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When your door hardware works the way it should, you stop thinking about it. The knob turns smoothly. The latch catches every time. The lock actually keeps your home secure.
That’s what proper door knob installation gets you. Not just hardware that looks decent, but components that fit your door’s measurements, align with the strike plate, and function without fighting you every time you walk through.
Most problems with door knobs come down to installation. A hole drilled slightly off-center. A latch that doesn’t sit flush. A knob that loosens after a few weeks because the screws weren’t set into solid wood. These aren’t small issues when you’re dealing with the security of your home in Eddystone, especially in older housing stock where door frames have settled and shifted over the decades.
You’re not looking for the cheapest option. You’re looking for someone who measures twice, uses the right tools, and installs hardware that actually matches your door’s thickness and backset. That’s the difference between a door knob that works and one that becomes a recurring headache.
We’ve been handling residential locksmith work in Delaware County since the late 1800s. We’re now on our fourth generation of locksmiths, and we’ve seen just about every door hardware problem that can happen in homes like yours.
Eddystone’s housing stock—those early 1900s brick row houses and Colonial twins—requires a different approach than newer construction. Doors have settled. Frames aren’t always square. The hardware that worked 80 years ago doesn’t match what’s available today.
We’re the largest locksmith company serving the Delaware Valley, and we’ve built that reputation by showing up, doing the work correctly, and using factory OEM products instead of the cheaper alternatives that create more problems down the line. You’re not getting a sales pitch. You’re getting someone who knows how to install a door knob so it actually works.
First, we assess what you’re working with. Not every door knob fits every door, and if you’ve got an older home in Eddystone, there’s a good chance your door thickness or backset isn’t standard. We measure the door, check the existing holes, and determine whether we’re working with what’s there or need to make adjustments.
Next comes the actual installation. If it’s a straightforward replacement and everything lines up, we swap the hardware and make sure the latch engages properly with the strike plate. If the door has shifted or the old hardware created wear patterns, we address that—sometimes that means repositioning the strike plate, sometimes it means filling old screw holes and re-drilling for a solid hold.
We test everything before we leave. The knob should turn without resistance. The latch should catch firmly. The lock should engage smoothly. If you’ve got multiple doors that need work, we handle them all in one visit when possible.
You’ll know the job is done right because the door works the way it should. No sticking. No loose knobs. No wondering if the lock is actually securing your home.
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Door knob installation covers more than just screwing in new hardware. You’re getting proper measurement of your door’s backset and thickness, drilling or adjustment of holes if needed, installation of the latch mechanism, alignment of the strike plate, and testing to ensure everything functions correctly.
We handle door lever installation the same way—and honestly, levers make more sense for most households. They’re easier to operate if you’ve got your hands full, they’re more accessible for kids and older family members, and they tend to hold up better over time with heavy use.
For homes in Eddystone, we’re often dealing with doors that have seen decades of use. That means we’re looking at wear patterns, checking for frame damage, and making sure the new hardware isn’t just cosmetically appealing but actually improving your home’s security. The area’s proximity to Chester and concerns about break-ins mean your door hardware isn’t just about convenience—it’s about keeping your family safe.
We also handle lever repair and door knob replacement when your existing hardware fails. Sometimes a knob can be repaired. More often, especially with older or builder-grade hardware, replacement makes more sense. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in and why.
Professional door knob installation typically runs between $150 and $480 per door, depending on what’s involved. A straightforward replacement where the holes line up and no adjustments are needed sits at the lower end. More complex jobs—where we’re dealing with doors that have shifted, need new holes drilled, or require strike plate repositioning—cost more.
The hardware itself is separate from labor. You can provide your own door knobs if you’ve already purchased them, or we can supply factory OEM products that we know will hold up. Big box store hardware isn’t always built to last, and we’ve seen plenty of callbacks from homeowners who went cheap on the components only to have them fail within a year.
For Eddystone homes with multiple doors that need work, we can usually give you a better rate when we’re handling several in one visit. The trip charge gets spread across the job, and we’re already set up with tools and materials.
You can install door knobs yourself if you’ve got the right tools, you’re comfortable with precise measurements, and you’re working with a door that has existing holes in the correct positions. Where DIY installation runs into trouble is when measurements are off, holes aren’t drilled cleanly, or the latch doesn’t align with the strike plate.
The security risk is real. A door knob that’s installed incorrectly can be forced open more easily than one that’s properly set. If the latch doesn’t fully engage, if there are gaps around the hardware, or if the screws aren’t anchored into solid wood, you’ve created a vulnerability.
For older homes in Eddystone, the DIY approach gets even trickier. Doors have settled over time. Frames aren’t always square. The backset on your door might not match standard hardware measurements. A residential locksmith knows how to work with these variables and make adjustments so the hardware actually functions correctly.
If you’re replacing one interior door knob in a newer home and everything lines up perfectly, DIY might work fine. If you’re dealing with exterior doors, security concerns, or older housing stock, professional installation makes more sense.
Door knobs require you to grip and twist. Door levers require you to push down. That’s the functional difference, and it matters more than you might think.
Levers are easier to operate when your hands are full, when you’ve got limited grip strength, or when you’re dealing with arthritis or other mobility issues. They’re also better for households with kids who struggle with the twisting motion of a knob. From a practical standpoint, levers just work better for most people in most situations.
From a design perspective, levers have become more popular over the past decade. They look more modern, they come in a wider range of finishes, and they tend to complement contemporary home styles better than traditional knobs. That said, if you’ve got a period home in Eddystone and you want to maintain that early 1900s aesthetic, knobs might be the better choice.
Security-wise, both can be equally secure if they’re installed correctly and you’re using quality locks. The lever versus knob decision comes down to functionality and style preference more than anything else.
A straightforward door knob replacement on a single door usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. That includes removing the old hardware, checking the alignment, installing the new knob, adjusting the strike plate if needed, and testing everything to make sure it works smoothly.
If we’re drilling new holes, repositioning hardware, or dealing with a door that needs adjustments, you’re looking at closer to an hour or more per door. Older homes in Eddystone often require extra time because we’re working with settled frames, non-standard measurements, or previous installation attempts that need to be corrected.
For multiple doors, the time adds up but not proportionally—we’re already on site with tools and materials, so the second and third doors go faster than the first. If you’re replacing hardware on three or four doors, plan for a two to three hour visit.
We can usually fit door knob installation into your schedule with same-day or next-day service, depending on how busy we are. Emergency situations—like a broken lock or a door that won’t latch—get handled faster.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on the backset measurement of your current hardware and whether the new knobs you’re installing match that specification.
Backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the hole where the knob sits. Standard measurements are 2-3/8 inches or 2-3/4 inches. If your existing hardware uses one of those measurements and your new hardware matches, the holes should line up fine.
Where this gets complicated is with older homes or non-standard doors. Some doors have been modified over the years. Some have had multiple hardware changes that created extra holes or wear patterns. Some were built with measurements that don’t match current standards.
If the holes don’t line up, we have a few options. We can fill the old holes and drill new ones in the correct position. We can use adapter plates that cover the old holes while accommodating the new hardware. Or we can find hardware that matches your existing measurements, though that limits your style options.
Before we start any installation, we measure and assess what you’re working with. You’ll know upfront whether it’s a simple swap or whether adjustments are needed.
Yes. If your door knob breaks, your lock fails, or you’re dealing with a door that won’t latch and you need it fixed now, we handle emergency residential locksmith calls in Eddystone and throughout Delaware County.
Emergency situations usually involve a broken lock mechanism, a knob that’s completely detached, or a latch that won’t engage—meaning your door won’t close securely. These aren’t problems you can leave until next week, especially if it’s an exterior door.
We carry common replacement parts and hardware in our vehicles, so in many cases we can complete the repair or replacement during the emergency visit. If you’ve got a less common setup or you want to upgrade to specific hardware, we can do a temporary fix to secure your door and then come back for the permanent installation.
Response time depends on where we are when you call and what else is in the queue, but we prioritize emergency calls that involve security issues. A broken interior door knob is less urgent than an exterior door that won’t lock. We’ll be straight with you about timing when you call.
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