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Cat flaps in Carrickfergus

If you’re looking to install a cat flap in your home, you’ve come to the right place. We have plenty of experienced cat flap fitters in Carrickfergus who will be able to do the job to a high standard. To organise your cat flap fitting, simply find local cat flap fitters in Carrickfergus using Checkatrade and give them a call to discuss the job. Alternatively, you can use our handy request a quote feature and let us do the legwork for you – you post details about the job you want doing and we’ll send it out to local tradespeople in your area.

The average cat flap installation cost in Carrickfergus starts from around £100. The total price you pay for the cat flap fitting will depend on a number of factors, including the type of cat flap you choose, size, and the door or wall that you’re installing the cat flap into. More information can be found on our cat flap installation cost guide.

Classic, lockable and automated cat flaps

Generally speaking, there are three main types of cat flap to choose from: classic, lockable and automated. The more advanced the design, the higher the cat flap installation cost is going to be.

A classic cat flap offers the basic function to allow your cat to come and go as they please, and being more basic means they tend to be the cheapest option.

If you want a cat flap with a better level of security then a lockable cat flap is a good choice. As the name suggests, fitting a lockable cat flap means you can choose to lock it when needed – such as at night or when you’re away on holiday.

Finally, the most advanced (and most expensive) option is an automated cat flap – which will use either infrared, magnetic or microchip technology to operate. These cat flaps offer the best level security but also the highest cat flap installation cost. Call one of our Checkatrade cat flap fitters to discuss what is best for you.

Cat flap in a door vs a wall

One of the other major factors that affects the cost of your cat flap fitting is where you’re going to install it. The two most popular choices are either a door or a wall.

Typically, organising a cat flap installation in a wall costs more than in a door as it involves taking out a piece of the wall to accommodate the cat flap. That said, the greater degree of security is often worth the slightly higher cost of the cat flap fitting.

When it comes to doors, cat flap installation in a glass door will cost more than a wooden door. That’s because it involves the cat flap being installed into a new panel of glass, which is then fitted to your existing glass door frame.

In order to understand exactly how much your cat flap installation will cost, we recommend speaking to local cat flap fitters and asking for quotes with a breakdown of the costs involved.

To find out more, check out our cat flap installation cost guide.

You have two main options for fitting a cat flap in your home – you hire a professional or you do it yourself. If you’re an experienced and skilled DIY enthusiast then you might want to fit the cat flap yourself. Otherwise, we recommend contacting your local cat flap fitters to do the job.

Hiring a professional cat flap fitter
There are a number of benefits of hiring a professional cat flap fitter:

They’re experienced in fitting cat flaps and will have all the necessary tools to do the job.
Expert cat flap fitters will be able to complete the work much faster.
The work will be carried out safely and finished to a professional standard.
They’ll know the right height and dimensions to fit the cat flap.

DIY cat flap installation
We would only recommend DIY cat flap installation for wooden doors – if you want to fit your cat flap in a glass, double glazed or uPVC door, or an external wall, we would always recommend hiring a professional. If you feel confident fitting your cat flap into a wooden door, here’s how to do it:

Measure and mark. Your cat flap should be positioned about 10-15cm from the floor, to allow your cat to easily come and go. You’ll then need to mark this height in the middle of the door.
Drill the corners. Most cat flaps will come with a guide to show you exactly where you’ll need to drill – which should be relative to the four corners of the cat flap.
Saw out the cat flap shape. With the four drilled holes you can now use a jigsaw to cut out the shape of the cat flap, sawing from one hole to the next. Once finished remove the block of wood you’ve cut out.
Sand down the edges. You’ll want to smooth down all the sides of the hole you’ve now created using sandpaper.
Drill screw holes. Take the cat flap front and mark where the screw holes will need to be drilled, then drill them.
Assemble the cat flap. Put the front piece of the cat flap in place and put screw into the four houles. Then place the back section in position and attach nuts to the screws.

If in doubt, speak to local cat flap fitters in Carrickfergus for their advice. And for more information on cat flap fitting, check out our cat flap installation cost guide.

Installing a cat flap might seem like a harmless but very useful addition to your home. And no doubt your cat will be thrilled about their newfound freedom. But you could be putting your home at risk in more ways than one.

Fitting a cat flap can potentially have a number of consequences that you need to consider before going ahead with the installation:

Increasing your premium
The reality is, a cat flap gives an additional weak spot for burglars to enter your home, putting your home at greater risk of being burgled. It’s therefore no surprise that having a new mini door for your cat can lead to your home insurance premiums going up.

Insurers might not pay out
If your house is burgled via a cat flap there are often no signs of forced entry. If that’s the case and you subsequently make a claim for stolen items on your insurance, you could be in trouble. Some home insurance policies have it written into the terms of your contract that they won’t pay out if there isn’t sufficient evidence of forced entry. Or, your insurer might decide that leaving your keys in or near a door with a cat flap is suitably negligent to nullify any claim that you’re making.

Lose your no claims bonus
The increased risk of burglary that comes with having a cat flap is not only a worry for insurers not paying out. If you get burgled and successfully claim then you’ll have lost your no claims bonus – and the valuable discounts that come with it. Another hit for your insurance premiums to increase.

Tips for avoiding issues with a cat flap
If you have a cat flap in your home, here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of being burgled:

If you bought a property with a cat flap and don’t need it, remove it as soon as possible. And notify your home insurance provider of the change.
Never leave keys in or near doors with a cat flap.
If you must have a cat flap, upgrade to a lockable or automated model with enhanced security features.
Don’t ever have large cat flaps, as some burglars use children to break into homes.

Before having a cat flap fitted in your home, speak to your home insurance provider to find out whether it will have an impact on your home insurance.

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