Houston Door Installers Houston, TX

Stride and agility affects ideal pet door size

"I'm looking for a company or contractor that would install pet doors. Where should I have the door installed, and what should I expect out of the job?" — Angie's List member Hector Sosa

Most pet doors are installed in an entry door because it's less expensive and less time-consuming than a wall installation, says Darren Etlinger, owner of highly rated Houston Honey Do.

The biggest advantage to an entry door installation, he says, is that it's less permanent and doesn't potentially involve patching a wall if the pet door is later removed.

Etlinger advises metal doors are not ideal installation sites because they expand and contract with temperature fluctuations, which puts stress on the pet door's screws. For ease of installation, he recommends placing the pet door in a wood or vinyl door.

Etlinger says customers should purchase pet doors themselves to ensure the most appropriate size for their pets. Pet owners should also consider their pet's stride and agility. "You don't want them to have to leap or stoop to get through the door," he says.

Energy efficiency and security are other factors to consider, he adds. A pet door will always be a less efficient energy barrier than an existing solid door or wall.

"Depending on the size of the pet door, a person could reach through and up to a dead bolt and gain entry," he says. "A wall installation can provide a greater degree of safety, but that depends on the resourcefulness of the potential thieves."

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