| If you have a storm door, there is a pet storm | | | | center or a professional handyman. Many pet |
| door designed specifically for your needs. But | | | | stores have a list of people who will assist you in |
| before you purchase one there is something you | | | | getting your pet storm door installed. |
| must do - measure! | | | | If you have an all glass storm door, it is most |
| There has to be enough area between where the | | | | likely tempered. It is possible to find pet doors for |
| window sill of the storm door and the kick plate | | | | French doors but it is wise to seek a professional |
| to allow for a pet door to be installed. Many | | | | glazier to make the cut or determine if it can |
| storm doors have a removable kick plate, but | | | | even be done. The advantage to installing the pet |
| you still need a little clearance to keep the | | | | door in a storm door is twofold. First of all, you |
| structural integrity of the door. So, before you | | | | do not have to cut a hole in your main exterior |
| rush out to buy a pet storm door, measure | | | | door. Many exterior doors are pricey. They may |
| carefully. In fact, the old carpenter adage of | | | | have beveled glass or ornate carving on them as |
| measure twice, cut once applies. | | | | well. Having a pet door in them would ruin the |
| Storm doors are insulated. So they are most | | | | design. The second advantage is that when you |
| likely around 5/8th to 1 3/4 inches thick.This is | | | | do not want your pet to have access, you simply |
| something to keep in mind when considering a | | | | close the main door. Pretty simple solution. |
| storm pet door, because the best ones that are | | | | Here are a few other things to consider when |
| the most efficient in keeping the weather out are | | | | shopping for your storm pet door. Make sure to |
| dual flapped. That means there is an outside flap | | | | get one with a self framing kit. That way you can |
| that flushes close with the exterior of the storm | | | | be sure the door is secure and sealed inside the |
| door and one that does the same with the | | | | storm door. Spend the extra money (it won't be |
| interior. A small air locked space in between keeps | | | | that much more) on a high performance pet door |
| the cold from whistling in. Again - measure! | | | | that can withstand the weather extremes. Finally, |
| The pet storm door frame comes in aluminum or | | | | consider the height of you pet. If you have a |
| weatherproofed plastic, or a combination of both. | | | | smaller pet, the storm doors kick plate may put |
| A few models come with insulation as part of the | | | | the pet door too high for them to comfortably |
| kit. Even still, a good caulking around the exterior | | | | maneuver in order to get in and out. Most |
| is not a bad idea.You definitely want to remove | | | | customers like the idea of having a storm pet |
| the storm door and lay it on a sturdy flat surface | | | | door for the same reason they enjoy having the |
| before cutting the hole for the storm pet door. If | | | | storm door itself. It keeps the weather out, but |
| that portion of the job makes you uncomfortable, | | | | lets the view in. |
| get help. Contact your local home improvement | | | | |