You are here: Home > PET DOOR RESOURCES > Pet Door Installations | Door and Wall

Pet Door Installation

Installing Pet Doors Into Doors or Walls

There are numerous locations where pet doors can be installed throughout the home. Some of the most common installation types are through doors and walls.

Door Installs: Installing a pet door into a door is relatively straight forward. Locate your selected pet door high enough on the door to clear your pet's shoulders by 2". Center the pet doors in the door rather than to one side. To see how to select the proper sized pet door for your pet click here.
It is always safer to attempt any cutting into your door by first removing it from the hinges and laying it across a sturdy work table. Pet doors can easily be installed into any type of door, ie., wood, metal Fiberglas etc. Having a panel design is not a hindrance either. Once the pet door is installed, you will want to caulk around the exterior frame; top & sides.

Wall Installs: Selecting a wall location for a pet door is easiest where there is no chance of any electrical or plumbing interference. If you have a pet door model that requires a cut 14 1/8 inch or less then you can most often fit it in-between the studs. If your model is larger, then you will need to cut your studs and frame an opening for the tunnel of the pet door. (See diagram below).

Door Installation Highlights
Pet door in a Door INstallation Highlights
1. Pet Doors can be installed into both flat surface and panel design doors.

2. We recommend positioning the pet door in the center of the door, at the proper height
(high enough to clear shoulders by 2").

3. Installation procedures are the same regardless of the door type (Fiberglas insulated, metal insulated, wood, etc.).

4. Always wear proper eye & hearing protection, take door off hinges for general safety. If you are not confident with these procedures, you may wish to hire a someone experienced or check out our installers.


Wall Installation Highlights
Wall Installation - How to frame studs Installation into walls varies based on the type of interior & exterior wall surfaces:

-Interior Drywall can be cut with drywall knife.

-Stucco can be cut and patched to create opening for pet door

-Vinyl Siding once cut can be framed with J-channel (similar to framing around exterior windows).

-Hardie Board and Cedar siding can be cut and framed

Diagrams on left illustrate how to frame for a pet door between and across studs.
(Smaller pet doors would fit between studs & can be secured along side a near stud.).

Make sure you are aware of any electrical wiring or plumbing within your wall before cutting.
Always wear proper eye & hearing protection, take door off hinges for general safety. If you are not confident with these procedures, you may wish to hire someone experienced or check out our installers.

If you have any questions regarding any type of pet door installation, you can reach us 7 days a week at 800-829-7876.