Greetings,

My landlord has agreed to me fitting a cat flap in our front door on
the condition that I put everything back at the end of the tenancy. I
think the best idea is to to fit a replacement uPVC panel such that
the original can go back in without any hassle. From a little research
here this seems to be a common strategy.

Here's a picture of the panel in question (inner, left; outer, right).

http://i26.tinypic.com/2exr6zs.jpg

It has black plastic beading where the panel meets the mounting
strips, and the mounting strips themselves appear to be fairly firmly
attached to the frame itself. What is the method for removing a panel
of this type?

Once I've removed it and measured the panel size and thickness, how
much might I expect to pay for a replacement panel? (and any
recommendations in Cambridgeshire for sourcing one?)

Given this will only be a temporary arrangement (perhaps 3 years),
could I make a saving by fitting a suitably thick piece of plywood?
Presumably this would make fitting the cat flap easier, but could it
have security implications?

Thanks for any help.

Cheers,
Joseph

wrote:

Once I've removed it and measured the panel size and thickness, how
much might I expect to pay for a replacement panel? (and any
recommendations in Cambridgeshire for sourcing one?)

I'm not at all sure whether it's possible to simply remove the panels;
unlike the glass sealed units, aren't they built into the frame when
it's manufactured? So you'd be talking about a whole new door. Could be
wrong though.

Given this will only be a temporary arrangement (perhaps 3 years),
could I make a saving by fitting a suitably thick piece of plywood?
Presumably this would make fitting the cat flap easier, but could it
have security implications?

Well plywood itself is probably more thief-proof than an equivalent uPVC
panel, provided it's properly mounted. That might be awkward to do, and
an identical piece of uPVC would probably be easier to use in fact,
provided you can get the old one out OK.

Can you identify the manufacturer of the door? That would be the best
route to find an identical panel. You could try a local firm that
manufactures doors to order on-site, or maybe one of these outfits that
does maintenance for uPVC windows and doors.

david

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
wrote:

Once I've removed it and measured the panel size and thickness, how
much might I expect to pay for a replacement panel? (and any
recommendations in Cambridgeshire for sourcing one?)

I'm not at all sure whether it's possible to simply remove the panels;
unlike the glass sealed units, aren't they built into the frame when it's
manufactured? So you'd be talking about a whole new door. Could be wrong
though.

When I had a uPVC front door replaced they supplied one with a letter-
box when we specifically asked for one without.
IIRC, they came back and rebuilt the door on-site with the correct
panel but I didn't see how it was done.

Something that does niggle me is that the frame or, maybe the door itself,
is not quite square.
The three hinges have adjustment screws that move the hinge-pins in
and out, and in order for the door to latch correctly, the lower hinge
has to be fully out. I remember reading here that wedges are put
into the doors to keep them square and I wonder if they were omitted.


--
Graham

%Profound_observation%

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:22:12 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

Greetings,

My landlord has agreed to me fitting a cat flap in our front door on
the condition that I put everything back at the end of the tenancy. I
think the best idea is to to fit a replacement uPVC panel such that
the original can go back in without any hassle. From a little research
here this seems to be a common strategy.

Here's a picture of the panel in question (inner, left; outer, right).

http://i26.tinypic.com/2exr6zs.jpg

It has black plastic beading where the panel meets the mounting
strips, and the mounting strips themselves appear to be fairly firmly
attached to the frame itself. What is the method for removing a panel
of this type?

Once I've removed it and measured the panel size and thickness, how
much might I expect to pay for a replacement panel? (and any
recommendations in Cambridgeshire for sourcing one?)

Given this will only be a temporary arrangement (perhaps 3 years),
could I make a saving by fitting a suitably thick piece of plywood?
Presumably this would make fitting the cat flap easier, but could it
have security implications?

Thanks for any help.

Cheers,
Joseph
that looks like a glazing bead on the right vertical on the inside of
the door
if that is the case then you prise out the gasket with a blunt
instrument. dont damage it or you may need to find replacement

with the gasket out you should now be able to snap the beads out

now you can measure the panel inc thickness
replace the two side beads with their gasket so the door is secure
unyil the replacement panel is ready

as graham has said,you should make a note of the way the original
panel is packed so you can replicate

there are plenty of window manufacturers listed in my yellow pages

breeze

On Apr 26, 6:22 pm, wrote:
Greetings,

My landlord has agreed to me fitting a cat flap in our front door on
the condition that I put everything back at the end of the tenancy. I
think the best idea is to to fit a replacement uPVC panel such that
the original can go back in without any hassle. From a little research
here this seems to be a common strategy.

Here's a picture of the panel in question (inner, left; outer, right).

http://i26.tinypic.com/2exr6zs.jpg

It has black plastic beading where the panel meets the mounting
strips, and the mounting strips themselves appear to be fairly firmly
attached to the frame itself. What is the method for removing a panel
of this type?

Once I've removed it and measured the panel size and thickness, how
much might I expect to pay for a replacement panel? (and any
recommendations in Cambridgeshire for sourcing one?)

Given this will only be a temporary arrangement (perhaps 3 years),
could I make a saving by fitting a suitably thick piece of plywood?
Presumably this would make fitting the cat flap easier, but could it
have security implications?

Thanks for any help.

Cheers,
Joseph

Hello
From the picture it looks as if you have the older external beading.
basically to remove. With a hook of some type removed
the plastic/rubber strips from the inside of door.
On the outside of the door that will now allow you
to push back the panel. You should then be able to
remove the beading that goes around the panel on the outside.
Note you may need a putty/window knife to do this.

Providing you get a piece of smooth wood of some sort that will be
the same thickness as the upvc panel fitting something in place
won't be a problem. Need to be smooth so you can get
the beading back in.