Thinking about adding a pet door to your home? It's a fantastic way to give your dog or cat the freedom they deserve while making your life more convenient. At House Doctors of Orlando, we believe in empowering our clients with the knowledge they need to make the best decision for their home and their pet.
Here is a comprehensive guide to what you need to know before installing a pet door.

Decision Criteria

Benefits

Convenience: No more getting up every time your pet needs to go out.
Exercise and Independence: Allows your pet to get fresh air and exercise on their own schedule.

Potential Drawbacks

Security: A pet door can be a potential point of entry for intruders or unwanted critters.
Weather: If not properly installed, a pet door can lead to drafts and higher energy bills.
Dirt: Your pet may track in mud, dirt, and water.

Understanding the 3 Key Factors

A professional installation starts with a plan. These three factors will determine the type of installation you need and the overall cost.

Pet Size and Measurement To choose the right size door, you'll need three key measurements:
- Width: The widest part of your pet (usually the shoulders or hips). Add an inch or two for comfort.
- Height: The measurement from the floor to the top of your pet's shoulders.
- Step-Over: The height from the floor to the bottom of your pet's chest. This helps determine how high the door should be installed off the ground for comfortable use.
The Installation Location Your choice of location is the most important decision you'll make, as it affects cost, security, and the long-term integrity of your home. The most common options are a door, a wall, or a sliding glass door.
The Pet Door Model Pet doors come in many types, each with unique features:
- Basic Flap Doors: The most affordable option, made of plastic or flexible vinyl.
- Energy-Efficient Doors: Often feature dual or triple flaps with magnetic seals to provide better insulation and prevent drafts.
- Electronic Doors: The most secure option. These doors use a collar-activated sensor or a microchip to allow access only to your pet.

Understanding the Costs

The total cost to install a pet door professionally ranges widely because of the factors above. Here is a clear breakdown:

Estimating Fee: Some contractors may charge an additional fee for sending a sales technician to your home to evaluate the installation and provide you a detailed estimate. Most contractors reimburse the ‘estimate fee’ if you nominate them. Rates range from $80 - $200, with most charging a flat rate of $100.
At House Doctors, our estimates are free.
Call-Out Fee: Contractors have a minimum service fee to cover travel, dispatch, and setup that ranges for the technician to perform the job. Most call-out fees range from $50 to $200.
Labor Costs: This covers the professional installation itself, and varies depending on the installation location:
- Door or Stick-Frame Wall: Labor typically ranges from $250 to $800.
- Block or Concrete Wall: This more complex work requires specialized tools, with labor costs ranging from $600 to $1,400.
Pet Door Unit Cost: The price of the pet door unit itself ranges from $40 to over $500, depending on the size, material, and features (such as insulation or electronic locking). Additionally, materials may be needed for trim, additional gap sealing, and fishing such as paint touch up. In all installations, the contractor will add a cost for consumable materials that include, but are not limited to, rags, fasteners, disposable tools like drill bits and cutting bits, and masking materials. It is important to note that when a contractor purchases the unit for you, they will add a markup of 25% to 50%, or a flat fee for lower cost items, to the cost to cover their time, overhead, cost-of-money, logistic risks (availability, quality, completeness) and the convenience of providing all materials.
Disposal Costs: Disposal charges apply to for the removal of building rubble and debris for more complex installations such as concrete or block wall, or where a replacement door option applies. These cover the time and safe disposal costs compliant with environmental regulations, and ranges between $20 - $90
Hidden Costs: Depending on the location, a host of additional costs may be required to cover plumbing, electrical, and or even structural changes, and the range can vary significantly based on the scope and complexity. If the chosen location for the pet door has electrical wiring or plumbing pipes inside the wall, a professional electrician or plumber will need to be called to reroute them, which can add $150 to $500 or more to the final cost. An onsite assessment with customized scope will help minimize hidden costs and a trained sales technician will be able to guide your selection and scope definition to keep these costs contained, and or avoid them entirely.

Replacement Door Options

If your current door is not suitable, a replacement door with an integrated pet door is a great solution. The labor and materials for this can range from $1,200 to over $2,400.

Installation Locations

Exterior Door Installation

The Ideal Door: A door with a flat, solid panel at the bottom is ideal. This type of construction provides a stable, uniform surface and maintains the door's structural integrity.
Doors Where Installation is Impossible: We cannot install a pet door in doors with full or 3/4 glass inserts (lites), as cutting into tempered or insulated glass will cause it to shatter. For these doors, a wall or sliding glass door solution is your only option.
Doors That Are Challenging: Doors with a raised or recessed panel design can be challenging. The uneven surface requires extra care, materials, and specialized sealing to ensure a proper, weatherproof fit. While it can be done, it may not be as aesthetically pleasing.
Important Warning: Please be aware that cutting into any door voids its manufacturer's warranty. We do not offer a warranty on the modified door itself.

Wall Installation

Wall installations are more complex because they require cutting through multiple layers, including drywall, siding, and sometimes brick or concrete. This process requires specialized skills and tools to ensure proper framing, weatherproofing, and insulation.

Sliding Glass Door Solutions

Sliding glass doors cannot be cut, but they can be fitted with a pet door panel insert. This is a non-permanent vertical panel that fits securely into the existing track, allowing the door to slide and lock against it. This is a popular and renter-friendly solution.

Security, Safety, and Energy Efficiency

A professional installation is about more than just a perfect fit—it's about a secure and efficient home.

Critter Control: In rural parts of Apopka, an electronic, collar-activated door is the best way to prevent raccoons, opossums, and stray animals from entering your home.
Weatherproofing: We ensure the pet door is properly insulated and sealed to prevent air leaks and keep your air conditioning or heat inside, saving you money on energy bills.

The Insurance Factor

This is a critical consideration for any homeowner. You must check with your insurance provider. While most policies don't have a specific pet door exclusion, an insurer could:

Theft: Deny a theft claim by arguing the pet door was a breach of security.
Damage: Refuse to cover property damage caused by a faulty seal or long-term leaks.
Liability: Investigate liability if an unauthorized person is injured after gaining access through the door.

We strongly recommend that you notify your insurance provider about the installation, especially for high-value properties, and ask if any additional security measures (like a smart pet door or a specific lock) are required to maintain your coverage.

Long-Term Ownership

Maintenance: We recommend routine checks of the door's seal and hinges to maintain its security and energy efficiency. We can assist with replacing worn-out flaps or seals to keep your door working like new.
Training: Once installed, we can provide you with tips on how to train your pet to use the new door comfortably and safely.

Conclusion

With so many factors to consider, from the type of door to your pet's needs, the best place to start is with a conversation. Contact us today for a personalized consultation. We'll listen to your goals, answer your questions, and provide a clear, no-obligation estimate tailored to your project.

Let's find the perfect solution for your home together!