Hear from Our Customers
You turn the knob and it just works. No binding. No wobbling. No fighting with a latch that won’t catch because someone eyeballed the alignment instead of measuring it.
That’s what proper door knob installation looks like. The bolt slides smoothly into the strike plate. The knob turns without resistance. The whole mechanism feels solid in your hand because everything’s aligned, tightened to spec, and installed with hardware that won’t fail in six months.
Your historic Rose Valley home deserves better than a YouTube tutorial and a trip to the hardware store. These Arts and Crafts era doors have unique configurations. The frames settle differently than modern construction. One wrong measurement and you’re dealing with gaps, misalignment, or worse—damage to woodwork that’s been there since the early 1900s.
The McCausland family has been doing locksmith work since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland and his daughter Chrissy now run the largest locksmith operation in the Delaware Valley, and we didn’t get here by cutting corners.
You’re not hiring someone who just started watching installation videos last month. You’re working with professionals who understand how doors in Rose Valley’s historic homes actually function. We know which hardware works with your architecture and which creates problems down the road.
We have a physical storefront in Prospect Park. Real inventory. Real expertise. You can walk in, see the quality of what we install, and talk through your options before anyone touches your door.
First, we assess your door and frame. Not every door knob fits every door, especially in homes built during Rose Valley’s Arts and Crafts era. We measure the backset, check the door thickness, and make sure the hardware you want will actually work with your specific setup.
Then we prep the door properly. If you’re replacing existing hardware, we remove it without damaging the door or frame. If it’s a new installation, we measure and mark everything before drilling. The hole depth, the latch position, the strike plate location—all of it gets measured twice.
Installation happens with manufacturer-approved parts and proper tools. We’re authorized dealers for Kwikset, Medeco, and Schlage, which means you get OEM parts that fit correctly and last. The latch gets installed at the right angle. The strike plate gets positioned so the bolt actually engages. The knob gets tightened to spec—not so loose it wobbles, not so tight it binds.
Before we leave, we test everything. The door latches smoothly. The knob turns without resistance. The lock engages properly. You see it work, and we explain what we did and why.
Ready to get started?
You get a full assessment of your door and hardware needs before any work starts. We explain what’s wrong, what it takes to fix it, and exactly what it costs. No surprises.
You get quality hardware from manufacturers we trust. Rose Valley homes are worth a median of $694,200. You’re not protecting that investment with bargain-bin door knobs that fail when someone leans on them wrong. We install Kwikset, Medeco, and Schlage because they work and they last.
You get installation that won’t damage your home’s historic features. Many of Rose Valley’s homes are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. We understand how to work with unique door configurations and vintage woodwork without compromising what makes your home special.
You get fast response when you need it. We typically arrive within 20 to 30 minutes for emergency calls throughout Delaware County. Our dispatch system identifies the closest technician to your specific location, so you’re not waiting around all day wondering when someone will show up.
Most door knob installations take 30 to 45 minutes per door when done properly. That includes removing old hardware if you’re replacing it, prepping the door, installing the new knob or lever, and testing everything to make sure it works smoothly.
If your door needs additional work—like enlarging holes for different hardware, repairing damaged wood, or adjusting the frame alignment—it takes longer. We let you know upfront if we find issues that need addressing.
The time investment is worth it. A rushed installation might save you 15 minutes today, but you’ll spend hours dealing with a knob that doesn’t work right. Proper installation means you turn the knob and it just works, every single time, for years.
Yes, and it’s something we do regularly. Rose Valley’s Arts and Crafts era homes have unique door configurations that require a different approach than modern construction.
The key is understanding how these homes were built. The doors are often solid wood with different dimensions than today’s standard. The frames may have settled over 100+ years. The existing hardware might be original or close to it, which means removal requires care.
We measure everything before making any cuts or drilling any holes. We use the right tools for working with vintage wood. If you’re replacing hardware, we often reuse existing holes when possible to avoid creating new weak points in the door. When new holes are necessary, we make them precisely so the new hardware fits correctly and the door maintains its structural integrity.
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, wet, or if you have arthritis or limited grip strength. You can open a lever-style door with your elbow if needed. Knobs require a firm grip and wrist rotation, which isn’t always convenient or possible.
For Rose Valley homes, the choice often comes down to matching your home’s architectural style. Arts and Crafts era homes can work with either, but the finish and design should complement your home’s character. We can show you options that provide the functionality you need while respecting your home’s aesthetic. Some homeowners choose levers for frequently-used doors like the main entry and mudroom, and knobs for bedrooms and bathrooms where the traditional look matters more.
Installation typically runs $40 to $100 per door for labor, plus the cost of the hardware itself. The total depends on what you’re installing and whether your door needs any prep work.
A straightforward replacement where we’re swapping one knob for another in existing holes costs less than a new installation where we’re drilling fresh holes. If your door frame needs adjustment or the strike plate needs repositioning to fix alignment issues, that adds to the cost.
Hardware prices vary widely based on quality and features. A basic Kwikset residential knob might run $30 to $50. A high-security Medeco lock can cost several hundred dollars. We explain your options and let you decide what makes sense for your home and budget. The investment in quality hardware and proper installation pays off—you won’t be calling us back next month because something failed or doesn’t work right.
If we installed it, we stand behind the work. Properly installed door hardware with quality parts should function smoothly for years without issues.
The most common problems after installation—binding, loose knobs, latches that don’t catch—usually trace back to improper installation or low-quality hardware. When we install door knobs, we use manufacturer-approved parts and follow proper procedures. The latch goes in at the right angle. The strike plate aligns with the bolt. The screws get tightened to spec.
That said, hardware can wear out over time with heavy use, or doors can settle and shift in older homes. If you have issues after we’ve done the work, call us. We’ll come out, diagnose what’s happening, and fix it. We’ve been serving Delaware County families for 140+ years because we do the work right and we take care of problems when they come up.
Yes. If your door knob breaks and you can’t secure your home, that’s an emergency. We typically arrive within 20 to 30 minutes for emergency calls throughout Rose Valley and Delaware County.
Our dispatch system identifies which technician is closest to your location, so you get fast response when your security is compromised. We carry common replacement parts and hardware in our vehicles, which means we can often complete the repair or replacement during the same visit.
Emergency service costs more than scheduled appointments—that’s standard across the industry for after-hours and urgent calls. But you’re not waiting until tomorrow to secure your home, and you’re not trying to rig something yourself that might fail overnight. We get you back to secure and functional as quickly as possible, with proper installation that lasts.
Local Resources
