Hear from Our Customers
You need door knobs that latch properly, turn smoothly, and actually keep your home secure. Not hardware that loosens up in six months because someone didn’t align the strike plate or tighten the screws correctly.
When door knob installation gets done right, you don’t think about it again. The lever turns without sticking. The latch catches every time. The whole assembly stays tight and functional for years, not weeks.
That’s what happens when someone who’s been doing this work since the late 1800s handles the job. You get hardware installed by people who understand how locks work, what goes wrong when installation gets rushed, and how to set everything up so it actually lasts. No callbacks. No loose knobs six months later. Just door hardware that works the way it’s supposed to from day one.
We’ve been serving Delaware County since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland runs the largest locksmith operation in the Delaware Valley from our Prospect Park storefront, right alongside his daughter Chrissy. That’s four generations of the same family doing the same work in the same area.
Wallingford homeowners call us because we show up when we say we will. No subcontractors. No call centers routing your job to whoever’s available. Just experienced technicians who know the difference between a quick fix and work that actually holds up in homes built in the 1960s with settling frames and older hardware configurations.
We carry Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco. We’re authorized to service all three, which means you’re getting manufacturer-approved parts and installation methods—not improvised workarounds that void warranties or create security gaps.
You call or reach out online. We schedule a time that works for your day—usually within 24 hours unless you need emergency service, in which case we’re typically there in 20 to 30 minutes.
When we arrive, we assess what you’ve got. Sometimes it’s a straightforward swap on a standard bore. Other times the old hardware damaged the door or the hole needs adjustment. We’ll tell you exactly what’s required before we start, including whether your existing door prep works with the new knob or if modifications are needed.
For a basic door knob replacement on a standard residential door, installation takes about 5 to 10 minutes once we’ve confirmed fitment. If you’re upgrading to a lever set, adding a deadbolt, or dealing with non-standard bore sizes, it takes longer—but we handle all of that in the same visit. We also rekey locks on the spot if you want everything keyed alike, which saves you a second appointment and gets your whole home’s access sorted at once.
Before we leave, we test the latch, check the alignment, and make sure everything operates smoothly. You shouldn’t have to adjust anything after we’re done.
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You’re not just paying for someone to turn a screwdriver. You’re getting proper alignment, secure mounting, and hardware that’s set up to last in a home that’s likely 60+ years old—because that’s the median build year in Wallingford, PA.
Older homes settle. Frames shift. Doors sag slightly over decades. A standard DIY installation doesn’t account for that, which is why knobs get loose or latches stop catching after a few months. Professional installation means we check the door’s swing, adjust strike plate placement if needed, and make sure the bolt extends and retracts cleanly without binding.
We also handle rekeying during the same visit if you want your new knobs keyed to match existing locks. That’s common when you’re replacing multiple doors or upgrading entry hardware—you don’t want to carry six different keys. And if you’re moving into a previously owned home in Wallingford, rekeying everything during installation means you’re the only one with access. No wondering who else might have a copy from the prior owner.
If you’re upgrading to smart locks or electronic lever sets, we program those on-site and walk you through how they work. Kwikset Kevo, Schlage Encode—we install and configure both, and we’ll show you how to add user codes or connect to your phone without making it feel like you need a computer science degree.
A straightforward door knob replacement on a standard residential door takes about 5 to 10 minutes once we’ve confirmed the new hardware fits your existing bore. That’s assuming the door prep is standard and nothing’s damaged or misaligned.
If the old knob stripped the screw holes, the bore size doesn’t match, or the door needs adjustments to latch properly, it takes longer. Same goes for lever installation on doors that have never had levers before—sometimes the prep work is different. We’ll tell you upfront if your situation needs extra time.
For most Wallingford homes, especially older ones built in the 1960s, we also check the door’s alignment and the frame’s condition. Settling and age can throw things off just enough that a new knob won’t work right unless we adjust the strike plate or shim the hinges. That adds a few minutes, but it’s the difference between hardware that works and hardware that frustrates you every time you use it.
We can install hardware you’ve already purchased, as long as it’s compatible with your door’s existing prep and it’s not a brand we can’t service. If you bought a standard Kwikset, Schlage, or Medeco knob set, we’re good to go.
Where this gets tricky is if the bore size doesn’t match or the backset is different from what your door was drilled for. Some newer knobs use a 2-3/8″ backset, but older doors—common in Wallingford—were often drilled for 2-3/4″. If that’s the case, we either need to redrill the door or you need different hardware. We’ll let you know before we start.
The other issue is warranty and support. If we install hardware we didn’t supply and something goes wrong with the lock itself, the manufacturer won’t cover it under warranty—and we can’t guarantee parts we didn’t provide. If you want coverage and you want to make sure everything’s compatible from the start, it’s usually easier to let us supply the hardware. We stock Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco, and we’re authorized for all three, so you’re getting manufacturer-backed products with proper installation.
A knob requires you to grip and twist. A lever just needs downward pressure. For most people, levers are easier—especially if you’re carrying something, your hands are wet, or you’ve got arthritis or reduced grip strength.
Levers are also required by ADA standards for accessibility, which is why you see them in commercial buildings and newer construction. If someone in your household has mobility issues, switching from knobs to levers makes a real difference in day-to-day usability.
The installation process is nearly identical for both, but levers put slightly different stress on the door because of the leverage angle. That’s usually not an issue, but on older or hollow-core doors, we sometimes reinforce the area around the bore to prevent sagging over time. It’s a small detail, but it matters if you want the hardware to stay tight and functional for years instead of months. We handle that during installation if your door needs it.
Not if it’s done correctly. We don’t force hardware into holes that don’t fit, and we don’t drill unless it’s necessary and you’ve approved it first.
Most door knob replacements use the existing bore and screw holes, so there’s no new drilling required. If your old hardware stripped the screw holes or the bore is damaged, we’ll repair that before installing the new knob—usually with longer screws, wood filler, or reinforcement plates, depending on what the door needs.
If you’re switching from a knob to a lever or upgrading to a different backset, we might need to enlarge the bore or adjust the strike plate mortise. We’ll explain exactly what’s required and why before we do anything. The goal is to install hardware that works without compromising your door’s integrity or appearance. We’ve been doing this since the late 1800s—we’re not learning on your property.
It depends on what you need done. A straightforward knob replacement on a standard door with no complications runs less than a full lever set installation on a door that needs bore adjustments or rekeying.
Labor for professional installation typically runs between $75 and $150 per door, depending on complexity. If you’re having multiple doors done at once, or if we’re rekeying locks during the same visit, the per-door cost usually drops because we’re already on-site.
Hardware costs vary based on what you choose. A basic Kwikset knob set is different from a Schlage commercial-grade lever or a Medeco high-security deadbolt combo. We’ll walk you through options based on what you actually need—not what costs the most. If you’re securing a home in Wallingford with a median value over $400,000, it’s worth using quality hardware that matches the investment you’ve made in the property. But we’re not going to upsell you on features that don’t make sense for your situation.
Yes, and we do it during the same visit if you want. Rekeying means we change the internal pins so your old keys no longer work—but your new locks can all use the same key.
This is common when you’re replacing door knobs after buying a home. You don’t know who has copies of the old keys—previous owners, contractors, neighbors who used to have access. Rekeying during installation means you’re the only one with a working key from day one.
It’s also useful if you’re upgrading multiple doors and you want everything keyed alike. Instead of carrying separate keys for the front door, back door, and garage entry, you get one key that works on all of them. We handle that on-site. It takes a few extra minutes per lock, but it’s faster and cheaper than scheduling a separate visit later. We carry the parts and tools to rekey Kwikset, Schlage, and Medeco locks, so unless you’ve got something unusual, we’ll take care of it while we’re there.
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