Installing a Dog Door in a Screen Door

With the many kinds of doors we have installed in our homes today, it might seem challenging to find the perfect dog door for your pet. However, no need to get discouraged. There are as many kinds of dog doors available on the market as there are human doors. This also applies to a pet doors for screen doors (like the RCR Screen) in your home! A pet screen door is easy to add to your home, and allows you to get some fresh air without letting bugs in, all while giving your dog access to your yard!

Here, you'll learn about:

1. Screen Pet Door Alternatives
2. Type 1 Installations: Centered, Hanging Screen Doors
3. Type 2 Installations: Corner, Framed Screen Doors

If you have a screen door in your home, or even a screen window, there are many options available for you to choose from. Learning how to install screen door with pet door is simple, just follow this guide to choose the right door for you! Compared to installation in other types of doors, adding a dog door for screen door is one of the easier options. In most cases, you won't even need additional tools for installation! There are ‘instant’ hanging options such as the Bug Off Screen Door. 

The first step in the dog door installation process is determining the type of screen install that works best for you. There are two ways in which you can integrate a dog door in the screen door. The first way is installing a dog door with screen material on all 4 sides of it. The second is installing the door in either of the bottom corners. The second type may involve some drilling to complete the process.

These two installation methods for a screen door with dog door only have a few differences. However, you must follow the steps carefully to avoid damaging the screen door. Choose the method that works best for you and follow these tips to get started!

The size of the screen door you choose will depend on the size of your pet (refer to this helpful measurement guide). Therefore, it is extremely important that you get the measurements right so there is no trouble afterward. Take a measuring tape and measure the widest point of your pet. It is usually the width around the shoulder for pets. Next, measure how tall your pet is from its shoulders to its feet or halfway to his legs. Add a couple of inches to the measurements and you’ll be able to provide your pet with a comfortable flap to pass through.

Type 1: With screen material on all 4 sides

The measurements you took previously will be required for determining the size of the hole you will cut in the screen. First, take out the screen from the track and lay it on the floor. Take a pen to mark the rough edges that you are going to cut from. Take a look at the marking and make sure that the height is comfortable enough for your pet to pass through. Next, cut through the markings you made on the screen mesh using a sharp blade to create a space for your dog screen door.

After making the opening in the screen mesh, place the interior frame over the exterior frame and align them perfectly. There are many kinds of frames available that can be installed on the screen and each has a different way of fitting. However, you will only need to snap the ends together or screw them in. Your screen door will be ready to be reinstalled in its position now.

Type 2: In the bottom corner

For this type of installation, you need to get the measurements right for your pet and position the pet door at a height that is easy for the pet to use. To start the process, take the door out of its hinges, or the window from its frame, and lay it flat on the floor so you can work on it.

Moving on, take a marker that you can use to mark the outline of the pet door you are going to install. This will be related to the measurements you have taken previously. As you are working at the bottom of the screen mesh, you will have to be cautious about the spline fitting. Don’t just cut through the spline when you’ll be cutting be through the screen. With the help of a screwdriver, loosen the spline from one end and take it out completely. Then cut your mesh according to the rough measurements you took.

After the hole has been made in the screen, take the panel you picked up for the dog door. There are a variety of panels available at Pet Doors.com that will fulfill the purpose you want them for. Place the frames of the dog door together on each side of the screen. When the frames align and are ready to be fixed together, get a screwdriver and fit them together.

In some cases, you will also have to drill at the sides so the dog door can fit firmly in the screen door. Follow the instructions and screw the frames together as one. If there is extra mesh around the pet door, cut it out and you will get the finished look of your door. The screen door is now ready to be fitted back in the original position and ready for your dog to go through any time it wants.

Pet doors on screen doors require minimal efforts and can be fitted easily. Check out the install guide for the Hale Screen Mount for reference. There is no hard labor involved and you can do this project on your own. It is recommended that you make the pet door in a heavy-duty screen material. The durable material will be able to endure the pressure it has to continuously face when the pet runs straight through it. Moreover, this is also a cost-saving procedure and you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars or involve excessive work like breaking through a wall or a solid door.

Your pet is going to appreciate the effort you put in and you will be relieved of the doorman duties you have been involved with. If you need more help, check out our Pet Door Installation DIY guide.