Hear from Our Customers
A door knob that sticks, rattles, or refuses to latch isn’t just annoying. It’s a security risk and a daily frustration you shouldn’t have to deal with.
When your door hardware works the way it should, you’re not standing outside in the cold fumbling with keys. You’re not worried about whether the lock actually engaged when you left for work. You’re not explaining to guests why they need to lift and push at the same time.
Professional door knob installation means the hardware fits your door correctly, operates smoothly, and lasts. You get the security you’re paying for without the headaches that come from improper installation or cheap parts that fail in six months.
We’ve been doing locksmith work in Delaware County since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland learned the trade from his father, who learned from his father before him.
Today, Tom and his daughter Chrissy run the largest locksmith operation in the Delaware Valley from our Prospect Park storefront at 1101 Lincoln Ave. That’s less than three miles from Sharon Hill, where many of the homes were built in the 1950s and still have original hardware that’s seen better days.
When your neighbors recommend us, they’re recommending 140+ years of doing this work right. No upselling, no games with pricing, just straightforward service from people who know what they’re doing.
You call or stop by our Prospect Park storefront to describe what you need. If you’re replacing existing hardware, we’ll ask about your current setup and what problems you’re having. If you’re upgrading for security or style, we’ll discuss options that fit your budget and door type.
A technician arrives in a fully equipped van with the tools and parts needed for your specific job. Most door knob installations take 30 to 45 minutes per door, depending on whether we’re working with existing holes or need to modify the door for new hardware.
We install the new door knob or lever using OEM parts, test it multiple times to confirm smooth operation, and adjust the strike plate so everything latches properly. You’ll know immediately if something feels off because we test it in front of you. If you need rekeying or want all your locks to work on the same key, we handle that during the same visit.
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Door knob installation covers more than just swapping out the visible hardware. We assess your door’s condition, check the existing bore holes, and determine if your door can support the new hardware without modifications. Some older doors in Sharon Hill need reinforcement plates or adjusted cutouts, especially if you’re upgrading from a passage knob to a keyed entry set.
We stock quality brands like Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco because they use standardized measurements and offer OEM replacement parts. That matters when something needs service three years from now. Big box store brands often discontinue models, leaving you stuck replacing the entire lockset instead of a single component.
The installation includes proper alignment of the latch bolt, strike plate adjustment, and testing under real-world conditions. We make sure the door closes without resistance and the lock engages smoothly every time. If you’re replacing multiple door knobs throughout your home, we can rekey everything to work on a single key so you’re not carrying around a ring full of nearly identical keys.
Most residential door knob installations run between $100 and $200 per door, depending on the hardware you choose and whether we’re working with existing holes or need to modify the door. That includes the service call, labor, and basic installation hardware like screws and strike plates.
The hardware itself ranges from $30 for a basic passage knob to $150+ for a high-security keyed entry set. We don’t mark up parts significantly because we’d rather you invest in quality hardware that lasts than cheap stuff that fails and makes us both look bad.
If you need multiple doors done at once, the per-door cost drops because we’re already on site. Rekeying to match existing keys adds about $20 per lock. We’ll give you a clear price before starting work, and that’s what you’ll pay.
Yes, and that’s exactly why most people call us instead of attempting it themselves. Door knob installation requires precise drilling and chiseling if you’re creating new holes or enlarging existing ones. One mistake with a spade bit and you’ve got a hole that’s too large, which compromises security and looks terrible.
We use jigs and templates to ensure holes are drilled at the correct height and depth. The latch bore and cross bore need to align perfectly or your door knob won’t operate smoothly. We also know how to work with different door materials – a solid wood door from 1954 requires different techniques than a modern hollow core door.
If your door already has damage from a previous installation attempt or forced entry, we’ll assess whether it can be repaired or if you need to consider door replacement. We’re honest about what’s fixable and what’s not.
The installation process is nearly identical, but levers offer some practical advantages depending on your situation. Both use the same bore hole configuration and latch mechanism. The main difference is how you operate them – knobs require a twisting grip while levers work with downward pressure.
Levers are easier to operate if you’re carrying groceries, have arthritis, or have kids who struggle with the grip strength needed for knobs. They’re also required by ADA accessibility standards in commercial settings, though many homeowners choose them simply for convenience.
The hardware costs about the same, and installation time is identical. If you’re replacing knobs with levers, we use the existing holes in most cases. Some older doors might need the latch hole adjusted slightly, but that’s a quick modification that doesn’t compromise the door’s integrity.
A quality door knob installed correctly should last 15 to 25 years with normal residential use. The key factors are hardware quality and proper installation. Cheap locksets with pot metal components might last three to five years before internal parts wear out or break.
We install brands like Schlage and Kwikset because their internal mechanisms are designed for hundreds of thousands of cycles. The weak point is usually the finish on the exterior hardware, not the lock mechanism itself. Even then, worn finishes are cosmetic issues, not functional failures.
Proper installation extends lifespan significantly. If the door knob isn’t aligned correctly, the latch drags against the strike plate every time you close the door. That creates unnecessary wear and eventually causes the latch to stick or fail. When we install hardware, we adjust everything so the door operates smoothly without resistance.
New door knobs come with keys, but they won’t match your existing house keys unless you specifically order them keyed alike or have them rekeyed after installation. Most homeowners want all their exterior doors to work on the same key, which means rekeying the new lock to match your existing key.
We can rekey your new door knob during installation so you’re not adding another key to your ring. The process takes about five minutes per lock and costs around $20. If you’re replacing multiple locks, we can key them all alike to a single key you choose.
Some people use new lock installation as an opportunity to rekey their entire house, especially if they’ve lost track of who has keys over the years. That’s common in Sharon Hill where many homes have changed hands multiple times. Starting fresh with a new key that only you and your family have makes sense from a security standpoint.
Yes, if you bring us a photo or the existing hardware, we can match finish and style closely. Most manufacturers offer similar designs across their product lines, so finding a match for your current aesthetic isn’t difficult.
The challenge comes when you’re trying to match hardware that’s 20 or 30 years old and the manufacturer has discontinued that specific finish or style. In those cases, we’ll show you the closest current options and explain what’s different. Sometimes it makes more sense to replace all your visible hardware at once so everything matches, rather than having one door that’s slightly off.
We keep common finishes in stock at our Prospect Park location – satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, polished brass, and matte black cover most residential needs. If you need something specific, we can order it, though that adds a few days to the timeline. For most door knob replacements in Sharon Hill, we have what you need on the van or can grab it from the shop within the hour.
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