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How to Install Pet Doors

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

We all love our pets and because we love them, we give them the freedom to go out of our house on their own. However, not all doors come in with built in pet doors, right? Because of this, it is our responsibility to install pet doors for our beloved pets. In order to do that here are the ways that you can install your very own pet door.

Since our pets vary in sizes, it is important that you know the right size for your pet door first. Depending on how big your pets are, sizes for pet doors range from 5”x 8” to 13”x 23” in size. This gives a perfect opening for your pets to go in and out of the house.

Most pet doors come with a template but if it doesn’t have any template, measure the desired height and width that you want to do. If there is a template, what you need to do is to place that template to the desired spot that you want on the door. Make sure that it is at least 3 inches above the bottom edge of the door and secure it in place with a tape. Once you have it in place, the first thing that you need to do is to trace the interior edge of the pet door template into the door. Remove the template and mark the spots where you need to drill.

Drill the holes on the spots that you marked on your door. Make sure that it follows the outline and does not extend past it. If the pet door you have requires screws that needs to be fasten, drill the screw holes according to the recommended size that the manufacturer suggests. Cut the opening with the use of a jigsaw. With the help of the pencil line, carefully cut along it and continue to do so around the outline of the pet door.

Once you are done with your cutting, insert the outer frame with no flap on the opening of the exterior part of the door. The frame should come with interior door surface. If it extends, use pliers to remove the single break-off level which makes the pet door frame thinner. Break off the level one at a time beginning from the top corner. You can bend the metal inward and towards the center. This time remove sections about 2 inches of the break-off level at a time. Continue this as you go around the pet door frame.

After this you can insert the frame. If it still extends, make adjustments and repeat this until the frame is flush with the door. Once you have the right frame, insert the inner frame with the flap into the opening of the door. Place and insert screws, tighten them until they are snug enough to hold everything else and you’re done!

Of course it is also important that you teach your pets to use the pet door. What’s the use of it if they don’t know how what it is, right? So yes, train your pets to use the pet door, this way the purpose of installing a pet door is not in vain.

Installing pet doors should be easy, if you want an actual demonstration, you can find lots of video tutorials online. However if you want them to be done professionally, you can always hire someone to do that for you but if you want to save money, you can always do it yourself!


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