Hardware I swap and set
- Deadbolts and entry sets changed on front, side and back doors
- Keypad and app locks fitted to doors with a standard bore
- Knobs changed to levers for easier opening with full hands or stiff fingers
- Matching new locks so a single key works on every outside door
- Worn hinges replaced, and hinge pins freed or swapped when they squeak or bind
- Strikes moved, deepened and anchored with longer screws into the stud
Old doors, odd hardware
The City’s Housing Element preliminary report counts 52.3 percent of San Gabriel homes as more than 60 years old. Doors that age have usually had several sets of hardware, so I expect stacked screw holes, a strike mortise cut wider than the new plate, and sometimes an old mortise lock body inside the door that a modern deadbolt can’t simply replace.
When the door has a working vintage mortise lock, keeping it is often the better choice. A new cylinder or a good cleaning can bring it back, and a separate deadbolt can go above it. When it’s past saving, I fill the pocket and fit standard hardware so the door looks tidy from both sides.
From jiggly key to smooth latch
Check the door first
I measure thickness and backset, look at the old bore and strike, and make sure the door closes square before new hardware goes on.
Fill and fit
Oversized holes get a cover plate or a filled and redrilled bore so the new lock sits snug instead of wobbling.
Set the strike
The bolt has to throw all the way. The strike is moved or deepened as needed and fastened with long screws.
Test with you there
Every key, code and app setting is tried with you, and you keep the spare keys and the manual.
Jobs for a locksmith
Restricted keyways, master-key systems, safes and lockouts belong to a locksmith. If a door frame is badly split or the door itself has rotted at the lock, I tell you that before swapping hardware.
On the same San Gabriel visit, people also tend to ask about sticking door repair, weatherstripping and door sweeps or sliding glass door repair.
What to text
Photos of the lock from inside and outside, the edge of the door showing the bolt, and the box or model of any lock you already bought.
Lock and hardware questions from San Gabriel
Can a keypad lock go on an old wood door?
Usually, if the door takes a standard bore and closes cleanly. Very thick or thin doors may need an adapter kit, so I check the measurements before you buy.
My key is hard to turn. Do I need a new lock?
Not always. A dry cylinder or a strike that is out of line causes most of it. If cleaning and adjusting the strike don’t fix it, then I replace the lock.
Can you keep my old mortise lock?
Yes, when the body still works. I can clean it, change the cylinder, or add a separate deadbolt above it.
Will a lever fit where my knob is?
In most doors, yes. Levers use the same bore and are easier for children and older hands.
How much does it cost to change the locks?
It depends on how many doors and what hardware you choose. Text photos of each door and I send a free estimate before anything is booked.
Can you change locks between tenants?
Yes. Owners and managers send the unit address and lockbox code, and I hand back every new key.
What happens when a smart lock’s batteries run low?
Most warn you well ahead and still take a key. I show you where the batteries go and how the backup works.
Door hardware tips for San Gabriel homes
- Keeping vintage door hardware workingHow we repair, adjust and replace old mortise locks, glass knobs and skeleton-key hardware on the heavy doors in older San Gabriel homes.
- Fixing screen doors that slam, sag or will not latchHow we repair or replace screen doors, closers, latches and security door hardware on older San Gabriel homes.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our doors, cabinets and hardware group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.