I have put a pet door in an old solid wood door. We got lucky, and were
able to just remove a panel that was the perfect size.

If the "wood framed/steel faced" door is more or less solid wood, then
I guess I don't see why you can't put a pet door in it. Anything you do
(cutting into a door, wood or metal or whatever) is likely to be
permanent anyway. You can use an angle grinder to cut a rectangle in
the metal, then a wood saw to cut out the wood insides. Or maybe just a
sawzall or sturdy jigsaw to cut through both at the same time. A little
caulk when installing the pet door will keep out the rain and snow. of
course, the pet door will never really be well insulated.

You may prefer to just go through the wall next to the door. It would
be easier in some ways (no metal, no $500 door to ruin), but harder in
others (multiple layers of drywall, studs, sheathing, siding, etc.)

-Kevin

You may prefer to just go through the wall next to the door. It would
be easier in some ways (no metal, no $500 door to ruin), but harder in
others (multiple layers of drywall, studs, sheathing, siding, etc.)

-Kevin


Keep in mind that a pet door weakens your security and unless you get
a "smart electronic door", you may be setting yourself up for unwanted
animals to get in your house.

Beachcomber

"Beachcomber" wrote in message
...

You may prefer to just go through the wall next to the door. It would
be easier in some ways (no metal, no $500 door to ruin), but harder in
others (multiple layers of drywall, studs, sheathing, siding, etc.)

-Kevin


Keep in mind that a pet door weakens your security and unless you get
a "smart electronic door", you may be setting yourself up for unwanted
animals to get in your house.

Beachcomber



Heed Beachcombers good advice.

I myself know of several people who installed "flapper" pet doors, and they
were used by raccoons, squirrels, and even mice to get into homes.


AMUN

"Amun" wrote in message
. ..

"Beachcomber" wrote in message
...

You may prefer to just go through the wall next to the door. It would
be easier in some ways (no metal, no $500 door to ruin), but harder in
others (multiple layers of drywall, studs, sheathing, siding, etc.)

-Kevin


Keep in mind that a pet door weakens your security and unless you get
a "smart electronic door", you may be setting yourself up for unwanted
animals to get in your house.

Beachcomber



Heed Beachcombers good advice.

I myself know of several people who installed "flapper" pet doors, and
they
were used by raccoons, squirrels, and even mice to get into homes.


AMUN

I have a flapper in the door. My dog has serious issues with birds in the
yard, cats on the fence, god help the little critter that would even dare
enter her home. So far it is Tasha 12 other critters 0. Side note Tasha 5
Birdies 0. She can jump higher and faster than they can get off the ground.
Truely a sight to see. I try not to think about what she would do if a
person was stupid enough to try the door. Tasha is a wolf hybred and is 140
pounds, just right for a lap dog.

I have used the single flappers and the double flappers. If heating and
cooling are a substansial cost yearly then the double flappers are the way
to go. Ya gotta cut a hole in the wall.

Beachcomber wrote:
Keep in mind that a pet door weakens your security and unless you get
a "smart electronic door", you may be setting yourself up for unwanted
animals to get in your house.



I added a vertical board to my sliding glass door going from my kitchen out onto
the deck, then cut and installed a flapper door in it. The sliding glass door
stayed stock. With staining, the vertical board looked like it was an integral
part of the house and I never had a problem with thievery. I did have a problem
with raccoons once my cat got too old to defend the homestead. That was the end
of the kitty door... though I had used it successfully for many years.

Now I have a dog that would gladly eat a visitor alive. I don't dare let her
roam at will.... couldn't afford the lawsuits....



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

Any ideas? I've heard of solid wood
engineered doors, but no knowledge of them locally from any of the few
suppliers in the area. Anyone have this same requirement and solved
it? thanks

The ones that are activated by a pet collar are nice, your pet wears a
magnet or something and the door only opens for them. Those come as
in-door or wall models I think. I think they are hooked up to an
electrical circuit.

I recently bought one of those HD Stanley metal doors for an odd-sized
opening. The door was standard 80"h x 30"w and I cut the bottom off
the bottom about 2" with a cheap circular saw blade (for ferrous metal
I think). It was easy to cut, the inside is filled with foam and the
metal facing was only about 1/16" thick, not sure.

If you want to go that route get one of these doors from HD for about
$120. Rough out the opening for the pet door using a 1/2" drill bit on
the corners and a circular saw to start the sides. Make multiple
passes over the metal on each side of the door, you won't cut through
on one pass.

Near the corners you will need a hack saw or a sawzall with a metal
cutting blade to back into the corners. File down the metal on the
rough opening.

Make sure the facia on the pet door allows at least a 1/4" or more of
slop in the rough opening.

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 13:51:45 -0400, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN"
wrote:

Beachcomber wrote:
Keep in mind that a pet door weakens your security and unless you
get
a "smart electronic door", you may be setting yourself up for
unwanted
animals to get in your house.



I added a vertical board to my sliding glass door going from my
kitchen out onto
the deck, then cut and installed a flapper door in it. The sliding
glass door
stayed stock. With staining, the vertical board looked like it was
an integral
part of the house and I never had a problem with thievery. I did
have a problem
with raccoons once my cat got too old to defend the homestead. That
was the end
of the kitty door... though I had used it successfully for many
years.

Now I have a dog that would gladly eat a visitor alive. I don't dare
let her
roam at will.... couldn't afford the lawsuits....

I have had a pet door for over 20 years for my cats and dogs. If I
could redesign one, I would put it in the wall next to the door, with
some kind of a ramp leading up to the pet door and some sort of little
steps coming down on the other side. That would eliminate rodents.

I also would have not encouraged my dogs to use it at all. We have a
puppy with very muddy paws and I wish I could regulate when she came
in and out more so, but the older dog would be far too confused. I
think Pet Doors are ideal for cats. It makes their world so
wonderful. IMHO Dogs really don't need it.

with aloha,
Thunder the dog
smithfarms.com
Farmers of 100% Kona Coffee
& other Great Stuff

You may prefer to just go through the wall next to the door. It would
be easier in some ways (no metal, no $500 door to ruin), but harder in
others (multiple layers of drywall, studs, sheathing, siding, etc.)

Keep in mind that a pet door weakens your security and unless you get
a "smart electronic door", you may be setting yourself up for unwanted
animals to get in your house. Beachcomber

I get a feral cat now and then, in through the cat door. I tried to adopt
them, but the resident cats (3) would not permit it, nor would the dog when
she was young.