Hear from Our Customers
Your front door stops being a frustration point. The handle turns smoothly every single time. The lock engages without that grinding sound you’ve been ignoring for months.
You’re not standing outside in February fighting with a sticky deadbolt. You’re not wondering if that loose knob is going to fall off in your hand one day. The hardware fits your door correctly because someone who knows what they’re doing measured it, prepped it, and installed it right.
When you use quality brands like Schlage or Kwikset and pair them with proper installation, you get years of reliable function. Not months. Not “until the next time it acts up.” Years.
That’s what happens when the job gets done correctly from the start. Your door works the way it’s supposed to, and you stop thinking about it entirely.
The McCausland family has been doing locksmith work since the late 1800s. That’s not marketing talk—it’s just the timeline. Tom McCausland runs the operation now with his daughter Chrissy, and we’ve built the largest locksmith company in the Delaware Valley.
You’ll find us at our Prospect Park storefront on Lincoln Avenue, which means we’re right here in Delaware County when you need us. Not dispatched from somewhere an hour away. Not a national franchise with rotating techs.
Ridley homeowners call us because we know the area, we stock the right parts, and we’ve installed door hardware in every type of home from older colonials to new construction. When your neighbor recommends McCausland, they’re recommending 140 years of doing this work right.
You call or contact us and explain what you need. Maybe your door knob broke, maybe you’re upgrading to a smart lock, maybe you just moved into a Ridley home and want fresh hardware. We’ll ask a few questions about your door type and what you’re looking for.
We’ll either schedule a convenient time or, if it’s urgent, get someone out fast. Most emergency calls in Delaware County get a response within 20 to 30 minutes.
Our technician shows up with the tools and knowledge to handle your specific door. We assess the existing setup, take proper measurements, and explain what needs to happen. If you’re replacing old hardware, we remove it without damaging your door or frame. If you’re installing something new, we prep the door correctly—drilling, chiseling, and fitting everything so it operates smoothly.
We install your new door knob or lever, test it multiple times, make adjustments, and show you how everything works. You’re left with hardware that functions properly, looks clean, and doesn’t require you to call someone back next month because it’s already acting up.
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You get a technician who knows the difference between a passage knob, privacy lock, and keyed entry—and which one belongs on which door. That matters more than you’d think. Installing a bedroom lock on your front door or a passage knob on a bathroom creates problems you’ll notice immediately.
We work with quality manufacturers like Schlage, Kwikset, and Medeco. We use OEM parts, which means your repair or installation lasts longer because you’re getting manufacturer-approved components, not generic substitutes that wear out fast.
If you’re in Ridley and considering smart lock technology, we handle that too. Keyless entry, touchpad locks, Bluetooth-enabled systems that connect to your phone—we install it correctly and program it so it actually works with your setup.
Our service covers everything from basic door knob replacement to full deadbolt installation, lever installation, and even mailbox lock work if that’s what you need. We’re not a one-trick operation. If it involves door hardware and locks, we handle it.
And because we’re local to Delaware County with a storefront in Prospect Park, you can stop in to see products in person, get keys cut on the spot, or talk through your options before committing to anything.
You’re usually looking at $100 to $350 total, depending on the hardware you choose and the complexity of the install. That includes both labor and materials in most cases.
A basic passage knob for a bedroom or closet sits on the lower end. A high-security keyed entry lock with a deadbolt for your front door costs more. Smart locks with keypads or Bluetooth connectivity add to the price because of the technology and programming involved.
Labor typically runs $50 to $125 for straightforward installation. If your door needs modifications—like enlarging the bore hole or adjusting the strike plate—that can add time and cost. We give you a clear estimate upfront so you know what you’re paying before any work starts.
You can try it yourself if you’re comfortable with tools and following instructions. But one small mistake—drilling the hole slightly off-center, chiseling the mortise too deep, misaligning the strike plate—and your lock won’t work right. Then you’re either living with a sticky lock or calling someone to fix what went wrong.
Professional installation means it gets done correctly the first time. Our technician brings the right tools, knows how to handle different door types, and can spot issues before they become problems. If your door is older or the frame is slightly warped, we adjust for that. If you’re upgrading from old hardware to modern locks, we make sure everything fits properly.
It’s not about doubting your ability. It’s about avoiding the frustration of a lock that doesn’t quite latch, a handle that sits crooked, or realizing halfway through that you don’t have the right drill bit. For most Ridley homeowners, the $50 to $125 labor cost is worth skipping the headache.
A straightforward replacement usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. That’s if you’re swapping out an existing knob for a new one of similar size and the door doesn’t need modifications.
If you’re installing hardware where there wasn’t any before, or if you’re changing from a knob to a lever or upgrading to a smart lock, it takes longer. We need to drill new holes, chisel out the mortise for the latch, and install the strike plate in the frame. That can push the job to an hour and a half or more.
Older homes in Ridley sometimes have doors that aren’t standard sizes or frames that have shifted over time. That requires extra adjustments to make sure everything aligns correctly. We won’t rush it—we’ll take the time to get it right so your lock works smoothly for years.
A door knob is round and you twist it to open the door. A lever has a handle you push down. That’s the basic difference, but it matters more than you’d think depending on who’s using the door.
Levers are easier to operate if you have your hands full, if you’re dealing with arthritis, or if you have kids or elderly family members who struggle with grip strength. You can push a lever down with your elbow if you’re carrying groceries. You can’t do that with a knob.
Knobs tend to be more traditional looking and some people prefer the aesthetic, especially on older homes. They’re also slightly more secure against forced entry because they’re harder to manipulate with tools, though that’s a minor consideration for most residential applications.
Building codes in some commercial settings require levers for accessibility reasons, but for your Ridley home, it’s mostly about preference and function. We can walk you through both options and show you what works best for your specific doors.
Yes. Smart locks are becoming standard in Ridley homes, especially for homeowners who want keyless convenience or remote access control.
We install touchpad locks where you enter a code instead of using a key. We set up Bluetooth-enabled systems that unlock when your phone is nearby. We handle full smart lock installations that connect to your home automation system so you can lock or unlock your door from anywhere.
The installation process is similar to a traditional lock, but there’s additional work involved in programming the system, connecting it to your Wi-Fi if applicable, and making sure it integrates with your phone or smart home hub. We test everything thoroughly before we leave so you’re not stuck troubleshooting connectivity issues on your own.
If you’re considering a smart lock but aren’t sure which system makes sense for your setup, we can explain the differences between brands and features without pushing you toward the most expensive option. You get what actually fits your needs and your door.
A loose knob usually means the screws have worked themselves out over time or the internal mechanism is wearing down. You can try tightening the visible screws first—sometimes that’s all it takes.
If tightening doesn’t fix it, or if the knob still wobbles, the spindle or internal components might be stripped or broken. At that point, you’re better off replacing the hardware entirely rather than trying to patch it together.
If your door isn’t latching, check if the strike plate is aligned with the latch. Doors settle and frames shift, especially in older Ridley homes. Sometimes the latch is hitting the frame instead of sliding into the strike plate hole. We can adjust or reposition the strike plate so everything lines up correctly.
Don’t ignore a lock that’s not working right. It’s not just annoying—it’s a security issue. If your door isn’t latching properly, it’s not securing your home. We can assess what’s going on and either repair or replace the hardware so your door actually locks the way it should.
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