doors offer different features, depending on your requirements.

A microchip door, for example, can be programmed to only allow your pet inside your home, which is ideal if you find your neighbour's cat or dog entering your home uninvited. The microchip door is activated by scanning your pet's microchip, or by using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) collar.

An electronic pet door is perfect if you want to control when your pet can enter or exit. With a 4-way locking system, most electronic pet doors have a variety of functions. You can choose to allow your pet in but not out, out but not in, or keep the door locked or open!. This technology allows you to control your pet's entry and exit.

For a simpler option, a standard cat or dog door can be installed that has various locking functions for your convenience. Some pet doors also offer special additional features like self-closing doors and weather seals to prevent drafts.

Cat or Dog Door Installation

Pet doors can be installed in walls, sliding doors, windows, or other low positioned glass panes. There are various sized pet doors available, so you can choose one that matches the size of your dog or cat.

Once you have chosen the correctly sized pet door, it should be installed by a professional with the necessary skills, and experience. No matter if you choose to install the door into a window, door, or wall, the correct tools need to be used.

Fitting a pet door into a window is a good option if you don’t want to cut through a door or wall. Different pet door flaps are available that can be inserted into your window glass, no matter whether you have a sliding window or a sash window. And, if you have a screen door, a hole can be cut in the screen to allow a pet door flap to be fitted.

Installing a dog or cat door in a wooden door is possible with some woodworking skills. This is because you will need to cut a hole in the door. If you’re planning to replace your doors soon, it may be worth buying a new door with a built-in pet door flap.

Sliding pet doors can easily be installed into a sliding door frame with minimal alterations. This is a great option if you don’t want to make any modifications to your home. With this option, a sliding dog door or cat door is installed by inserting a full-height panel into the door's track. This panel is glass, inside a frame, with a pet door flap at the bottom.

Sliding doors still function as normal once this type of pet door is installed, which is a convenient option that does not cause any damage to your home.

Replace Pet Door Flaps and Parts

Like any door that experiences repeated use, pet doors can wear out over time and the flaps or moving parts may need replacing. With age, pet doors can become damaged or cracked, which may require a replacement dog or cat flap door, or repairs to existing parts. Repairs could simply entail the tightening of screws, while replacement could involve the installation of new parts.

Electronic pet doors can also develop problems with their locking mechanisms, which will need to be fixed by a professional.

Installation in Double Glazing & Safety Glass

If you choose to install your pet door into a glass pane, there are several important factors to consider. Firstly, a hole can’t be cut into double-glazed or safety glass. In this scenario, a new double-glazing unit or piece of safety glass will be needed, with a specially cut hole.

Secondly, it’s important to check if the glass has a safety stamp etched onto the surface. If so, this isn’t suitable for pet door installation. Where needed, a double glazed / safety glass pane can be replaced with single-glazed glass, which can have a glass pet door installed.