Fitting in glass

[penny stansil]

We are due to have our cat flap fitted on Friday in our glass patio door. Are there are any tips you give for installation into glass, apart from using the glass template. I assume, for instance, that no holes are needed for the screws?

Any help gratefully received.

[James]

That is correct. The glass template is larger than the door template. The cat flap still screws together to hold it in place but no holes need drilling through the glass.

Normally the glass panel needs manufacturing with the correct size hole in it. The glazier will then swap the panels in your patio door and you can easily fit the cat flap yourself.

[emmamillions]

I have just been told by the glaziers who were fitting my cat flap that they cannot fit it in glass as it requires a square hole whereas most other cat flaps use a round hole. I have phoned round several companies who have told me the same thing. They say the Pet Porte microchip cat flap cannot be fitted in glass (not double glazing). And any company that have said it is possible say it is very expensive to do so, costing three or four times more than a regular round hole and that includes in double glazing. I am quite shocked as there doesn't seem to be anything on your website that says this and it clearly says it can be fitted in glass. What with the cat flap being so expensive in the first place I am a bit annoyed that my options seem to be either buy a different cat flap or pay way over the odds to get the pet porte fitted. I am in Brighton so if anyone knows any company who can do a square hole their details would be much appreciated.

[James]

Please see this topic for information on glazing companies who are capable of cutting a rectangular hole:
UK Double Glazing Services

I cannot comment on any charges but do urge you to get quotes from at least three companies as prices do vary.

[emmamillions]

I phoned around several companies (5 in total) and all but 1 said it was impossible to cut a rectangular hole in single glazed glass - even with a specially toughened pane. One company said they could try to cut it but it would definitely crack either at the time of cutting or very soon afterwards as it weakened the glass to do this. Most of the companies said it was well known that rectangular holes couldn't be cut in glass but I've never heard about this. Has anyone else had trouble?

[James]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words:

[Impact Glazing]

We have supplied and fitted a toughened double glazed sealed unit with a rectangle hole ready for the microchip cat flap.

Shame we are so far away from you, just keep trying different companies in and around your area it can be done.

[emmamillions]

The problem seems to be that my window is single glazed. There are several companies who say they could do it for double glazed windows, but not one will do it for single glazing. I can't really see clearly in the picture you've provided James if that is a single glazed window - looks like double glazed to me. I have no idea why single or double glazed should make a difference...

[James]

It needs to be double glazed due to the minimum 2cm thickness but you could build it up with a wooden frame.

[emmamillions]

I think I'm going to have to give up on this. Absolutely no glazing company I have contacted will cut anything but a round hole in single glazing. They are adamant that it is either impossible or that it will make the glass so weak that it's not worth it. I had no idea it would cause me all this hassle. It's been ages since I first ordered it and my cat is still without a cat flap!