How to Install Pet Doors in a Wall

Pet doors are a convenience item for both you and your pet. They allow your pet to enter and exit your house on his own in order to eliminate or get some exercise. Proper installation of a pet door includes measuring the correct height for accessibility, and caulking the area around the door to prevent excess moisture from accumulating. As with any new item for your pet, plan to implement a training period to show him how to use a pet door.

Things You'll Need

  • Pet door
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
  • Spiral saw
  • Large flathead screwdriver
  • Two-by-four board
  • Circular saw
  • Caulk
  • Phillips screwdriver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your pet to plan the height of the pet door. The measurement from the base of your pet's front legs to his body should be the height of the bottom of the pet door opening. Mark the wall with a marker for the placement of the bottom of the pet door. Hold the pet door up to the wall and trace around the opening with the marker. These will be your cutting lines.

    • 2

      Turn off the electrical breaker for the part of the house where you are installing the pet door. Cut the drywall or paneling using a spiral saw on the inside of the wall. Cut a very shallow line only about 4 inches long to start. Use a large flathead screwdriver to lift the drywall or paneling and look inside the wall to find and move aside any wiring. It is imperative not to cut any wiring inside the wall.

    • 3

      Continue carefully cutting out around the marks for the pet door. Remove the drywall or paneling and insulation inside the wall. Use this same method on the outside of the wall to cut the opening.

    • 4

      Measure the top, bottom and sides of the opening in the wall. Cut a two-by-four with a circular saw for the top, bottom and both sides. Place the two-by-fours inside the wall in the appropriate area and nail with a hammer to the existing vertical wall studs or king studs and any vertical wall studs or cripple studs at the top and bottom that you cut for the opening. Spread caulk along each two-by-four where it touches the inner and outer walls.

    • 5

      Insert the pet door into the opening and screw the screws in the kit tightly into the wood frame with a Phillips screwdriver. Turn the electricity back on.