Hear from Our Customers
You’re managing a business, not a key inventory. When someone quits or loses their credentials, you shouldn’t spend the next week wondering if they can still get in.
Access control systems let you add or remove users in seconds, not days. You can grant temporary access to contractors without cutting new keys. You can see who entered which door and when, which matters when something goes missing or when you’re trying to figure out if your opening manager actually showed up on time.
The right system scales with you. Start with your front entrance and add more doors as your security needs grow. Integrate with cameras so you’re not just tracking entry—you’re recording it. And if you’ve got multiple locations across Delaware County, you can manage everything from one dashboard instead of driving around with a ring of master keys.
We’ve been handling commercial security in Delaware County since the late 1800s. We’re not a franchise that showed up last year—we’re the family operation that your grandfather probably called when he needed locks rekeyed.
We’re based in Prospect Park, right down the road from Lester. We know the commercial buildings in this area, the common security gaps, and what actually works for businesses dealing with employee turnover, delivery schedules, and after-hours access.
We’re factory-authorized for Kwikset, Medeco, and Schlage, which means we install systems correctly and service them with the right parts. When you call, you’re talking to people who’ve been doing this work for decades, not a call center three states away.
We start with a free walk-through of your building. You show us which doors you want controlled, who needs access, and what your biggest security concerns are right now. We’re looking at door types, existing hardware, and whether you need integration with cameras or alarm systems you already have.
Then we recommend a system that fits your actual needs. If you’ve got five employees and one entrance, we’re not selling you enterprise-level overkill. If you’re managing multiple buildings with tiered access requirements, we’ll spec something that can handle that complexity without requiring an IT degree to operate.
Installation happens on your schedule. We mount readers, run wiring, install strike plates or magnetic locks, and program the system. You get a walkthrough on how to add users, pull reports, and handle basic troubleshooting. And if something breaks or you need to expand later, we’re local—not routing your service call through a national dispatch center.
Ready to get started?
You get door entry systems that work with cards, fobs, mobile credentials, or biometric readers depending on your preference. Most Lester businesses start with card or fob systems because they’re reliable and employees already understand how to use them.
You get cloud-based or on-premise management. Cloud systems let you control access from anywhere, which matters if you’re managing multiple locations or need to grant access while you’re off-site. On-premise systems keep everything local if you prefer not to rely on internet connectivity for building security.
You get integration with your existing security setup. If you’ve already invested in cameras or alarm systems, we connect everything so you’re not juggling three different platforms. One interface shows you who entered, what cameras recorded, and whether any alarms triggered.
Delaware County businesses deal with real security challenges—break-ins in industrial areas, employee theft, and compliance requirements for healthcare or financial services. Your access control system needs to address those specific risks, not just lock a door. We install systems that create audit trails, restrict access to sensitive areas, and give you the documentation you need if something does go wrong.
Cost depends on how many doors you’re controlling and what type of system you choose. A basic single-door setup with card readers typically starts around $1,500 to $2,500 including hardware, installation, and initial programming. That gets you a reader, controller, electric strike or magnetic lock, and a handful of credentials for your team.
If you’re securing multiple doors or need features like biometric readers, mobile credentials, or video integration, you’re looking at $3,000 to $8,000+ depending on complexity. Cloud-based systems often include monthly fees ($30-$100 per door) for software access and updates, while on-premise systems have higher upfront costs but no recurring charges.
The real question is what you’re currently spending on rekeying locks, replacing lost keys, and dealing with security incidents. Most Lester businesses find that access control pays for itself within a year or two just from eliminating those ongoing costs and reducing theft or unauthorized access.
Yes, in most cases. We retrofit access control onto existing doors all the time. As long as your door frames are solid and your doors close properly, we can add electronic locks or strikes without major construction.
The process involves mounting a card reader on the outside, installing an electric strike plate or magnetic lock on the door frame, and running low-voltage wiring to a controller. For doors that already have commercial-grade locksets, we often integrate with existing hardware rather than replacing everything. Hollow metal doors and aluminum storefront doors—common in Lester commercial buildings—are straightforward to retrofit.
The exceptions are doors in really poor condition (warped frames, damaged strike pockets, or doors that don’t latch properly). Access control only works when the door actually closes and locks correctly. If your doors need repair, we handle that first, then add the electronic components. You don’t need to gut your building or replace perfectly good doors just to upgrade your security.
Access control systems include fail-safe or fail-secure options depending on your needs. Fail-safe locks automatically unlock when power is cut, which is required by fire code for most exit doors—you can’t trap people inside during an emergency. Fail-secure locks stay locked when power fails, which makes sense for exterior doors or areas with sensitive inventory.
Most systems include battery backup that keeps everything running for several hours during outages. Your readers, controllers, and locks stay operational until power returns. For businesses that can’t afford any downtime, we install uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) that extend backup time even further.
If the system itself malfunctions—controller failure, damaged reader, or software issues—most commercial-grade systems include mechanical override options. You can use a physical key to unlock doors while we diagnose and repair the problem. We stock common replacement parts at our Prospect Park location, so repairs typically happen same-day or next-day rather than waiting a week for parts to ship from out of state.
You log into your access control software and add or deactivate users in about 30 seconds. When you hire someone, you create their profile, assign which doors they can access, set their schedule (if you want to restrict access to business hours only), and program a card or fob. Hand them the credential and they’re ready to go.
When someone leaves—voluntarily or otherwise—you deactivate their credential immediately. They can’t use it anymore, even if they still have the physical card. No need to rekey locks, collect keys from other employees, or worry about copies floating around. If they try to use their old credential, the system logs the attempt and the door stays locked.
You can also set temporary access for contractors, cleaning crews, or seasonal workers. Give them credentials that automatically expire after a set period, or restrict their access to specific days and times. If your cleaning company only works Tuesday and Thursday evenings, their cards literally won’t work any other time—even if they show up and try.
Most modern systems integrate with cameras, alarm systems, and intercoms through standard protocols or direct manufacturer partnerships. When someone badges in, your camera system can automatically pull up that door’s feed and start recording. If an alarm is triggered, your access control system can automatically lock down all doors to contain the threat.
We work with whatever security infrastructure you’ve already invested in. If you’ve got a camera system from another provider, we coordinate integration so everything talks to each other. If you’re starting from scratch, we design the whole system together so you’re not dealing with compatibility issues down the road.
The benefit of integration is centralized monitoring. Instead of checking three different apps to see who entered your building, what cameras recorded, and whether any alarms went off, you see everything in one place. For multi-location businesses in Delaware County, that means managing security across all your properties from a single dashboard instead of driving around to check individual systems.
A single-door installation typically takes half a day—about 3 to 4 hours from start to finish. That includes mounting hardware, running wiring, programming the controller, and training you on how to use the system. You can usually stay open during installation unless we’re working on your main entrance, in which case we schedule around your business hours.
Multi-door installations take longer depending on building layout and how many access points you’re securing. A typical 3 to 5 door setup takes a full day. Larger installations with 10+ doors, multiple buildings, or complex integration with existing security systems might take 2 to 3 days. We give you an accurate timeline during the initial walk-through so you can plan accordingly.
We don’t leave until everything works correctly and you’re comfortable managing the system. That means testing every reader, verifying all doors lock and unlock properly, confirming integration with other security equipment, and walking you through user management. If issues come up after installation, we’re based in Prospect Park—we can be back on-site in Lester within 20 to 30 minutes to handle it.
Local Resources
