How to Install a Pet Door
Make it easy for your pet to go out and come into your home. Learn how to install a pet door in this Lowe’s video:
The first step is to determine where to put the pet door. In most cases it will be obvious, but you’ll want to make sure your pet has access to a safe space.
Pet doors come in different sizes and materials; some can even be mounted into a wall or into a sliding glass door. To ensure you get the right size door, measure your pet at the widest point (either the hips or the shoulders) and add two inches, then measure from the top of the shoulders to the bottom of the chest or belly (whichever is larger) and add two inches. Take those measurements with you when you go shopping and a find a door that has those measurements or larger. Remember that a puppy will grow, so allow for that.
Be sure to read your door’s instructions before you begin installation.
Start by measuring your pet’s height from the shoulder to the floor to figure out how high to mount your door.
You can make your job a little easier by taking the door off the hinges and setting it up on saw horses exterior side up. If you have a plane door, mark the bottom so you don’t cut the wrong end.
Your pet door should come with a template. Find the size for your door and cut along the lines, then tape the template to the door, lining up the shoulder line on the template to the mark you made earlier. Make sure the edge of the template is even with the edge of the door. You can place the template anywhere on the door as long as it’s at least three inches away from any edge.
Mark a line around the template and remove it. Next, drill a 3/8-inch hole on the inside of each corner, then use a jigsaw to cut on your line between the four holes.
Take the inside frame (the one with the flap) and dry fit it on the outside of the door. Use a pencil to mark the four screw holes. Then take the frame away and drill the holes with a 1/4-inch drill.
Now put the exterior frame in place. You can put foam insulation on the inside edge of the frame. Put it in place, then take the threaded inserts and place them in the holes in the frame and the door. Then from underneath, hold the inside frame in the cut-out and then thread the plastic screws through the frame and into the threaded sleeves. Flip the door over and tighten the screws.
If you took the door off the hinges, re-hang it now and cut off the excess screws with side cutters. You can also caulk around the frame if you want.
It might take a little time to train your pet to use the door, but they get the hang of it really quick. And if you want to keep your pets in or out, slide the panel in place.
