Hear from Our Customers
Your door hardware gets used dozens of times every day. Kids rushing in and out. Groceries in both hands. Letting the dog out at 6 AM before coffee. That constant use means your knobs and levers need to be installed right, or you’ll deal with loose handles, misaligned latches, and doors that won’t stay closed.
Professional door knob installation means the hardware sits flush, the latch catches every time, and the mechanism doesn’t wobble after a month. You’re not calling someone back to fix what should’ve been done correctly the first time.
In Rutledge, where 85% of residents own their homes with a median value pushing $361,000, your door hardware should match the quality of everything else you’ve invested in. Proper installation also means better energy efficiency since gaps around poorly fitted hardware let conditioned air escape, which adds up on your utility bills over time.
We’ve been handling locksmith work since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland and his daughter Chrissy run what’s become the largest locksmith operation in the Delaware Valley, serving Rutledge and the surrounding Delaware County area from our fully stocked location in nearby Prospect Park.
You’re not getting a call center or a subcontractor. You’re getting locksmiths who’ve been doing this work for over 140 years as a family business. That means we know the difference between hardware that’ll last and hardware that’ll fail in six months.
Rutledge residents have access to the same expertise and inventory that our commercial clients rely on. The same attention to detail. The same manufacturer-approved parts from Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco that ensure your door hardware actually functions the way it’s supposed to.
The process starts with looking at what you currently have and what you need. Different doors require different hardware. A bathroom needs a privacy lock. An entry door needs keyed security. A closet just needs a passage knob. Getting that wrong means buying hardware twice.
Once you’ve selected the right hardware, the existing knob or lever comes off. We check the bore holes to make sure they’re the right size and properly aligned. If your door has shifted over time or the previous hardware was installed incorrectly, those holes might need adjustment before the new hardware goes in.
The new knob or lever gets installed with the strike plate properly aligned so the latch actually catches when you close the door. Everything gets tightened to manufacturer specifications, tested multiple times, and adjusted if needed. You should be able to close that door from any angle and have it latch smoothly without forcing it.
For keyed entry locks, we can key them to match your existing keys or rekey your other locks so everything works on the same key. That’s done during the same visit, so you’re not juggling multiple keys for different doors.
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Professional door knob installation covers the full scope of getting your hardware working correctly. That includes removing old hardware without damaging your door or frame, installing new knobs or levers with proper alignment, and making sure the latch mechanism engages smoothly every single time.
You also get hardware from manufacturers that actually stand behind their products. Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco aren’t budget brands you’ll find falling apart after a year. They’re what commercial properties use because they hold up under constant use. For Rutledge homes where property values have increased nearly 5% year-over-year, that quality matters.
If you’re replacing multiple door knobs, we can key them all alike so you’re not carrying separate keys for your front door, back door, and garage entry. That’s a small detail that makes daily life simpler, especially when you’re coming home with your hands full.
The service also includes checking your door’s alignment and the condition of your strike plates. A new knob won’t fix a door that’s sagging on its hinges or a strike plate that’s mounted incorrectly. Catching those issues during installation means you get a door that actually works instead of just new hardware on a problem that’s still there.
Professional door knob installation typically runs between $95 and $155 per door, depending on the type of hardware you’re installing. A basic passage knob for a closet or hallway sits at the lower end of that range. Privacy knobs for bathrooms or keyed entry locks for exterior doors cost more because they involve more complex mechanisms and additional security features.
That price includes the labor to remove your old hardware, install the new knob or lever correctly, and make sure everything functions smoothly. It doesn’t include the cost of the hardware itself, which varies based on the brand and features you choose.
Some situations cost more. If your door has damage around the bore holes from previous installations, or if the door has shifted and needs adjustment before new hardware can be installed properly, that adds to the labor time. If you want multiple locks keyed alike, there’s usually an additional charge for the rekeying service, though it’s typically done during the same visit.
You can install a door knob yourself if you have the right tools and the existing bore holes are in good condition. Most hardware comes with installation instructions, and the process is straightforward if everything lines up correctly.
The problem is that “if everything lines up correctly” part. Doors shift over time. Old hardware might have been installed incorrectly. The bore holes might be slightly off. The door might not be hanging quite square anymore. When any of those issues exist, a DIY installation often means you’ll end up with a knob that doesn’t latch properly, sits crooked, or loosens up after a few weeks of use.
Professional installation makes sense when you’re dealing with exterior doors where security matters, when you’re replacing multiple knobs and want them all keyed alike, or when you’re installing higher-end hardware that you don’t want to risk damaging during installation. It also makes sense if you’ve tried installing it yourself and the door still isn’t working right. We can spot alignment issues, door problems, or other factors that affect how the hardware functions, which saves you from buying the wrong parts or doing the job twice.
Installing a single door knob typically takes 20 to 45 minutes for a straightforward replacement where the new hardware fits the existing holes and the door is in good condition. That includes removing the old knob, installing the new one, and testing it to make sure it latches and locks properly.
The timeline extends if there are complications. If the bore holes need to be enlarged or adjusted, that adds time. If the door has shifted and the strike plate needs to be repositioned, that’s additional work. If you’re having multiple locks rekeyed to work on the same key, each lock adds a few minutes to the total time.
For multiple doors, you’re looking at roughly 30 minutes per door on average, though we can often work more efficiently when doing several doors during the same visit. An entire house with six or seven doors might take three to four hours depending on the specific hardware and any adjustments needed. We can give you a more accurate time estimate once we see what you’re working with.
Door knobs are round and you twist them to operate the latch. Door levers have a handle that you push down to open the door. Both do the same basic job, but they work differently in practice.
Levers are easier to use when your hands are full or if you have arthritis or limited grip strength. You can push a lever down with your elbow or forearm. You can’t do that with a knob. That’s why levers are often required by building codes in commercial spaces and why many homeowners prefer them, especially on frequently used doors.
Knobs are more traditional and some people prefer the look, particularly on older homes. They also tend to be slightly more secure on exterior doors because they’re harder to force open with tools. That said, modern levers with good deadbolts provide plenty of security for residential use.
The installation process is essentially the same for both. They use the same size bore holes and the same basic latch mechanism. If you’re replacing a knob with a lever or vice versa, the existing holes usually work fine as long as they’re standard size. The choice comes down to what you prefer using and what matches your home’s style.
Replacing all your door knobs at once makes sense if you’re updating your home’s look, if your current hardware is old and starting to fail, or if you want all your keyed locks to work on the same key. It’s more efficient to have us do multiple doors in one visit rather than calling us back separately for each door.
The cost savings aren’t dramatic, but you do save on the service call fee and our travel time. More importantly, we can have all your entry locks keyed alike during that same visit, which means you’re not carrying three different keys for your front door, back door, and garage entry.
If your door hardware is working fine and you’re just replacing one broken knob, there’s no need to replace everything. But if you’re noticing that multiple knobs are getting loose, sticking, or showing their age, doing them all at once means you’re done with door hardware for the next several years.
For Rutledge homeowners who are updating their homes, matching door hardware throughout the house is one of those details that makes everything look more cohesive. It’s not essential, but it’s the kind of finishing touch that makes sense when you’re already having the work done.
Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco are the three brands that consistently hold up under daily use. They’re what you’ll find in commercial buildings and higher-end residential properties because they’re built to last and the companies actually support their products with available parts and warranties.
Kwikset offers good quality at a reasonable price point and their SmartKey technology lets you rekey the lock yourself if you need to. Schlage is a step up in durability and security, with heavier construction and stronger internal mechanisms. Medeco is the premium option, often used in commercial settings where security is critical, with pick-resistant cylinders and extremely durable construction.
All three brands offer a range of styles and finishes, so you’re not sacrificing appearance for quality. They also use standard sizing, which means installation is straightforward and replacement parts are readily available if you ever need them.
Budget hardware from big box stores might save you money upfront, but it tends to fail sooner. The internal mechanisms are lighter, the finishes wear off faster, and when something breaks, you’re usually replacing the entire unit rather than fixing it. For a home in Rutledge where the median property value is over $361,000, spending a bit more on door hardware that’ll last makes more sense than replacing cheap hardware every few years.
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