Installing a Doggie Door

Anyone that has a pet can tell you just how frustrating it can be to constantly be taking their pet in and out of the home to do their business. It doesn't need to be that way though. By installing a doggie door you can allow your pet to enter and exit the home as often as they would like without you really having to do anything. However, to do it the right way, you will want to make sure that you follow these simple directions.

Materials:

• Pet door kit
• Measuring tape
• Drill
• Drill bit
• Two saw horses
• Circular saw
• Jig saw
• Screwdriver, Phillips
• Screwdriver, Straight

Procedure:

1. Choose the location. While you can install your doggie door anywhere, it is usually a lot easier to have one put into one of the doors of your home. Not only is it easier to cut through a door, it is also easier to rearrange the door so that you can cut it out. Simply make sure that you choose the door that will lead out to an enclosed area, otherwise your fuzzy little friend will end up roaming the neighborhood.
2. Measure your dog. Not all doggie doors will work for all dogs or pets. The easiest way to ensure that you get the best possible door is by measuring your pet to the height of the shoulders. Write this information down, in addition to how wide your dog is.
3. Get a kit. Take your measurements to your local home improvement store, and begin looking at potential doggie door kits. Make sure that you are looking at the ones which will fit the measurements you have. Furthermore, while looking at the kits look for one that will fit with the overall look of your home. Once you have the kit chosen, take it home and look at the instructions. The instructions will give you the manufacturer recommended method for installation, and as such you should follow those instructions over any other recommendations.
4. Remove the door. Remove the door that you will be installing the doggie door on, and place it on a couple of saw horses out in your garage. This will bring the door to a height that is easier to work with, in addition to allowing you to make any cuts that are necessary safely and without risk to other items.
5. Drill and cut. Place the doggie door onto your regular door, and mark where the corners of the doggie door are located. Take your drill, and then drill four just outside of these four marks. Ideally, you will be drilling on the outside corner of the marks, so that you can make the opening just a little larger so that you can fit the doggie door into the new opening. Once you have drilled the four holes, use either a circular saw or jig saw to connect each of the four holes.
6. Test out the door. Place the doggie door into the hole that you have just cut. If you have any difficulties, mark where the tight places are, and then expand those areas as needed until you have a snug fit.
7. Attach and finish the doggie door. Attach the doggie door using the appropriate screwdriver and any screws that came with the doggie door kit. In addition, apply any weather stripping or proofing materials that came with the kit to help ensure that you don't have any drafts or other problems.
8. Reattach the door. With the doggie door now firmly attached and finished, it is time to replace the door on its hinges.