Yuk :( uPVC Question

[Skeety]

Hi All,

Couldn't bear to post this elsewhere due to it being a woodworking forum

Long story short, other half is now vastly improved after 6 months of treatment after a massive heart attack, got her chickens in May when she first came home which she has always wanted Always promised she could have a kitten once we were in the right situation, she had a cat when we met. Anyway, the time is now right so need to look at fitting a cat flap.

The back door is the only suitable location but is uPVC glazed top and bottom. I'm more than happy with deglazing and measuring the glass panel. Cutting holes is well beyond my skills in glass so want to replace the bottom panel with matching brown (rosewood) uPVC.

Can any of you advise where I can buy it and what it's called? So far as i'm aware it is reinforced.

I have most tools available to cut the hole\square, router, jigsaw, plunge saw etc.

Any advice appreciated

Cheers,

Jon.

 

[NazNomad]

Personally, I'd try somewhere that makes uPVC stuff.

Try giving 'New Look Double Glazing' a call, they are in Slough and they do make wood effect doors. Stands to reason that they'd flog you a door panel.

http://www.newlookglazing.com/index.php?page=upvc-doors

 

[Matt@]

just done this job on a rental prop. Take out DG unit. Locate trade supplier of UPVC items and order cut size ( I paid approx £40 for approx 24" x 14") then cut hole with jigsaw. Ask supplier for panel reinforced with plywood (I think you can get metal as well) IMPORTANT... give supplier exact thickness of existing DG unit and ensure you measure very accurately the true thickness to the mm. These panels come in different thicknesses. Its an easy job!

 

[Steve Maskery]

That sounds like a bloke who knows what he's talking about.
S

 

[blackrodd]

2 years ago, a customer had a double glazed unit with a catflap hole cut and formed in the unit, it was circular and the catflap looked ok and was lockable should you want to.
This is not cheap, replacing the old D G Unit with new, plus catflap, etc, etc, and the F/ Glass lower panel will be cheaper,
as you have described, but you do have a choice.
Regards Rodders
Google catflap in DGlazing
http://www.catflapfitter.co.uk/

 

[Skeety]

Thanks All

More than aware that I'll need to deglaze the panel first to get the accurate size of the current glass

Many thanks for all the very helpful advice

Cheers,

Jon.

 

[Mike.S]

Jon

Glad to hear your other half is on the mend.

Mike

 

[woodchip]

I've just done (nearly) the reverse! Previous owner had a catflap in the upvc back door so I pulled the panel out and replaced it with one from these guys

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DNK-Home-Security-Door-Panels

Mine was white, but I'm sure they'll have what you want

Mine was 2' x 2' ish and cost £27.50 inc postage

I used a filling knife to spring the long sides of the beading out, the short sides then just pulled out. Replaced the panel then the short beads then curved the longs to get the corners in then persuaded them in with a black of wood and mallet.

Hth

 

[graduate_owner]

I needed to fit a cat flap in a uPVC door. My solution was to remove the panel, cut a replacement panel out of decent quality plywood and fit the flap in that. Could this be an economical solution for you?

K

 

[Lons]

What Matt said!
As well as PVCu suppliers, most of the double glazing companies can supply a bottom panel as well in rosewood effect PVCu. Follow his advice on thickness or the beads won't fit, (when you take them out btw you need to mark them and replace exactly where they were.)

The existing glass couldn't be cut anyway as it will be toughened and you're not allowed due to regs to fit anything but that to a lower panel so would have to be ordered specially.

 

[rafezetter]

just done this job on a rental prop. Take out DG unit. Locate trade supplier of UPVC items and order cut size ( I paid approx £40 for approx 24" x 14") then cut hole with jigsaw. Ask supplier for panel reinforced with plywood (I think you can get metal as well) IMPORTANT... give supplier exact thickness of existing DG unit and ensure you measure very accurately the true thickness to the mm. These panels come in different thicknesses. Its an easy job!

He does Steve, having worked in two places over ten years that sold these replacement panels (and fitted a couple or ten into said panel for OAP customers), this advice is spot on - the most common thickness for a replacement panel is 28mm, with a less common 24mm. The plywood reinforcement is also important as the central filling of the replacement panels is just expanded foam, nothing more; without the plywood centre the catflap frame would be supported just by the less than 1mm thick plastic skins on either side.

I would recommend you err on measuring the width / height slightly oversize then trimming to fit, because I've also found not all UPVC lower panels are square! (but the panel they cut for you will be or at least should be). If you have someone else in the house (and it's not raining), take the DG unit to the place and ask them to copy it exactly (but make sure you get it back - you'll need it later (see below)

You can get them in plain rosewood or with a moulding on it, but be sure the moulding won't interfere with the catflap. For rosewood though I would suggest calling first to ensure they have spares in stock, replacing a coloured panel is not something that happens very often.

For setting the height of the catflap opening, you'll need to measure to the cats belly and take off 20mm or so, so it's not rubbing , and the simplest way of working out the height you need for the cat onto the new replacement panel (taking into account the extra around the border required for fitting) is to mark up the height needed onto the glass with a marker pen before you remove it.

Many catflaps will have a template for you to use to cut out the hole accurately.

I noticed someone mentioned about using plywood as a cheaper option... you could, but unless you get the thickness exact it won't seal properly at the bead and will allow water to sit inside the base of the panel and rot will soon occur, plus you'll be forever painting it - the the sake of £40 it really isn't worth bodging.

 

[Mark A]

Do you actually need a cat flap? We've had our cat for 13 years and never felt it was necessary to fit one. When she wants to go out and sleep in the garden she meows at the door, and when she's had enough (or it starts raining - it is Wales afterall) she's learnt to tap on the glass with her claws and we let her back in.

 

[Skeety]

Thanks for all the brilliant advice all Will get the glass out and measured and then order the rosewood panel.

Mark A, yes we do as there a lot of cats around here and also want to make sure the cat is locked in for the night.

Cheers,

Jon.