Installing A Pet Door In Your Garage Door

installing a pet door in your garage door

Installing a door for your pet in your garage is a convenient and simple way to grant your pets the independence they want while keeping away unwanted critters from the rest of your house.

This is especially true for outdoor cats, as keeping your garage door cracked open in the evening encourages both robbers and vermin.

Read on to learn about the many types and how to install one.

The Perks

If the rest of your yard is fenced and gated, energetic dogs can take advantage of garage doors by letting out excess energy all on their own in-between walks, as the traditional leash and walk around the neighborhood should never be replaced. And accidents that inevitably occur with puppies and elderly dogs will be easier to clean up.

Not only that but if you live in cold or hot climates and your pets still insist on living their best life outside, a pet door for a garage door enables them to access a safe, insulated environment all on their own. Moreover, garage pet doors won’t waste energy like the ones usually installed on back doors.

Of course, before you even attempt this make sure your is indeed clean and safe for your best friend! Now, read on so you can learn how to install a pet door.

Tools You Need

Before we get started, here is a list of tools you’ll need:

Pet door
Tape measure
Level
Jigsaw
Caulk
Pencil
Carpenters square
Caulk
Drill and bit
Sandpaper
Screwdriver

Your Options

Determine what kind of pet door you’d like by considering what your main reason is for installing one. There are some that only go one way, while others, only open if your pet is wearing a special electronic collar. Others provide exceptional insulation.

The Traditional Flap

This is a classic that is easy to use for pets, and everyone has seen them. They are durable, but there are also issues when it comes to possible intruders or vermin. But if your pet door leads into a garage and your door is locked, this shouldn’t be an issue!

Hard Plastic Doors

These hard plastic doors come with a locking mechanism that slides a plastic cover over the door. Although your pet won’t be able to use it while it’s locked, this is especially helpful if your pet isn’t allowed out at night and you want to ensure your house is secure while you’re asleep.

Magnetic/Electric Door

These work with your pet’s collar and will only open for your pets when they attempt to go through. Although these are more expensive than traditional flap or plastic doors, these ensure that no other creatures can go through the door, and may be worth it for the peace of mind alone!

Installing A Pet Door In 6 Easy Steps

Placement

Determine where you’d like to place the pet door while considering the garage door. Make sure that the pet door won’t be blocking or cutting into any supports or braces.

Also, you’ll need to ensure that the bottom of the pet door is two inches above the bottom of the garage door, and the top of the pet door is two inches above your pet’s shoulder.

This will give your pet a comfortable fit while avoiding any structural issues that could occur with your garage door.

Measure

Next, use your tape measure and carpenter’s square to measure where the top of the garage pet door will be, marking it with a pencil line. Draw perpendicular lines so that you’ll also know where the top corner is, and utilize your level so that all your lines are even.

Outline

Finish marking the rest of the lines where the pet door will be. Hold up your pet door to the outline to ensure it’s accurate, and double check with your level to make sure all lines are even.

If the lines are off, your pet door won’t close evenly, which is especially important if you live in the north – you don’t want your garage getting cold and drafty!

Cornering

With your drill and a 1/4 inch bit, drill a hole just inside each corner of the pet door markings. This will create rounded corners.

Cutting

Make sure that your jigsaw is equipped with a blade that’s appropriate for the material and thickness of your garage door. Starting with one of the corners you’ve drilled into, cut the outline of your opening. Afterward, sand the edges so that your pet won’t hurt themselves getting in and out.

Assembling Your Pets New Door

Line up your door with the opening of the frame you’ve just cut and ensured that there are no exposed raw edges. If they are, seal them with weatherproof paint or sealant before you continue with the next steps.

Afterward, hold up the pet door again and mark all the locations of the screw holes. Apply beads of caulk all around the edge of the opening while avoiding the locations of those screw holes.

Now, screw the pet door frame into place! Test the door to make sure it opens and closes correctly and apply more caulk around the edges.

We Can Help

While these steps are simple, it still takes time just learning how to install your pets door as well as crafting your own garage pet door while ensuring you’re not damaging the structural integrity of your garage door.

Finding a professional may be worth it instead because you can use the time saved playing and interacting with your best friend! Not only that, but your peace of mind that everything was done properly is almost priceless – these are our babies, after all.