Special Situations-

Special Pet Needs

General Information About
Pet Doors Built to Your Custom Dimension

Usually, when you purchase a pet door, you cut a hole in a door to fit the pet door. Sometimes, it's just the reverse:  you already have a hole and you need a pet door made to fit the hole. We can help.

Most often this situation comes up with French doors. You want to remove a pane of glass and install a pet door in its place. Here are the things to consider:

•  First, be sure these really are separate panes of glass. Some French doors are a large sheet of glass with wood facing to look like separate panes.  That is a very different situation and one to be avoided if possible.
  

•  Check that the resulting pet door will be large enough for your pet!  You'll lose about two inches (actually, you lose 2 ¹/₁₆" in width and 1 ³/₈" in height) in both dimensions. So, for example, if you measure that the opening available to you after removing the pane of glass is 8"w x 10"h, you end up with a flap dimension of about 6"w x 8"h. If necessary, you may need to remove more than one pane of glass. Notice in the upper photo below how an upper piece of glass was shortened and the cross bar moved up to allow a taller flap dimension below. Also, you can cut down into the wood cross piece to make the flap lower if necessary. Be sure you don't compromise the strength of the door, however. 
  

•  After you measure the opening horizontally and vertically, multiply the two numbers together to get total square inches. So, if you've measured 10"x12" the result would be 120 square inches. Using this number you can see the range that you need to choose.
  

•  Please note that the square inch ranges are only used for pricing purposes.  The pet door is built to your exact dimensions; it is not adjustable. When you 'Buy Now', you will be given an opportunity to input the width and height of the opening we're building for. Please use 'W' and 'H' to show width and height so we don't have it built sideways!
  

•  In addition to your dimensions, the factory wants to know if your installation is for a French door or not. So, when you enter your dimensions, please note that as well. For example you might type: "10"w x 12"h for French door".
  

•  Do not add 'a little extra' for safety. The factory already does this. We've never had a properly-specified custom dimension door not fit.
  

•  Normally the locking cover slides straight down from the top and is secured by a steel dead-bolt. If there is an obstruction above, you can add a 'side-load option' at no extra charge (see "Replacement Flaps, Magnets, Side-Load Option and Locking Covers" below)
  

•  All Hale pet doors come standard with "polar" flaps--a vinyl that is more flexible in cold weather than "regular" vinyl. Replacement flaps may be ordered here Hale Pet Door Replacement Flaps and Locking Covers.  Very flexible 'training' flaps may be ordered for pets who are initially resistant to pushing through the regular flaps.

Return Policy: Because these pet doors are built custom to your specification, returns will be allowed a 50% credit toward the purchase of a different Hale Pet Door. The Patio Pacific normal return policy applies in respect to time limits only.

Note: If the hole you want to fill is in a wall then you'll want a custom dimension wall-mount. Those are available but not yet on this web site. Please call Customer Service to order.

Custom Dimension Pet Door Installation

Hale Pet Door Available Colors
Satin, Arizona Beige, White, Bronze