A Dog Door: The Two-Flap Solution
To start, here’s an ingenious solution for a dog door – it’s a two-flap version that we found on the Instructables website. This site is known for high-quality DIY plans for just about anything you can imagine, and this one doesn’t disappoint. As with all the plans on this site, you’ll find clear instructions, useful illustrations and a step-by-step guide that you can follow to complete the project. Highly recommended.
Step-2: The Markings
We suggest that you trace an outline on the metal door, following templates or measurements provided with your pet doors installation instructions.
Most pet doors come with instructions and templates for the door. Just in case yours didn’t, you will have to measure the door and also deduce the distance you wish to keep between the bottom of the door and the flap.
Pro tip: Use set squares to draw even edges on your pattern.
Step-3: The Cutting-Edge
Next, use your power drill to create holes on the four corners of the pattern. The drilled holes should be big enough to fit the blade of your heavy-duty jigsaw. A dog door for metal doors might be the same for wooden ones, but your jigsaw blade should not! Make sure it is a metal-cutting blade.
Next, use your jigsaw to cautiously cut through the outline. Go slow and steady to prevent snapping your blade or creating jagged ends. The secret is to move from one corner-hole to another, starting from the bottom left.
Pro tip: Use a hammer to push out the portion you cut through. A few taps in the middle should do the trick!
1How to Build Your Own Large Pet Door
It might be one thing to build a pet door for smaller animals, but if you own a larger dog, you might need to think about how this affects the entrance you install. As this blog explains, for larger animals, the weight of the door isn’t important because the dog is strong enough to push it open, and this will change the design slightly. Check out the plan to see how.
In this plan, you’ll find some useful discussion about the types of animal doors that exist as well as the relative benefits of the locations you can choose for them. And then, of course, it gives you the details you need to build one of your own. Another useful resource if you want to make life easier for your four-legged friend.
FAQ
Can you put a dog door in an exterior door?
Can you put a cat door in a metal door?
Can you cut through a steel door?
