Exterior Installations
Pet Door Installation Clean Cut, Properly Insulated, Weather-Tight
Dog doors and cat doors installed in wood, fiberglass, and hollow-core exterior doors — as well as walls and sliding glass door panels. Every installation includes proper frame insulation and flap seal testing before we leave.
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Professional Pet Door Installation
Pet Door Installation for Dogs & Cats of Every Size
A pet door gives your dog or cat freedom to go in and out without you needing to manage the door — but only if it’s installed correctly. A poorly cut opening with a loose frame lets in drafts, moisture, and insects. Done right, the frame is sealed, the insulation is tight, and the flap closes flush every time.
NorTech installs pet doors in exterior wood, fiberglass, and hollow-core doors as well as exterior walls and sliding glass door panels. We work with whatever unit you’ve selected — standard flap, double-flap, electronic, or microchip-activated — and handle the cutting, framing, insulation, and testing.
All pet sizes covered from small cats to extra-large breed dogs. Written estimate before any cutting begins.
Where We Install
Every Location We Install Pet Doors
The installation method changes depending on where the pet door is going. Here’s what each location involves and what to expect.
Wood Exterior Doors
The most common installation. We cut a clean opening with a jigsaw, fit and secure the pet door frame, and foam-insulate around all edges. Wood doors are the most forgiving substrate — precise cuts with clean edges and no risk of delamination with proper technique.
Standard installation
Fiberglass Doors
Fiberglass cuts cleanly with the right blade but requires careful technique to avoid chipping or cracking the gel coat around the opening. We use fiberglass-rated blades and seal all cut edges before framing to prevent moisture ingress into the door core.
Standard installation
Hollow-Core Doors
Hollow-core doors have a thin skin over a honeycomb or cardboard interior. Pet door installation is possible but requires a frame that spans the full thickness and includes internal blocking to give the fasteners solid purchase. Not suitable for very large pet doors.
Standard with frame blocking
Exterior Wall Installation
For homes without a suitable exterior door, we install directly through the exterior wall. Requires cutting through exterior cladding, sheathing, insulation, and interior drywall — then fitting a tunnel sleeve to span the wall thickness. Assessed on-site for framing clearance and insulation type.
Specialty assessment required
Sliding Glass Door Panels
Uses a pre-framed sliding door pet door insert that fills the door opening alongside the existing glass panel — no glass cutting required. The insert is fitted to your specific door height and is fully removable. Ideal for renters or homeowners who prefer a non-permanent solution.
No glass cutting — removable
Steel Doors
Steel door installation is possible but requires on-site assessment before any work is quoted. The skin can be cut, but internal reinforcement ribs vary by manufacturer and must be confirmed before placement. Some steel door configurations are not suitable for pet door installation.
Assessment required
Pet Door Sizing Guide
How to Choose the Right Size Pet Door
Wrong sizing is the most common pet door mistake. Here are standard size ranges and the one rule that matters most.
Small
Cats & dogs up to 15 lbs. Flap approx. 6″–7″ wide × 7″–8″ tall.
Medium
Dogs 15–40 lbs. Flap approx. 8″–10″ wide × 10″–13″ tall.
Large
Dogs 40–100 lbs. Flap approx. 10″–13″ wide × 15″–18″ tall.
Extra Large
Dogs 100+ lbs. Flap approx. 13″–16″ wide × 20″–24″ tall.
The sizing rule: Measure your pet’s shoulder width and hip width. The flap must be at least 1 inch wider than the widest measurement. The flap height should let your pet step through without ducking. When in doubt — size up. A slightly oversized pet door is always preferable to one your pet has to squeeze through.
Pet Door Types
Which Type of Pet Door Is Right for Your Home?
Beyond size, pet doors vary significantly in how they seal, operate, and control access. Here’s what each type offers.
Single Flap
One flexible flap that your pet pushes through. Simple, affordable, and suitable for mild climates. Allows more air movement than double-flap designs since there is no air lock between panels.
Best for: Mild climates, budget-conscious
Double Flap
Two flaps with an air gap between them — functions like an airlock to significantly reduce heat transfer and drafts. Better energy performance than single flap. The standard recommendation for any climate with significant heat or cold.
Best for: Most homes, better insulation
Electronic / RFID
The flap unlocks only when a pet wearing the corresponding collar tag approaches. Prevents other animals — neighborhood cats, wildlife — from entering. Collar tag required for each pet using the door.
Best for: Multi-pet homes, wildlife areas
Microchip Activated
Reads your pet’s existing implanted microchip — no collar required. The most convenient electronic option for pets that are already microchipped. Programmed during installation to recognize your specific pet or pets.
Best for: Microchipped pets, no-collar preference
Lockable / Panel Door
Standard flap door with a locking cover panel that slides in to block the opening when needed — at night, during travel, or for security. Most pet doors include a locking panel as standard. Important for large breed doors where the opening is large enough to be a security concern.
Best for: Large breeds, security-conscious
Sliding Door Insert
A full-height panel that fills your sliding glass door opening alongside the existing door. Includes a built-in pet flap. No cutting required. Fits most standard sliding door heights and is fully removable — ideal for renters or temporary installations.
Best for: Sliding glass doors, renters
Transparent Pricing
What Affects the Cost of Pet Door Installation?
Pet door installation is one of the more straightforward jobs we do. Here’s what drives the quote.
Door installations are the fastest and most cost-effective. Wall installations require significantly more work — cutting through multiple layers, building a tunnel sleeve, patching exterior cladding, and finishing the interior drywall opening. Wall jobs take 2–4 hours versus 1–2 hours for a door installation.
Wood doors are the simplest and fastest to cut. Fiberglass requires specialty blades and edge sealing. Hollow-core doors require internal blocking before the frame can be secured. Steel doors require an on-site assessment before any quote is given due to variability in internal structure.
Small and medium pet doors involve less cutting and lighter framing. Extra-large pet doors create large openings that require more careful structural assessment, heavier frame hardware, and more insulation material. The opening size also has security implications for large breed doors that we discuss during the quote.
Electronic and microchip-activated pet doors add 20–30 minutes for sensor installation, battery setup, and pairing to your pet’s microchip or collar. If you have multiple pets, each additional pairing adds a few minutes. We test the sensor with your pet’s microchip or collar tag before completing the job.
Every job starts with a full on-site diagnostic. You receive a complete written estimate before any cutting begins.
Customer Reviews
What Homeowners Say About Our Pet Door Installations
“Large breed door for our Great Dane in a fiberglass door. Clean cut, frame is totally solid, and the double flap seals tight. Our dog figured it out the same day and hasn’t looked back.”
— Josephine A.“Wall installation through brick exterior. I was worried about how it would look but the tunnel sleeve is clean and the exterior patch around the frame is tidy. No drafts at all.”
— Festus O.“Microchip pet door for three cats. Tech paired all three chips during the install and tested each one before leaving. No more neighborhood cats getting in — exactly what we needed.”
— Nadia W.“Cat door in a hollow-core door. Tech explained the blocking method before cutting. Frame is completely solid — no flex, no rattle, seals well. Small job done very professionally.”
— Crispin L.“Sliding door insert for two medium dogs. No cutting needed — fits perfectly in the track. The flap seals much better than I expected and the dogs use it constantly.”
— Tamara E.“Had a pet door installed and weather stripping replaced on the same door in one visit. Both done cleanly. The tech caught that the door was slightly misaligned and adjusted the hinge before finishing.”
— Benson K.Frequently Asked Questions
Pet Door Installation — Common Questions
Straight answers on door types, sizing, electronic options, wall installations, and what to expect.
NorTech installs pet doors in wood, fiberglass, and hollow-core exterior doors. We also install pet doors in walls, and in the panel inserts of sliding glass doors. Steel doors require a specialty assessment — the skin can be cut but the internal structure varies by manufacturer and must be evaluated before installation. All locations are assessed during the on-site quote.
The flap width should be at least 1 inch wider than your pet’s widest point — typically their shoulders or hips. The flap height should allow your pet to step through comfortably without ducking. Measure your pet at the shoulder and across the widest body point, then add at least 1 inch to each dimension. When in doubt, size up — a slightly larger pet door is always better than one your pet has to squeeze through.
Yes. Wall installation is common when no suitable door is available, or when homeowners prefer not to cut into a door. Wall installations require a tunnel or sleeve between the interior and exterior wall surfaces. The sleeve depth depends on wall thickness — typically 4.5 to 6 inches for standard framed walls. We assess wall construction, insulation type, and exterior cladding during the on-site quote.
A properly installed pet door with a good flap seal minimizes air infiltration significantly. Higher-end pet doors use double flaps, magnetic closure seals, and insulated panels to reduce heat transfer. Correct installation is critical — the frame must be fitted tightly in the opening with insulation around all edges. NorTech installs foam insulation around every pet door frame and confirms the flap seals correctly before completing the job.
Steel door installation is possible but requires a specialty assessment. The steel skin can be cut, but the internal structure — foam core, polyurethane fill, or metal reinforcement ribs — varies by manufacturer and door model. Some steel doors have reinforcement in locations that conflict with standard pet door placement. We assess the specific door during the quote and advise on feasibility before any cutting is done.
Electronic pet doors use an RFID sensor to unlock the flap only when a pet wearing the corresponding collar tag or carrying a registered microchip approaches. This prevents other animals from entering through the door. NorTech installs electronic and microchip-activated pet doors in the same locations as standard pet doors — the installation process is identical, with additional setup for the sensor and pairing to your pet’s microchip or collar.
A standard pet door installation in a wood or fiberglass door takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. Wall installations take longer — typically 2 to 4 hours — due to the need to build and fit the tunnel sleeve between wall surfaces. Electronic pet door setup adds 20 to 30 minutes for sensor configuration and microchip pairing.
A standard pet door sized for small to medium pets does not create a meaningful security risk — the opening is too small for a person to reach through and manipulate a lock. Large breed pet doors, however, create an opening large enough for a child or small adult to reach through. For large breed installations, we recommend electronic pet doors with locking panels, or positioning the lock away from the door’s lower half.
Yes, using a sliding door pet door panel — a pre-framed insert that fills the sliding door opening alongside the existing glass panel. This does not require cutting the glass door. The insert panel is fitted to your specific door height and includes the pet door flap. This is the most non-invasive option for sliding door installations and is fully removable.
Yes. All pet door installations completed by NorTech are covered by our 1-year labor warranty. If the frame loosens, insulation gaps develop, or the flap alignment fails due to installation defects within 12 months, we return and correct it at no charge. Pet door product warranties are provided separately by the manufacturer.
Service Territory
Pet Door Installation Near You
NorTech installs pet doors across 100+ cities nationwide. Serving homeowners and their pets in these metros and expanding.
View our full service territory →Ready to Install Your Pet Door?
Get a free quote in 2–4 hours. We assess the door or wall, confirm sizing and fit, and hand you a written estimate before any cutting begins.
