The buildings and the hardware
The building stock here tends to put particular demands on hardware. Many homes have older wood doors or metal frames that have shifted over time, so strikes and faceplates are often misaligned and latch engagement is a common failure. Multi-unit buildings typically keep original mortise or rim locks that need different tools and pins than modern bored locks, while some newer apartments use lighter tubular or hollow-core doors with thinner latch hardware that strips more easily. Storefronts and offices sometimes have heavy-duty exit devices or surface-mounted locks, so we carry parts and experience to adapt to both vintage and newer installations.
