Hear from Our Customers
When your door knob works the way it should, you stop thinking about it. That’s the point.
You’re not calling us back in three months because the latch is sticking again. You’re not standing there with an armful of groceries trying to get your front door open. The lock turns smooth, the handle feels solid, and you move on with your day.
We install door knobs and levers using OEM parts that match your door’s specifications. That means the hardware fits right, operates correctly, and holds up to daily use. Whether you’re upgrading to a modern lever set, replacing worn-out knobs throughout your Middletown home, or installing smart locks that integrate with your security system, the installation matters as much as the hardware itself.
Most door knob problems come from poor installation. The strike plate sits a quarter-inch off. The latch doesn’t align with the hole. The screws strip out because someone used the wrong size. You end up with a $150 lock that works like a $15 one.
We’ve been handling locksmith work since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland runs the operation now with his daughter Chrissy, making this a fourth-generation family business serving the Delaware Valley.
We’re the largest locksmith company in the region, but we still operate out of our Prospect Park storefront where you can walk in, talk to someone who knows what they’re doing, and get your questions answered. No call centers. No subcontractors showing up in unmarked vans.
Middletown homeowners deal with the same issues we see across Delaware County. Older homes with door frames that have settled over time. Newer construction where builders installed cheap hardware that fails within a year. Properties that have changed hands multiple times, and nobody knows who still has keys. We’ve handled all of it, and we know how to fix it correctly the first time.
You call or message us with what’s going on. We ask a few questions about your door type, the hardware you’re dealing with, and what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re not sure what you need, that’s fine. We’ll figure it out when we get there.
We show up on time. Usually within 20-30 minutes for emergency situations, or at your scheduled appointment for planned installations. We look at your door, check the frame alignment, and explain what needs to happen before we touch anything.
Then we walk you through your options. If you’re replacing a broken knob, we’ll show you comparable options that fit your door prep and your budget. If you’re upgrading to smart locks or lever sets, we’ll explain what works with your existing setup and what requires additional work. You’ll know exactly what it costs before we start.
The actual installation takes anywhere from 20 minutes for a straightforward swap to a couple hours if we’re installing new hardware that requires drilling or modifying the door prep. We test everything before we leave. The latch should catch smoothly. The deadbolt should slide without force. If you’re getting keyed-alike locks, we make sure every key works in every lock.
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You’re getting professional installation with hardware that matches your door’s specifications. We carry Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco products because they hold up and because we can get parts when something eventually needs service.
The installation includes proper alignment of the latch and strike plate, which is where most DIY jobs and cheap locksmith work falls apart. If your door has settled or your frame is slightly warped, we adjust for that. If you need your locks keyed alike so one key opens your front door, back door, and garage entry, we handle that during the same visit.
For Middletown homeowners upgrading older properties, we often find doors with non-standard bore holes or outdated hardware configurations. We can adapt modern locks to fit older doors without replacing the entire door, which saves you money and keeps your home’s character intact. The median home value in Middletown sits around $159,800, and most homeowners would rather invest in quality hardware than replace perfectly good doors.
If you’re installing smart locks or electronic deadbolts, we make sure they’re programmed correctly and integrated with your system. A smart lock that’s installed wrong is just an expensive manual lock that eats batteries. When we set it up, it actually works the way the manufacturer designed it to work.
Most door knob installations run between $150 and $300 depending on the hardware you choose and the complexity of the job. A straightforward replacement where we’re swapping out an existing knob with a similar model typically costs less than installing new hardware that requires drilling or modifying your door.
The hardware itself ranges from $50 for basic residential knobs to $200+ for smart locks or high-security deadbolts. Labor usually runs $80 to $150 depending on how long the job takes. If you’re having multiple doors done at once, the per-door cost goes down because we’re already at your property.
We give you the exact price before we start work. You’ll know what the hardware costs, what the installation costs, and what you’re getting for that price. No surprise charges when we’re done.
If your door knob is sticking, loose, or difficult to operate, repair might work if the problem is minor. Tightening screws, adjusting the strike plate, or lubricating the mechanism can fix issues that come from normal settling or lack of maintenance.
But if the internal mechanism is worn out, the finish is deteriorating, or you’re dealing with outdated hardware that doesn’t meet current security standards, replacement makes more sense. A worn-out lock cylinder can’t be repaired into being secure again. Stripped screw holes won’t hold hardware properly no matter how many times you tighten them.
For homes in Middletown’s older neighborhoods, we often see hardware that’s been painted over multiple times, has mismatched parts from previous repairs, or simply doesn’t function smoothly anymore. At that point, you’re better off replacing it with new hardware that’s going to work correctly for the next 10-15 years. We’ll tell you honestly which situation you’re dealing with when we look at your door.
Yes. Older homes often have door preparations that don’t match modern standard sizes, and we handle that kind of work regularly throughout Middletown and Delaware County.
Sometimes we can use adapter plates or specific hardware models designed to fit older configurations. Other times we need to drill new holes or fill and re-drill existing ones to accommodate modern locks. It depends on what you’re starting with and what you’re trying to install.
The key is matching the right hardware to your door’s existing prep whenever possible, or modifying the door correctly when necessary. We’re not forcing modern locks into old holes and hoping they hold. We’re either finding hardware that fits your door’s specifications, or we’re properly preparing your door to accept the hardware you want. Either way, you end up with a door knob that operates smoothly and stays secure.
A straightforward replacement where we’re swapping similar hardware usually takes 20 to 30 minutes per door. If we’re installing new hardware that requires drilling, adjusting the door prep, or working with a door that’s settled over time, figure 45 minutes to an hour per door.
Smart lock installations take longer because we’re not just installing the hardware. We’re programming the lock, setting up access codes, integrating it with your system if applicable, and making sure all the electronic components work correctly. That typically adds another 30 minutes to the job.
If you’re having multiple doors done, we work more efficiently because we’re already set up at your property. Three doors might take two hours instead of three separate one-hour appointments. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe when we schedule your appointment based on what you’re having done.
Yes. We install lever handles, traditional knobs, handlesets, deadbolts, smart locks, and keyless entry systems. Lever installation is common for homeowners who want easier operation, especially if you’re dealing with arthritis or mobility issues that make turning a knob difficult.
Levers also work better in commercial applications or rental properties where you want durable hardware that’s easy for anyone to use. The installation process is similar to knob installation, but levers require proper alignment to operate smoothly and avoid sagging over time.
We can also install decorative handlesets for front doors, which combine a handle or lever with a deadbolt in a matching finish. These give you better curb appeal and security in one installation. Whatever style you’re looking for, we’ll make sure it fits your door properly and operates the way it should.
Yes. When we install multiple locks during the same visit, we key them alike so you’re using one key for all your exterior doors. That’s standard practice and something we do on-site.
If you already have locks you want to keep and you’re just adding new ones, we can rekey your existing locks to match the new ones, or rekey everything to a completely new key. That’s useful if you’ve just bought a home in Middletown and you’re not sure who has keys from previous owners.
Keying alike is included in the installation service when we’re installing multiple locks at once. If you need us to rekey existing locks separately, that’s additional work, but we handle it during the same appointment so you’re not waiting for a second visit. You end up with one key that opens everything, which is simpler and more secure than carrying five different keys on your ring.
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