What goes wrong
We handle the failures homeowners run into most often: jambs swollen by humidity that bind the latch, deadbolts with bent tailpieces, cylinder pins that stick from corrosion, and broken key sections left in a lock. On framed doors we check the strike and the screws that hold it to the jamb; on metal doors we look at the bolt alignment and the reinforced strike plate. If a cylinder is badly worn we disassemble to inspect the plug, pins and cam before deciding whether to rekey, repair or replace the core.
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What the job involves
When a keyed entry will not turn we usually remove the cylinder to see whether the keyway is full of debris, the plug is scored, or a retaining clip or tailpiece has failed. For swelled wooden doors we take the latch apart and check the faceplate and the strike plate alignment, sometimes adjusting the strike or fitting a curved strike for better bolt travel. With sliding doors and patio hardware we inspect rollers, guides and the mortise housing so the lock engages cleanly rather than forcing the latch.
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Good to know
While you wait we ask that you secure pets and move any furniture away from the door so we can work without obstruction. If it’s a lockout we’ll want to know which keys you still have and whether there’s an alternate entrance you can use; if you’ve lost keys, let us know how many sets you want cut or rekeyed. Have photo ID ready and, where applicable, the deed or utility bill handy to confirm occupancy when we change hardware or rekey a mailbox or garage door, especially in rental situations.
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Worth knowing
We bring parts and tools from Havertown and work on whatever the job requires at your door in West Nantmeal Township, whether it’s a solid deadbolt, a long-throw multi-point mechanism, or a mortise lock in an older house. We replace stripped screws with longer, forged fasteners and fit reinforced strike plates when the frame needs it. For mail slots, porch locks and interior privacy latches we use the parts that match the function you want rather than just swapping like for like. We patch or dress the wood around an altered mortise so the door closes cleanly after the job.
