How to Build a Doggie Door
In order to be a responsible dog owner, you should take your dog for a walk two to three times a day. If you have a fenced yard, and you would like your dog to be able to go outside when they want to, building a doggie door is the perfect thing to make. This will make it easy for your dog to get exercise or go to the washroom.
Things Needed
- Vinyl
- Ruler
- Utility Knife
- Pencil
- Jigsaw
- Windshield cement
- Scissors
- Sandpaper
- Drill and bits
- Keyhole saw
- Measure the width and height of your pet at their rear end and shoulders. Allow four to six inches in each direction. This will create a rectangular shape for the opening of the door. Use chalk and mark the door measurements to the bottom of the door.
- Saw a rectangular opening in the door. Cut the vinyl to the same size as the door opening and add one inch. Trim a 1 inch extra piece of vinyl onto the mat. Make sure the vinyl will swing in both directions, but make sure it is not too loose, or it will let in the rain and wind. Trim vinyl as needed.
- Glue a magnetic strip to the middle of the bottom corner of the mat. Do the same on the other side of the mat. Glue a magnetic strip to one piece of wood, place 1 inch from short edge. Repeat with the other wood piece. This will make the door latch for the door.
- Drill through the door and the wooden strips. Place the bolt through all the pieces of wood. Place a nut though the bolt onto the wood and tighten. Place the vinyl over the door opening; make sure the latch is in the closed position. Make sure the vinyl is between both sides of the door latch.
- Drill screw holes in the metal strip. Trim the vinyl using a utility knife as needed. Smooth down the edges of the vinyl with sandpaper. Glue the screw ends on the outside of the door, this will weather proof the holes.