Pet Door Installation in Denver, CO

Measure shoulder height and add an inch or two of clearance — the flap's top should sit above the shoulders, and the step-over height matters for older dogs and long-backed breeds. Sizing up 'to be safe' costs energy efficiency and security, so right-sized beats big. For puppies, we size for the breed's adult numbers, not the current potato. Send me the measurements and the breed and I'll spec it.

A cheap one, yes on both counts — which is why model choice is most of my advice. Insulated double-flap doors seal genuinely well against winter; for security, every quality door takes a locking cover for nights and vacations, placement stays sensibly away from deadbolt reach, and microchip-activated models admit only your animal. Installed thoughtfully, the realistic answer is: slightly, and manageably — nothing like the drafty cat-burglar cliché.

Yes — wall installs are routine and sometimes the better plan, especially when the ideal pet route doesn't pass through any existing door. It's a framed, tunneled opening through the wall with weatherproof (or interior) finishing at both faces. Exterior wall installs need a location check for what's inside the wall — wiring, plumbing, and studs — which is a five-minute look before any cutting.

It can on some insulated and fibreglass doors, and it's worth checking your paperwork before cutting. If yours is one of those, a wall installation or a dedicated pet-door panel avoids the issue entirely. I'd rather ask that question first than after there's a hole in a door you're still paying for.