Every person who has a pet always seeks to spend quality time with the pet, either indoor or outdoor. For this purpose, you will have to let the pet go outdoor as well. The purpose can be fulfilled in two ways: opening the door or installing a new pet door.

Therefore, most pet owners prefer garage doors with pet doors. In addition, the pet owners also take into consideration the pet door installation.

In this article, you will find the answer to every question regarding pet door installation.

Benefits of Installing a Pet Door in Garage Door

The benefits of having a pet door do not restrain the pet only; it also has a positive impact on the family. It ensures that the pet stays active, enabling the pet to stay active as the door lets pets get exercise.

Moreover, it gives a great assist to reduce problematic behavior that might cause boredom.

A sense of freedom to the pets brings a tremendous and friendly change in their nature, confidence, and gratitude. Liberty and happiness make the pet not scratch on the doors and walls.

The door acts as a gateway for the pet to escape in any indoor or critical outdoor situation.

Benefits of Installing a Pet Door in Garage Door

Is it Safe?

The pet doors are not Considered Safe unless they are approved by the building or fire departments. The professionals do not recommend installing pet doors in the fire-rated doors or even in the fire-rated walls unless the pet door is certainly fire-rated. The doors that are commonly used in daily life go against the integrity of the fire barrier.

Installing a pet door indoors that is not fire-rated makes it much easier and faster for the fire to race into the house. Fire rate is the time that a wall or door takes to fail against any emergency fire out.

It simply means that fire will not go through the door or wall before the fire-rate limit is reached. The door leading to the garage is 20 minutes fire-rated; fire-rated doors are essential for the pet and your safety.

How to install a pet door – DIY Video

Process of Installing a Pet Door

Installation of a pet door isn’t an uphill task; it requires only a few essential tools along with the skills to give the door a final shape.

Tools

Creating a pet door in the garage door is simple, and this can be accomplished with the help of a few basic tools but with care.

• Masking tape
• Measuring tape
• Pet door
• Pencil
• Drill
• Safety goggles
• 1/4- inch drill bit
• 3/8- inch drill bit
• 3/4- wooden screws
• Jigsaw
• Screwdriver

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Measure the pet: Measure the pet’s height from the bottom of the paw to the tip of the shoulder blade and measure the width from shoulder to shoulder. Put a mark on the door with masking tape to have an idea of how high the door should be cut. Buy the 2 inches wider door from the size of your pet.
2. Measure the width of the garage door: Measure the width of the garage door and mark the point directly after dividing the measurement by two. Insert a perpendicular line starting from the bottom of the garage door and ending up to the height line of your pet.
3. Measure the width of your pet door: Measure the width of the pet door and then divide it by two; afterward, mark the center of the door as it was done with the larger door.
4. Align the mark: The mark placed on the garage door and pet door aligns both of these marks.
5. Trace the shape: Now, as both doors are aligned, trace the shape of the pet door on the garage door.
6. Use the drill: Use ¼ inch bit with the drill to bore the shape traced on the garage door. Ensure to make the safety goggles.
7. Remove ¼ inch drill bit: Replace ¾ inch drill bit and remove ¼ inch drill bit, drill till halfway through the same hole and enlarge the hole by drilling from the opposite side.
8. Use the jigsaw: Using the already marked template lines, use the jigsaw to cut the door opening.
9. Adhere exterior caulking: Push the pet door frame in place and then wipe and caulk excess. Use ¾ inch screws to install the door securely.
10. Slide interior security panel: Sliding the internal security panel prevents your pet from using the door when you are away.

Bottom Line

A pet door is the most convenient way to allow the beloved pet to have access to your property without any hesitation. Taking the necessary cautions, this is the best option that one can easily avail.