Hear from Our Customers
A door knob that doesn’t catch. A latch that lines up on the first try. Hardware that matches the rest of your home and doesn’t feel loose two weeks later.
That’s what proper installation gets you. No guessing if the backset measurement is right. No wondering if that wiggle in the handle means you’re going to be dealing with this again in six months. Just doors that work the way they’re supposed to.
Most homes in Upland were built in the 1950s and 60s. The door frames aren’t always square. The existing holes don’t always match modern hardware dimensions. A professional residential locksmith knows how to work with what’s already there instead of forcing parts that don’t quite fit. That’s the difference between a door knob replacement that lasts and one that becomes another item on your to-do list.
We’ve been handling locksmith services in Delaware County since the late 1800s. That’s not marketing language—it’s actual family history spanning 140+ years and four generations of locksmiths who’ve worked on everything from Victorian-era mortise locks to modern smart lock systems.
We operate the largest locksmith operation in the Delaware Valley from our Prospect Park storefront. You’re not calling a guy with a van. You’re working with a full-service shop that stocks the parts, employs trained technicians, and has the tools to handle lever installation, door knob services, and security upgrades without making multiple trips.
Upland sits right in our service area. We know the housing stock here—the mix of post-war construction, the older homes near the borough center, the split-levels that went up in the 70s. We’ve worked on most of them at some point over the past century and a half.
You call or stop by the shop. We ask about the door, the existing hardware, and what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re replacing a broken knob, upgrading to a lever for accessibility, or switching to a smart lock, we’ll talk through options that actually fit your door and your budget.
We schedule a time that works for you. Our mobile units carry the tools and common parts, so most door knob installation jobs get completed in one visit. If you’ve picked out specific hardware, we’ll work with what you’ve chosen. If you need recommendations, we’ll show you options from Kwikset, Schlage, or Medeco based on your door type and security needs.
The technician measures the backset, checks the door thickness, and confirms the bore hole size before installing anything. If the existing holes need adjustment or the strike plate needs repositioning, that gets handled during the same visit. You’re not left with a half-installed door knob and a list of things to figure out on your own.
Once everything’s installed, we test the latch, check the alignment, and make sure the door closes smoothly. If you’re getting locks rekeyed or need multiple doors done, we handle that while we’re there. The goal is to finish the job completely, not create a reason for a callback.
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Proper door knob installation means more than just threading screws into a door. It’s measuring the backset to confirm whether you need a 2-3/8″ or 2-3/4″ latch. It’s checking if your door is 1-3/8″ or 1-3/4″ thick so the hardware sits flush. It’s making sure the strike plate aligns with the latch bolt so your door actually latches when you close it.
In Upland’s older homes, you’ll sometimes find doors that have been trimmed, frames that have settled, or previous hardware installations that left oversized holes. We handle those issues during installation instead of discovering them after the fact. We’ll use longer screws when the frame needs it, shim the strike plate if the alignment is off, or fill and redrill holes that don’t match the new hardware.
If you’re upgrading to lever handles for easier operation, we’ll confirm the door swing and hand the lever correctly so it operates smoothly. If you’re adding keyless entry or smart lock technology, we’ll make sure it’s compatible with your existing deadbolt and door prep. Delaware County has a median household income around $88,000-$96,000, and most homeowners here are investing in quality hardware that improves both security and convenience. We install what lasts, using OEM parts that won’t need replacement in a year.
Most door knob installations take 20 to 45 minutes per door, depending on whether we’re working with existing holes or need to make adjustments. If your door already has standard bore holes and the new hardware matches the old backset, installation is straightforward.
The timeline extends if we’re converting from a knob to a lever, upgrading to a smart lock, or dealing with non-standard door prep. Older homes in Upland sometimes have unique door thicknesses or previous installations that require extra work. We’ll know within the first few minutes of looking at the door whether it’s a quick swap or needs additional prep.
If you’re having multiple doors done or adding rekeying services, we handle everything during the same visit. Our mobile units are set up to complete the job without needing to leave for parts or tools.
Yes. If you’ve already purchased hardware, we’ll install it as long as it’s compatible with your door. Bring the packaging or let us know the brand and model when you call, and we can confirm whether it’ll work with your existing door prep.
Sometimes the hardware people buy doesn’t match their door’s backset or thickness. If that’s the case, we’ll let you know before we start. You can return it and get the right size, or we can provide compatible hardware from our stock of Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco products.
The advantage of working with a locksmith shop is that we can identify fit issues before installation. That saves you the frustration of discovering the latch is too short or the bore hole is the wrong diameter after you’ve already opened the package and started the return clock.
A passage knob is for doors that don’t need to lock—closets, hallways, or rooms where you just need the door to latch. There’s no locking mechanism on either side.
A privacy knob is for bathrooms and bedrooms. It locks from the inside with a push button or twist mechanism, and there’s an emergency release on the outside (usually a small hole you can unlock with a pin or screwdriver).
An entry knob is for exterior doors. It has a keyed cylinder on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. These provide actual security, not just privacy. Most entry doors also have a deadbolt above the knob for additional protection.
If you’re replacing hardware, it’s important to match the function to the door. Installing a passage knob on a bathroom creates obvious problems. Installing a privacy knob on an exterior door leaves your home unsecured. We’ll confirm the door function before installation to make sure you’re getting the right hardware.
Yes. We install smart locks, keyless entry systems, and electronic deadbolts from major manufacturers. These include Wi-Fi-enabled locks, Bluetooth models, keypad entry systems, and locks that integrate with home automation platforms.
Smart lock installation requires confirming your door is compatible with the hardware. Some models need specific door thicknesses, backsets, or bore hole sizes. We’ll check those measurements before installation to avoid compatibility issues.
If you’re adding a smart lock to an existing deadbolt location, we’ll make sure the door prep matches. If you’re upgrading from a standard knob to a full smart entry system, we’ll handle the additional installation requirements. Most smart locks also need battery setup and programming, which we complete during the installation so everything works before we leave.
A loose door knob usually means the screws have come out of the door, the set screw on the handle has loosened, or the strike plate has shifted. Most of these are quick fixes if you catch them early.
If the knob isn’t latching, the issue is typically misalignment between the latch bolt and the strike plate. Doors settle over time, especially in older Upland homes where the framing has shifted slightly. The latch might be hitting the strike plate instead of sliding into the opening, or the bolt might not be extending far enough to catch.
Lever repair and door knob services often involve tightening hardware, repositioning the strike plate, or replacing worn internal components. If the knob is old and the mechanism is failing, replacement is usually more cost-effective than trying to repair stripped threads or broken springs. We’ll assess what’s actually wrong and give you a straight answer about whether it’s worth fixing or replacing.
Installation cost depends on the hardware you’re using, how many doors you need done, and whether the existing door prep needs modification. A straightforward swap on a standard door with compatible hardware is less expensive than custom work on a non-standard door or a full smart lock installation.
We give clear pricing before starting any work. You’ll know what the installation costs, what the hardware costs (if you’re using ours), and whether there are any additional charges for things like rekeying, strike plate adjustment, or hole modification.
Most residential locksmith services in Delaware County charge either a flat rate per door or an hourly rate plus materials. We don’t pad the bill with unnecessary add-ons or push services you don’t need. If your door just needs a new knob installed and nothing else is wrong, that’s what you’ll pay for. If we find an issue that needs attention—like a damaged frame or misaligned hinges—we’ll explain what’s happening and what it costs to fix before doing the work.
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