Replacing uPVC door panel

[jpixton.fc]

Greetings,

My landlord has agreed to me fitting a cat flap in our front door on the condition that I put everything back at the end of the tenancy. I think the best idea is to to fit a replacement uPVC panel such that the original can go back in without any hassle. From a little research here this seems to be a common strategy.

Here's a picture of the panel in question (inner, left; outer, right).

has black plastic beading where the panel meets the mounting strips, and the mounting strips themselves appear to be fairly firmly attached to the frame itself. What is the method for removing a panel of this type?

Once I've removed it and measured the panel size and thickness, how much might I expect to pay for a replacement panel? (and any recommendations in Cambridgeshire for sourcing one?)

Given this will only be a temporary arrangement (perhaps 3 years), could I make a saving by fitting a suitably thick piece of plywood? Presumably this would make fitting the cat flap easier, but could it have security implications?

Thanks for any help.

Cheers, Joseph

[Lobster]

I'm not at all sure whether it's possible to simply remove the panels; unlike the glass sealed units, aren't they built into the frame when it's manufactured? So you'd be talking about a whole new door. Could be wrong though.

Well plywood itself is probably more thief-proof than an equivalent uPVC panel, provided it's properly mounted. That might be awkward to do, and an identical piece of uPVC would probably be easier to use in fact, provided you can get the old one out OK.

Can you identify the manufacturer of the door? That would be the best route to find an identical panel. You could try a local firm that manufactures doors to order on-site, or maybe one of these outfits that does maintenance for uPVC windows and doors.

david

[Graham.]

When I had a uPVC front door replaced they supplied one with a letter- box when we specifically asked for one without. IIRC, they came back and rebuilt the door on-site with the correct panel but I didn't see how it was done.

Something that does niggle me is that the frame or, maybe the door itself, is not quite square. The three hinges have adjustment screws that move the hinge-pins in and out, and in order for the door to latch correctly, the lower hinge has to be fully out. I remember reading here that wedges are put into the doors to keep them square and I wonder if they were omitted.

[beer]

that looks like a glazing bead on the right vertical on the inside of the door if that is the case then you prise out the gasket with a blunt instrument. dont damage it or you may need to find replacement

with the gasket out you should now be able to snap the beads out now you can measure the panel inc thickness replace the two side beads with their gasket so the door is secure unyil the replacement panel is ready

as graham has said,you should make a note of the way the original panel is packed so you can replicate

there are plenty of window manufacturers listed in my yellow pages

breeze

[david.cawkwell]

Hello From the picture it looks as if you have the older external beading. basically to remove. With a hook of some type removed the plastic/rubber strips from the inside of door. On the outside of the door that will now allow you to push back the panel. You should then be able to remove the beading that goes around the panel on the outside. Note you may need a putty/window knife to do this.

Providing you get a piece of smooth wood of some sort that will be the same thickness as the upvc panel fitting something in place won't be a problem. Need to be smooth so you can get the beading back in.