Is My Sliding Door Suitable for the Glass Patio Pet Door?

Modified on Thu, 26 Mar at 12:25 PM

Short Answer

Your sliding door is usually suitable if it has the correct height, track width, and a solid surface (frame or fixed panel) to secure the pet door to. The most important factor is whether the pet door can be properly fixed in place for stability and locking.

What Determines Compatibility?

To check if your sliding door will work, focus on these 4 things:

Door height
Track width
Locking setup
Where the pet door will be secured

If all of these are suitable, your door will usually be compatible.

1. Door Height

Your sliding door must fit within the supported height range.

Base range: 1960–2120 mm (77.2–83.5 inches)
Extensions are available for taller doors

Measure from the inside of the top track to the inside of the bottom track.

Important:
If your measurement is very close to the minimum height, check for any bottom track lip, as this can reduce the usable space and affect installation.

Because doors vary between homes, always measure your own door before purchasing.

2. Track Width

Your sliding door track must:

Be at least 19 mm (0.75 inches) wide
Be clear of obstructions (screws, locks, or fittings)
Allow the pet door frame to sit securely inside the track

Additional foam tape is included in the kit to help pack the pet door securely in wider tracks and improve the overall fit.

3. Locking Setup (Most Important)

The Glass Patio Pet Door can be installed in different ways depending on whether you want a temporary or secure setup.

Option 1: Temporary Install (No Drill)

You can simply fit the pet door into your sliding door track.

The top section is spring-loaded, which holds the pet door in place
No drilling or permanent changes required

This is ideal if:

You are renting
You want to remove the pet door regularly

? You can leave it as-is, or add a locking option:

Use a Sliding Door Bar Lock (sold separately)
Or use a timber dowel in the track as a simple DIY lock

The manual confirms this “test fit / temporary install” method is designed for situations where drilling is not possible.

Option 2: Secure Install (Recommended for Long-Term Use)

For a more stable and secure setup, you can fix the pet door in place.

This uses the included:

Frame Bracket Pack (to secure the pet door to the frame or panel)
Lock Bracket Pack (to adapt your existing lock, if required)

This allows your sliding door to:

Lock directly against the pet door
Stay firmly in position with minimal movement

What This Means for Compatibility

Your door is usually suitable if:

You are happy with a temporary (no-drill) setup, OR
You can secure the pet door using the bracket kits, OR
You are happy to use a Bar Lock instead of your existing lock

Your door may not be suitable if:

The track is blocked and the pet door cannot sit properly
You cannot use any locking method (existing lock, bracket kit, or bar lock)

4. Where the Pet Door Will Be Secured

This is the most commonly misunderstood part.

The Glass Patio Pet Door must be secured to a solid surface for:

Stability
Proper locking
Reducing movement and gaps

This is usually the door frame in standard setups.

Door Type Compatibility

Standard Single Sliding Door (Recommended)

One fixed panel + one sliding panel
Pet door installs against the fixed frame

✅ Best fit
✅ Full functionality
✅ Most secure and stable

Double Sliding Doors (Panels Meet in the Middle)

Double sliding doors can work, but require a different setup.

Because there is no fixed side frame, the pet door cannot be secured in the standard way.

What’s required:

One sliding panel must be kept closed
The pet door is fixed directly to that panel using the Frame Bracket Pack

What to expect:

One sliding panel must be fully closed and securely fixed in place (locked or anchored)
This closed panel becomes the mounting surface for the pet door
The pet door is then fixed directly to that panel using the Frame Bracket Pack

Stacking (Multi-Slide) Doors

Stacking doors can work depending on the setup.

Suitable if:

You install at the end of the system (against a wall or fixed frame)
There is a solid surface to secure into

Not suitable if:

All panels slide freely with no fixed side
You are installing in the middle of the opening
The track has multiple channels or uneven levels

Bifold Doors

❌ Not suitable

These doors fold rather than slide and do not provide a stable track or sealing surface for installation.

Quick Suitability Checklist

Your sliding door is usually suitable if:

Your door height fits within the required range (with or without extensions)
Your track is at least 19 mm (0.75 inches) wide
The track is clear where the pet door will sit
There is a solid surface to secure the pet door to
Your locking setup can be adapted or replaced

Important Considerations

The Glass Patio Pet Door is not a security door
For proper locking, it should be secured using the Frame Bracket Pack
A Sliding Door Bar Lock can be used if drilling is not possible
Some setups (especially double or stacking doors) may require compromises in functionality or sealing

Because every home and sliding door design is different, customers should always measure their own setup and confirm compatibility before purchasing.

Helpful Tip

If you’re unsure, ask yourself:

“Where will this pet door be fixed?”

If you can clearly identify a solid frame or panel to secure it to, your door will usually work.

Keywords

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