My husband and I have a beautiful home with a basement that is three-quarters finished. The utility room, as we call it, is where the furnace, oil tank, etc. is located. Here is my issue. I have a beautiful cat (is there any other kind), who has his cat box placed downstairs in the utility room. My problem is that I have to constantly leave the door to the utility room open. This increases the amount of noise in the finished area and leaves the rather unsightly room open to viewing. I need a pet door installed and wanted to know if this is a project I could do? Kind of like a personal gift to my cat!
Thank you,
Cindy
Dear Cindy,
I wish everyone loved theirs pets as you do!
Yes, installing a pet door is actually very do-it-yourself friendly. The first thing you will want to do is to determine whether you want a pet door that opens via a signal or manually. Because there are multiple door types (hollow core, solid, flat panel, raised panels etc). I’ll assume you have a hollow core flat panel door and we’ll go from there:
To perform this task, you will need a jig saw, drill and 5/8 drill bit, straight edge, pencil and a Phillips head screwdriver.
While the door will come with easy to follow instructions, I want to give you some tricks of the trade that will make the project easier, while protecting the structural integrity of your door.
The first thing you will want to do is to prepare a work area where you can set the door up on a flat and workable surface. Then, place a cloth under the door prior to removing it, then close the door and remove the pins from the hinges. Open and remove the door. Note: You can install a pet door without removing the door, however, for ease of operation, you will want to remove the door for this project.
Once you mark out the opening, drill a 5/8’s hole in each corner so that you can better use your jig saw. Once you cut out your opening, you will want to cut framing material that will fit between the front and rear panel of your door. I recommend using construction adhesive to hold the framing pieces in place. This step will strengthen the structural integrity of your door.
Even though your door is located inside of your home, I want to note that should your pet door be on an exterior wall or door, you will want to consider a door that works off an electronic signal. This will keep unwanted animals out.
Kaile Warren of Windham is CEO/Founder of the national handyman franchise Rent-A-Husband. Kaile is also a national home improvement expert for the CBS Early Show, HGTV and Parade Magazine and appears locally on WCSH’s 207. When not on the road or working he spends his time teaching his white shepherd, Maintenance, how-to ... Send your questions for Kaile to editor@themaineswitch.com.