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Review on 🐾 Convenient PetSafe Pet Screen Door for Screen Door, Window, and Porch Use - Perfect for Dogs and Cats by Jamie Bolen

Revainrating 1 out of 5

At $4.87, this pet door is very affordable. But don't expect it to last more than a few months.

Update 09/11/2017 - downgraded to 1 star. I definitely do not recommend this door if you have active dogs like mine. My 18 pound Shih Tzu/Border Terrier loves to fly through the door at full speed and as a result he has smashed in the inner rotating door not once, not twice, but thrice, forcing him to buy a brand new PetSafe each time . Door. The door design is bad. Pivoting door pivots on 2 1/8" plastic pins. If the pins were steel instead of cheap low strength plastic, the pins would not break. It was already an imperfect design. As I mentioned in my original post below, will the two-piece PetSafe door frame will fall apart with constant use. There is absolutely no way the door frame pieces could stay stuck together with a layer of window screens in between. With dogs in and out of the door, they apply a small force to the door frame in any direction and eventually release the frame itself.The only solution is to drill holes in the frame and attach the pieces with nuts and bolts.door.I'm switching to something else because it just isn't designed to withstand the rigors that an active dog would face Most negative product reviews For the meager amount of 11.87 x 2 to heal 2 torn patio gates However, thanks to my overzealous little dogs, I decided to try the product knowing that the best alternative metal screen doors are 10-20 times more expensive. During my installation, I installed the PetSafe doors at the same time as the new pet-resistant vinyl-coated screens, which are thicker and stronger than traditional screens. As I thought, the PetSafe doors don't fit properly on my pet resistant screens. PetSafe doors have 2 plastic frames with spikes and grooves. When the two frames are squeezed together, the channels should press firmly against the screen, locking it in place. The frames rely on friction to keep them from coming loose, but the pet-resistant vinyl screens are just too thick to install the doors as instructed. So I created my own instructions: 1. Go to a hardware store and buy 8 #8 x 3/4" machine screws and nuts. Also buy #8 flat and lock washers. If you don't already have a #8 screw drill bit. 8, buy one now. If you don't have a drill, you may not want to try this project. Also, purchase 5-2" nails the same diameter as the #8 machine screw. Masking tape to help the frames hold up when drilling holes do not separate.Drill 8 holes, 1 in each corner and 1 in the middle of all 4 sides.3.Turn the screen upside down.Take the inner side frame and place it in the desired position on the door or window grille .Measure the distance if you can't believe your eyes.Use masking tape to stick it to the screen to keep it in place.4.Take 4 nails and poke them through the 4 corner holes and through the screen wt ebe.5. Take the other frame and install it on the other side of the screen mesh using 4 nails to align the 2 frames together. Take the 5th nail and push it through one of the open holes, through the mesh and through the 2nd frame. Rock it slightly. Since the mesh is tightly woven, we need a nail to widen the hole enough for the #8 screw to fit through. Remove the nail when there is no obstruction in the hole.7. Take an 8# - 3/4" machine screw and washer and insert into the hole. Secure on the other side with a lock washer and nut. Partially thread, but do not tighten yet 8. Do 9.Once all the nuts and bolts are in place, tighten them but not over tighten.Remember the frames are plastic and can break with excessive pressure.10.Cut with a sharp Blade out of the screen bracket. After the hole is cut out, rotate the door to see if there is any residue of the screen material sticking out that is preventing the door from rotating freely. If so, clean it with a universal blade. There are 2 Plastic pins on the bottom of the swing door.One of my dogs loves to push the door with a paw but often accidentally locks the swing door in the process.I decided to remove the locking pins by lifting the door Hold, lengthen the pins and cut them off with a utility blade. Since the screw and nut were invented 400 B.C. I have no idea why PetSafe gave up on designing these doors. Have they suddenly decided that they are no longer needed? I've attached a picture of my pet door installed after the changes. Not pretty, but the door opens properly and is secure when combined with the pet gate. Considering these doors probably cost no more than a dollar to manufacture, I'll be thrilled if they last more than a year in the hot Southern California sun. So if you're having trouble installing these doors, I hope I've given you an idea of how to get them working. At $11.87, Revain's special price, it's worth buying. At a typical price of $22-$25 I would definitely evaluate other brands to see if the setup is better.

Pros
  • Great design
Cons
  • Protection