How to Install a Screen Pet Door

The Hale Pet Door screen dog door is the easiest pet door to install. In a few simple steps you can give your customers’ pet the freedom to romp in the yard while their owners enjoy their bug free outdoor space.

Get the Right Size Pet Door

Like all pet doors, sizing is important. It’s always better to get a larger dog door than to force a large dog to duck through a too short pet door. Short-legged dogs can also pose special problems, so make sure the dog will be able to clear the bottom of the screen door without jumping. For more details on sizing pet doors click here.

Remove the Screen Door

Take the screen door down by removing at the hinges or lifting up and out if it’s a slider. You may have to pry the wheels at the bottom up with a flat blade.

Remove the Screen where the Pet Door will be Installed

Carefully pull the screen spline with a needle nose pliers or pry it with a flat screwdriver (taking care not to damage the door or spline) to release the screen. Remove only enough spline so the screen can be removed from the screen pet door area plus a half inch.

Pull the screen out of the screen door frame.

Slide the Screen Pet Door onto the Screen Door Frame

The screen pet door should be flush against the bottom and side frames of the screen door.  Make sure the pet door is adjusted properly and operates smoothly while in position.

Fasten the Screen Pet Door to the Screen Door

Drill through the sides and bottom of the inner pet door frame and screen frame with the 7/64” drill bit. Insert the #6 screws with a Phillips screwdriver.  Be sure the screws will not interfere with the operation of the screen door.

Attach the Screen to the Pet Door

Lay the screen material over the pet door.   Pull the screen material taut.  To hold the screen fabric around the pet door, insert the screen spline with a flat headed screwdriver or screen spline roller.

Remove Excess Screen Material

Cut away any excess screen spline with a razor blade or scissors.  Cut away the excess screen material with a razor blade being careful not to cut into the screen spline or the finish of the pet door.

Reinstall the Screen Door or Screen Window into its Original Position

Just install the screen door by reattaching the hinges or fitting it into the opening.

Adjust the Screen  Pet Door Magnets

After reinstalling the screen door or window, adjust the magnets in the pet door upward or downward if needed. The magnets are pressure fitted and can be adjusted downward by tapping lightly with the handle of your screwdriver. They can be adjusted upward by twisting a flat headed screwdriver below the magnet between the magnet and frame. Be sure to adjust the magnets upward from the inside edge of the pet door so as not to mar the door frame finish.

These are abbreviated instructions to show you how easy it is to install a Hale Pet Door Screen Pet Door. Please see the complete screen pet door installation instructions here.

Have you installed a screen dog door? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.