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How to Install a Pet Door or Dog Door
HOW TO 
Tags: Dogs, Dog Door, Pet Door, Pet Home Modifications
Is your pet scratching up your door? I think it may be time to install a pet door and here is how.
| 1. | Pet doors or dog doors that mount in the sliding screen door are usually installed in the lower left or right corner of the screen door depending on how your patio door opens. |
| 2. | Take some some masking tape and mark the required location by sticking tape in an "X" shape right on the screen door BEFORE you remove anything. This prevents you getting the screen door out and accidentally installing the dog door or pet door on the top instead of the bottom! |
| 3. | Remove your screen door and lay it flat on the ground. Take an old rectangular piece of plywood or particle board, slightly larger than the size of the pet door or dog door, and place it underneath the screen door, right behind the spot you marked with masking tape. You will need to hammer on this board so make sure it is flat and secure. |
| 4. | Take the two halves of your pet door or dog door and place one half behind the screen door and on top of your piece of wood. You may need to put several sheets of wood behind the screen door to get the pet door sandwiched between the screen and the wood so it does not move around easily. Carefully adjust the pet door or dog door frame so it is exactly where you want it. Check the manufacturers instructions to see that it is not upside down or that you have the wrong half in place. Some pet doors have locks which need to be accessible from the inside of the screen door. Check this now. |
| 5. | Once the pet door or dog door is in position, there is usually a groove in the center of the pet door frame to guide your utility knife as you cut away the screen to make the door opening. Make sure the pet door frame is secure before you cut, and make sure you are cutting in the right groove according to the manufacturers instructions. |
| 6. | Take the remaining half of the pet door and lay it over the half you have sandwiched between the screen door and the wood blocks. Now you have to hammer the two halves together with a rubber mallet. Hammer with firm blows all around the frame until the two halves are joined together |
| 7. | You should now have a completed pet or dog door in your screen door. Stand the screen door up test the operation of the pet door. Check the magnetic lock to see if it holds the pet door closed |
| 8. | Reinstall the screen door in your patio door and see if your pet will use the new pet door. |
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