For customers who like research and details, then read the detailed info below to get a more comprehensive understanding of how our Patiolock model truly offers security without misleading brackets/etc that still require screwing.
Point of Difference: Our patented PatioLock model is the ONLY pet door in the world that LOCKS on to your EXISTING locks WITHOUT transferring or touching them.
Locking using your existing lock mountings offers the most SECURITY and numerous other benefits:
- No hassles relocating lock mechanisms
- Security not compramised by brackets/clamps when relocating locks
- No damage to wall frame and paintwork
- Pry risk basically eliminated with our patented Adjustable Screen Door Adapter frame
- You CAN lock your security screen
- You CAN use your screen door to let air in without the insects
- There are NO brackets or clamps or rods of sorts to deal with
- NO screwing
- NO cutting
- NO drilling
- No Handy Skills
- NO tools (except for a $3 rubber mallet from hard wares)
- Pet door removes in seconds & glass door immediately locks (great if going away or moving!)
- Can be re-used at multiple properties as the locks and adapter are all adjustable
Ultimately, we don't know what we don't know until we educate ourselves. We think it is helpful to outline the points below because they are NOT obvious and the issues with the competitor doors are not clear and tend NOT to be advertised, at your peril. Home security is an important issue, so we offer the knowledge to help you chose the product that will meet your needs.
We build our doors to last and are the most secure class leading pet door for sliding doors due to our patented locking system and Adjustable Screen Door Adapter frame outlined below - we suit buyers who value security, functionality, and convenience, and prefer to buy a premium product once, then enjoy it for many years to come.
For context, when we first started making patio pet doors nearly 20 years ago renters and home owners kept complaining they did not like transferring locks from the wall frame on to our pet door because of the screwing, cutting, handy skills, brackets, tools and time needed to do this. We introduced transferring locks in our base model system and this is where competitors still fall short because we solved these problems in the most SECURE way with the invention of our patented PatioLock system. Understanding how this works will highlight issues that are not advertised or clear in relation to other patio pet doors on the market.
Our patented PatioLock model is the ONLY pet door that can lock itself on to your existing locks WITHOUT touching them. So, this means NO transferring and relocating of lock parts onto brackets and clamps of sorts.
It also means you can remove the pet door in seconds and immediately lock your glass door without having to dismantle and pull everything apart- great if you are going away for the weekend or if you have to move house!
Leaving lock mechanisms in their original position is not only the most convenient as you will not damage paintwork and do not need tools and handy skills but it is also the MOST SECURE as the type and way the screws secure the locks is stronger (often perpendicular to the sliding door) into the framework.
When brackets are fitted inside the channel the sliding door closes in to, it is easy to pry these screws out because the thread of the screws goes in the same direction as the force applied by a pry bar. In other words, it is easy to just pull the screws straight out of the channel and dislodge the pet door and bracket or clamp.
Why is this an issue- what aren't I being told? If you are just buying a cheap pet door panel then it is likely just that, a pet door panel with some brackets. What they do NOT tend to advertise to you is that their pet door panel is only going to BUTT up against the glass door frame. The glass door is NOT going to slot into the pet door frame because the pet door frame is too narrow and thin when compared to a sliding glass door frame. So, when the glass door does NOT fit inside the pet door frame, guess what the result is? Gaps, gaps and more gaps. Gaps naturally occur between the glass door and pet door because frames are not square, rollers are not set to suit the angle the pet door sits in, which creates further gaps. The pet door also only loosely sits in the floor track so it can be easily tilted to one side top or bottom to create a gap big enough for a pry bar to insert to then pop the doors open! Why do you think there is a frame running up your wall with channels in it- that is there to seal and secure the glass door because of the inherent gaps and pry risks this entails if there was just a butt join.
So, open your glass door and screen door and take a look at your wall frame, you will notice it has channels in it for the glass door and security/insect screen to close in to. These channels prevent access to any potential gap for a pry bar. Now, our patented Adjustable Screen Door Adapter mimics a wall frame and runs up the side of the pet door to create the channels for the GLASS door to fit and seal and secure in to - this is what secures the glass door IN ADDITION to locking the pet door using the existing glass door lock positions without touching them AND also being able to seal and secure your security/insect screen. This is why some pet doors are cheap, because you are not getting all the parts you need to secure your home.
You can also see this door-channel security design in double doors that open away from each other- the glass doors do NOT just butt up against each other like the cheap pet doors will do against your glass door. Rather, one of the glass door frames (usually the right frame) has a channel in it for the left glass door frame to close and seal in to. It is a male-female type construction join, which is fundamental sliding door design that we include with our system that the cheap pet doors do not- again, that is one of the reasons why they are cheap- you are not getting all the parts and products you need to properly secure your house. It would be like buying just the sliding door without the frame that runs up the wall. Sure it would be cheaper, but do you want to void your security as a result of not buying the entire wall frame that secures the glass door? This is what you are buying and may not be aware of it with products on the market that just entail a pet door panel on its own...
What else is not advertised? As noted, the cheap pet doors without an Adjustable Screen Door Adapter will have gaps that can let air and insects in. It is easy for gaps of over 1cm from sliding door frames being out of square (not being a perfect rectangle when built). Whilst you may be able to add weather seals of sorts, they tend to look unsightly (not advertised) and over time lose their sealing capacity (let alone the pry risk not advertised).
It also is NOT typically advertised that you can NOT use your SECUTIRY screen door anymore, so there is no way to keep your house secure if you are home unless you lock the glass door - say goodbye to fresh air flow and peace of mind.
It is NOT advertised that without a screen you can't cool the house down without letting flies and mosquitoes in (or having to leave the aircon on). Not only is it more expensive to run air-con but it only takes ONE mosquito to keep you up at night! lol
We have the only patented ADJUSTABLE Screen Door Adapter, which is a major benefit as it does NOT require cutting, so you do not need to be handy to fit it (you just need a $3 rubber mallet to knock it into the pet door) and if you move house you can keep re-using it.
An Adjustable Screen Door Adapter also means you can quickly remove the pet door in seconds because there is space for the top panel to drop down to be able to lift the pet door out. Other competitors require cutting to length (advertised?) and that you will need to disassemble the adapter off the pet door and remove the locks from brackets and mount them back on the wall frame every time you need full access to the door or go away for the weekend or move house- is this inconvenience advertised? This is a pain and requires handy skills and tools and time and is important to be aware of.
The abovementioned points are disclosed here just to highlight points you may not be aware of if you have never owned a patio pet door before. If you have an knew of these points, that's great also, at least you have revised before making a purchase for you and your pets.
We invested a great deal of R&D into designing a Secure and Convenient patio pet door solution and our locking system is still made in Australia using over 20 businesses.
Whilst there are some cheaper options and some more expensive options (without the benefits), just be aware the cheaper ones are cheaper because you are getting less products (only a pet door panel) and compromised security of your home without our patented Adjustable Screen Door Adapter and PatioLock system that can lock our pet door to your existing locks without transferring locks etc. There are some brands that are more expensive than us without the locking system that still require cutting, drilling, handy skills, tools, brackets, etc to secure the pet door.
So, if you are on a budget and just want the cheapest possible solution for the laundry and security and sealing are not an issue, then a cheapie might appeal to you but note our base model panel on its own is a similar price to the cheapest panels but we use a premium one-piece sliding door frame that is superior in looks and strength. So, the base model is an option for a few but most of our customers buy the PatioLock model for obvious reasons.
In short, if you value SECURITY and aesthetics and want to maximise convenience for many decades, then our class leading PatioLock model is the only real option because locking on to your existing locks without touching them is the most SECURE mechanical way to lock the pet door to the sliding glass door system because of the way the locks are mounted on your wall frame together with the anti-pry and insect/security screen benefits of our patented Adjustable Screen Door Adapter frame.
Our PatioLock model truly offers an easy and convenient security solution for pet lovers with common sliding doors!