Hear from Our Customers
When you install door hardware yourself, you’re dealing with measurements that need to be exact. The backset distance, the strike plate alignment, the latch bore—all of it has to line up or your door won’t close right.
Most people don’t realize the door knob they bought might not fit their existing prep. Or that the spindle length matters. Or that interior and exterior hardware have different requirements for security and weather resistance.
We handle residential locksmith work in Nether Providence every week. The homes here—your center-entry colonials, your 1920s stone fronts, your brick split-levels—they all have different door thicknesses and prep work. We bring the right tools to install whatever hardware you’ve chosen, or we can recommend what actually works for your specific doors.
You get hardware that latches smoothly, locks securely, and doesn’t require you to lift the door handle while turning the key. That’s the difference between professional door knob installation and trying to figure it out with a YouTube video.
We’ve been doing locksmith work since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland runs the operation now with his daughter Chrissy—they’re the fourth generation of locksmiths in the family.
We’re based in Prospect Park with a full storefront, not just a van. That matters when you need to see hardware options in person or get keys cut while you wait.
Nether Providence is part of our regular service area. We know the housing stock here—the older homes with non-standard door preps, the newer builds with pre-hung doors, the renovated properties where someone already tried to install hardware and created problems. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t in these homes, and we stock the parts that actually hold up.
You call or contact us with what you need. If you already bought hardware, we’ll ask about the brand and style to make sure we bring the right tools. If you haven’t bought anything yet, we can bring options or meet you at the storefront to look at what we stock from Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco.
We show up with everything needed for the installation. For standard door knob replacement, we remove the old hardware, check the door prep, and install the new knob or lever. If the prep doesn’t match, we’ll tell you before we start drilling new holes in your door.
For new installations where there’s no existing hardware, we measure the door thickness, mark the correct backset, bore the holes, chisel the mortise for the latch plate and strike plate, and install everything so it operates smoothly. Most door lever installation or door knob replacement takes about 30 to 45 minutes per door once we’re on site.
We test the latch, the lock mechanism, and the alignment before we leave. You shouldn’t have to slam your door to get it to close, and the deadbolt should slide smoothly without forcing it.
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We install interior door knobs, exterior door knobs, passage levers, privacy levers, and keyed entry sets. We also handle door knob replacement when your existing hardware is worn out, broken, or you’re upgrading for better security or style.
If you’re changing out multiple doors—which is common in Nether Providence homes during renovations—we can rekey everything to one key or set up a master key system so you’re not carrying six different keys for your house.
The door hardware market in this area leans toward quality. With median home values over $590,000 in Nether Providence, most people aren’t installing the cheapest hardware from the big box store. They want something that matches their trim, holds up to daily use, and doesn’t look cheap. We work with the brands that meet those standards—Kwikset for solid mid-range options, Schlage for durability, and Medeco for high-security applications.
We also install smart locks and electronic deadbolts if you’re integrating your door hardware with a security system. Those require correct installation to function properly, and most people don’t realize that the strike plate alignment is even more critical with electronic locks than with mechanical ones.
Installation costs typically run between $85 and $200 per door, depending on whether it’s a simple replacement or a new installation that requires boring holes and cutting mortises. If you already have the hardware and just need labor, you’re looking at the lower end. If we’re supplying the hardware and doing a full new installation, it’s higher.
The hardware itself ranges from about $30 for basic interior passage knobs up to $300+ for high-security exterior handlesets. Most residential locksmith work we do in Nether Providence falls in the $100 to $150 range per door for standard replacement with mid-grade hardware.
If you’re doing multiple doors at once, we can usually work more efficiently and the per-door cost comes down. It’s worth getting an upfront estimate based on exactly what you need rather than guessing from online averages.
Yes, we can install hardware you’ve already bought. Just know that if the hardware doesn’t fit your door prep or if there are compatibility issues, we’ll tell you before we start making irreversible changes to your door.
The most common issue is backset mismatch. Most modern door knobs use a 2-3/8″ or 2-3/4″ backset, but older doors sometimes have different measurements. If your new hardware doesn’t match, we either need to drill new holes (which means patching the old ones) or you need to return the hardware and get something that fits.
We stock OEM parts and quality hardware at our Prospect Park location, so if what you bought won’t work, we can usually supply something that will. We’d rather tell you upfront than install something incorrectly just to get the job done.
Door knob replacement means there’s already hardware on the door and we’re swapping it out. The holes are already drilled, the mortises are already cut, and we’re just removing the old and installing the new. This is faster and cheaper because the prep work is done.
New installation means we’re putting hardware on a door that doesn’t have any, or we’re changing the location or type of hardware in a way that requires new holes. This involves measuring, marking, boring holes with a hole saw, chiseling out mortises for the latch and strike plates, and making sure everything aligns perfectly. It takes more time and precision.
Sometimes what looks like a simple replacement turns into a new installation if the old hardware was installed incorrectly or if you’re switching from a passage knob to a keyed entry set. We’ll assess what’s actually needed when we see the door.
For a standard replacement where the door is already prepped and we’re just swapping hardware, figure 30 to 45 minutes per door. That includes removing the old hardware, installing the new lever or knob, adjusting the strike plate if needed, and testing everything.
For a new installation where we’re boring holes and cutting mortises, plan on 60 to 90 minutes per door. The actual installation isn’t what takes time—it’s the measuring and prep work to make sure everything lines up correctly.
If you’re having us do multiple doors in one visit, we work more efficiently because we’re already set up. Most residential jobs in Nether Providence involve anywhere from two to eight doors, and we can typically complete that in a single appointment.
Yes, we install smart locks, electronic deadbolts, and keypad entry systems. These require the same careful installation as mechanical locks, but with added attention to battery placement, wiring (if applicable), and integration with your existing door prep.
The biggest issue with smart lock installation is that most of them are thicker than standard deadbolts, which means they don’t always fit in the existing prep. Some doors need the bore hole enlarged or the backset adjusted. If we’re doing the installation, we’ll make sure it fits correctly and operates smoothly.
We also program the locks, set up user codes, and make sure they’re communicating with your phone or home system if that’s part of the setup. A lot of people buy smart locks online and then realize the installation is more complicated than they expected—that’s where we come in.
We install and service Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco primarily. Those are the brands we stock parts for and the ones we see most often in residential locksmith work around Nether Providence.
Kwikset is solid for interior hardware and mid-range exterior locks. Schlage is more durable and holds up better to heavy use and weather exposure. Medeco is high-security—if you need restricted keyways or commercial-grade hardware for a residential application, that’s what we’d recommend.
We can also work with other brands if you’ve already purchased something specific, but our expertise and parts inventory is deepest with those three. If you’re not sure what to buy, we can walk you through options at our storefront in Prospect Park before the installation.
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