Find professional dog door installation services near you

A professional doggie door installer will take care of every step, from choosing the right door to measuring, cutting, and fitting. Of course, the exact process and inclusions will depend on the type of door you want to modify. Here’s what you can expect from some of the most common door types:

Wooden door installation

Your installer will first measure and trace around a template to create an outline of your new doggie door on your existing door. Next, they’ll use a drill to create a hole in each corner of the outline, then use a jigsaw to cut out the space they outlined. In some cases, your handyman may need to remove the door from its hinges entirely and lay it out on sawhorses to make the cut. To complete the installation, they’ll sandwich the doggie door onto the hole in the door, and secure it with screws. If they’ve removed the door, they’ll re-install it so it’s all ready to use.

Glass door installation

If you need a doggie door glass installation, your contractor will first examine the glass to determine whether it can be cut. If the glass can be cut, they’ll trace a template where you want the doggy door before using a glass cutter to cut the shape out. Then they’ll sandwich the doggy door onto the hole to secure it. Alternatively, if the glass is toughened or tempered, they may decide to remove the panel of glass entirely, replace it with acrylic, and continue with the installation process. This method is best suited for doors with glass panels.

Screen door installation

There’s usually no need to remove a screen door from its hinges. Your dog door installer will first remove the spline chord on the screen door, and move the insect screen out of the way to reveal the security grille. Next, they’ll measure and mark where they need to cut out the grille, before removing any rivets in the area. Using bolt cutters, they’ll cut the grille and then use a jigsaw or an angle grinder cut the desired shape. A glazing vinyl is used to cover the raw edges of the grille, before sandwiching the doggie door on top and securing with screws. Finally, the insect screen is replaced and secured with the spline chord that was removed earlier, cutting away the screen that used to sit in place of the dog door.