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Porches & Decks

Need advice for a dog door for a screened porch

7 years ago

Hi all - we have a screened in porch off of the kitchen, and the dog loves it in there. I would like to keep the door closed, but still have the dog be able to come and go from the screened area, both to go to the bathroom and to be able to come back to the glass door to the kitchen when she wants to come back in.

Does anyone have advice for adding a doggie door to a screened porch? My installer doesn't have them, but said I'd need a 2" framed one if it incorporates with the steel framing. I've seen some that go directly through the screen, without connecting to the framing, but those seem flimsy. Thoughts?

Featured Answer

User

7 years ago

Dog doors need to be securely mounted, no matter what they are mounted in. It should not be a huge problem to fabricate a frame in which to mount the dog door. It will look like an addition not in the original design, but that is one of those things that has to be done.

The additional framing could be as simple as a header 2x4 installed horizontally between two vertical studs, with another short vertical(or two, depending on placement) for mounting the door. If the floor is elevated, a stair would need to be added.

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Comments (6)

Adam F
Original Author
7 years ago
Gotcha - thank you. Any suggestions on brands? We have a metal framed porch, so we'd want the framing to match, and would then install the door within that framing.
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User
7 years ago
Have installed mostly models from home improvement stores(Had customer buy products in my business), so installed what they provided.

However, if you live in an area with wildlife(squirrels/raccoons/opossums/feral cats), you might want to look at doors with coded openers. The dog/cat wears a collar or collar tag with the opener signal(proximity type) so the door is locked until the animal is ready to go out/in. Put that one on the outside and a regular one for the house inside the porch.
Adam F
Original Author
7 years ago
Not a bad point - we aren't putting one on the house thogh - just the porch. We want to be able to let the dog out to the porch, and then let her come and go from the porch. We still want to control access into the house. I am having a hard time finding brands that can be installed into 2" screen framing, but I'll keep an eye out. Any recs are welcome.
PRO
Anglophilia
7 years ago
You definietely want one of the collars with the coded openers. You do NOT want to walk out on your porch one morning and find that a clever skunk got in and sprayed the entire porch!
Adam F
Original Author
7 years ago
Yikes - that sounds terrible! Thanks for the tip!

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