Hear from Our Customers
Your door knob turns smoothly without sticking. The latch catches perfectly every time you close the door. No loose handles that wiggle when you grab them.
You’re not standing outside in February jiggling a temperamental deadbolt. You’re not calling someone back three weeks later because the screws are already coming loose. The door closes flush, the hardware sits level, and everything just works.
That’s what happens when someone who knows door anatomy installs your hardware. The strike plate lines up with the latch. The backset measurement is correct for your door thickness. The spindle sits properly in the hub so the handle doesn’t bind.
Most installation problems come from rushing or guessing. We measure twice, drill once, and your door hardware functions the way the manufacturer designed it to.
We’ve been handling residential locksmith work since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland runs the largest locksmith operation in the Delaware Valley from our Prospect Park storefront, and his daughter Chrissy represents the fourth generation in the family business.
Elwyn homeowners deal with older housing stock that requires careful door hardware work. Many properties here have solid wood doors with existing bore holes that need to be worked around. We’ve installed door knobs and levers in century homes, post-war ranches, and newer construction throughout Delaware County.
You’re getting someone who carries Kwikset, Medeco, and Schlage products with OEM factory parts. We provide written estimates before starting any work, and we don’t show up in unmarked vans asking for cash only.
You tell us what’s not working or what you want installed. We look at your doors, check the existing hardware, and measure everything that matters: backset, door thickness, bore hole size if you’re replacing something.
We explain what needs to happen and give you a written estimate. If you’re replacing old hardware, we show you options that will fit your existing holes without requiring new drilling. If it’s a fresh install, we mark exactly where the hardware goes before touching a drill bit.
The installation itself involves boring the holes at the correct height and backset, chiseling the mortise for the latch plate and strike plate, and installing the lockset with proper alignment. We test the latch operation, adjust the strike plate if needed, and make sure the door closes without resistance.
Before we leave, you turn the knob yourself and see that it works. We rekey it if that’s part of the job, hand you the keys, and clean up any wood shavings or metal filings.
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You get the labor and the expertise to install door knobs, deadbolts, handlesets, or lever sets on interior and exterior doors. We bring the tools to bore holes, chisel mortises, and install strike plates without splintering your door frames.
If you’re moving into a home in Elwyn, we handle rekeying so previous owners and their contractors no longer have access. Many properties in this area have changed hands multiple times, and you have no idea how many key copies are floating around Delaware County.
We also install smart locks and electronic door hardware that integrates with your existing systems. The technology has improved significantly, and installation requires understanding both the mechanical lockset and the electronic components. We program the locks during the same visit so you’re not left with hardware you can’t operate.
Elwyn homeowners often need lever installation for accessibility reasons or because round knobs are harder to operate with full hands. We install ADA-compliant levers that meet building codes and work with arthritic hands or limited grip strength.
Installation typically runs $80 to $150 per door knob, including labor. That’s for standard residential locksets on doors with existing bore holes.
If we’re drilling fresh holes or installing handlesets with deadbolts, the price goes up because there’s more work involved. Complex installations with mortise locks or multipoint systems cost more than basic cylindrical locksets.
The hardware itself is separate. You can supply your own locksets if you’ve already purchased them, or we can provide Kwikset, Schlage, or Medeco products at our cost. We give you a written estimate before starting so you know exactly what you’re paying.
Yes. Older homes in Elwyn often have non-standard door thicknesses or backset measurements that don’t match modern hardware specs.
We carry adjustable backset locksets that work with both 2-3/8″ and 2-3/4″ measurements. For doors thicker or thinner than standard 1-3/8″ to 1-3/4″ range, we can source extended spindles or adapters that make modern locksets work.
If your existing bore holes are damaged or oversized from previous hardware, we can install repair plates or box strike kits that cover the old holes while providing a solid mounting surface. Sometimes the best solution is filling the old holes and drilling new ones in the correct location.
You should at minimum have everything rekeyed so old keys stop working. Replacing the hardware entirely is better if the existing locksets are worn, outdated, or low-security.
Previous owners, their family members, contractors, housekeepers, and neighbors could all have copies of your keys. You have no way to know how many copies were made over the years. Rekeying changes the pin configuration inside the cylinder so old keys no longer operate the lock.
If the door knobs are loose, the finish is worn off, or they’re builder-grade junk that was installed 20 years ago, replacement makes sense. You’re already paying for the service call, and upgrading to quality hardware now means you won’t be calling someone back in six months when a cheap lockset fails.
Levers operate with downward pressure and work better for people with arthritis, limited hand strength, or anyone carrying things. You can push a lever down with your elbow when your hands are full.
Knobs require a twisting grip motion that’s harder if you have mobility issues. Building codes now require levers on certain doors for ADA compliance, particularly in commercial spaces and multi-family housing.
Functionally, both types use the same basic lockset mechanism with a latch that retracts when you turn the handle. The difference is purely in how you operate them. Levers are more convenient for most people, which is why they’ve become standard in newer construction. We install both types depending on what you need and what matches your home’s style.
A straightforward replacement on a door with existing holes takes 15 to 30 minutes per door. We’re removing old hardware, installing new locksets, and testing operation.
Fresh installations where we’re boring new holes take 45 minutes to an hour per door. We’re measuring, marking, drilling, chiseling mortises, and installing everything from scratch. Exterior doors with deadbolts and handlesets take longer than simple interior passage knobs.
If you’re having multiple doors done at once, we can usually complete three to five doors in a single visit. Rekeying adds a few minutes per lock if that’s part of the service. We work efficiently but we don’t rush, because proper installation requires precision.
Yes. We install Wi-Fi-enabled smart locks, keypad deadbolts, and electronic locksets that integrate with home automation systems.
The installation process is similar to traditional locksets, but there’s additional work programming the electronics, connecting to your network, and testing the app functionality. We make sure the batteries are installed correctly, the lock communicates with your phone, and you understand how to add or delete access codes.
Smart locks need proper installation even more than traditional hardware because the electronics add weight and the mechanisms are more sensitive to misalignment. If the door isn’t hanging correctly or the strike plate isn’t positioned right, the electronic components will drain batteries faster or fail to latch properly. We handle both the mechanical installation and the technology setup during the same visit.
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