New Locks Fitted to Roswell's Original Doors
Measured to your door's existing holes by a 10-person team based in Marietta.
Your original door can take a modern lock
Most original doors can take a modern lock once the old holes are measured.
Peach Locksmith LLC works on existing doors across Roswell's 30075 and 30076 zip codes from our dispatch at 2108 Austell Rd SW in Marietta. Before we choose any hardware, we check three things on the door's edge: the backset, the bore, and whether a mortise pocket is there. What we find decides which locks will fit and whether the wood needs work first.
- 2-3/8" backsetA common modern size. Many new locks drop straight in when the bore is sound.
- 2-3/4" backsetThe other common modern size. Many new locks adjust between the two.
- Older or mortise doorMay match neither size. Old holes may need filling, or the mortise pocket shapes the choice.
How we read an older door before choosing hardware
We read the door first and choose the hardware second.
A call we often get from near Canton Street sounds like this. Someone has bought an older home and wants a new deadbolt. They also want to keep the original wood door.
So we start at the door's edge. Is there a mortise lock, a boxy lock set into a deep pocket cut into the edge? If there is, it shapes every choice that follows.
Next comes the tape measure. We check the backset, the distance from the door's edge to the center of the lock hole. Then we look at the bore hole that holds the lock body, and the edge bore where the latch passes through. Old bores can be worn, undersized or slightly off-round, and the two holes must line up cleanly.
Last, we close the door slowly and watch the bolt meet the strike plate on the frame. On a house that has settled, the strike often sits a little high or low.
Only then do we talk hardware. Sometimes a modern lock drops right in. Sometimes the old holes need filling first. The lock is rarely the hard part. The door is.
Our deadbolt installation work on original doors follows this same measure-first routine, whether the door is on a Canton Street porch or anywhere else in 30075 and 30076.
Georgia humidity changes how an old door closes
Solid wood swells in summer and shrinks back in winter, and older frames settle.
No third-party dispatch. Crews leave from Marietta and reach metro homes within the scheduled window.
A latch that slides easily in March can bind by August. That is normal for solid wood doors in Georgia's humid summers, and it matters more on an older door that has already shifted over the decades.
Older Roswell homes often show this in the strike plate. The frame settles, the bolt lands a little high or low, and the door has to be pushed or lifted to lock. That is why we set the strike last, lined up to where the bolt actually lands.
We also explain how old wood moves in humid months, so you can tell the difference between a small seasonal change and a lock that needs adjusting.
Planning a lock for an original door
Tell us about your door and we'll plan the fit from there.
When you call, it helps to know the door's approximate age, the lock on it now, and what you'd like to add, such as a deadbolt, a high-security cylinder or a smart lock.
If you're not sure what kind of lock is in the door, look at its edge. A long, narrow faceplate usually points to a mortise lock. A small round latch usually means a bored cylindrical lock. Either way, we measure at the door before choosing hardware.
Call 678-824-6578 or email info@peachlocksmithllc.com.
We measure first and fit second
Every install follows the same order: measure, match, then mount.
- Measure before choosingwe record backset, bore size and door thickness before we pick any lock
- Match the doormany new locks adjust between 2-3/8" and 2-3/4" backsets, and we confirm the fit on your door before installing
- Fill, don't forcewhen a new lock doesn't fit old door holes, we rebuild the wood so the lock sits tight
- Square the edge borewe check the latch hole against the bore hole so the latch slides straight
- Respect the mortiseif the door has a mortise lock, we look first at options that work with that pocket
- Set the strike lastthe strike plate goes on after the lock, lined up to where the bolt actually lands
- Grade to suitwe suggest an ANSI/BHMA grade that fits how often the door gets used, with a high-security cylinder where it fits
A retrofit install from bore to strike
A retrofit install moves from the bore to the strike, one step at a time.
Reading the door, edge and frame
We look at the door's face, edge and frame. We measure backset, bore and thickness, and note any old holes, worn wood or a mortise pocket. Then we close the door and see where the bolt meets the strike plate. This step shapes everything after it.
Fitting the lock to the holes
If the holes match, the new lock goes in as designed. If they don't, we fill the gaps first. A snug hardwood plug and glue can rebuild a worn or oversized area, and once it sets we drill again at the right size. Where filling isn't the best choice, a wider rose, the round trim plate behind the knob, can cover an old hole.
Testing the bolt at the strike
We turn the key and work the bolt many times with the door open, then repeat it with the door closed. The bolt should slide fully into the strike without a push or a lift.
Roswell neighborhoods we reach from Marietta
We serve all of Roswell, from the historic district to both zip codes.
We cover Roswell's 30075 and 30076 zip codes, including the older homes around Canton Street and the historic district. Nearby, we also serve Alpharetta, Milton, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Woodstock, along with Marietta, Kennesaw and many other metro Atlanta communities.
- Smyrna
- Marietta
Questions Roswell owners ask about older door hardware
Can I keep my original front door and still add a modern deadbolt?
In most cases, yes. Once the backset, bore and edge bore are measured, a modern lock or deadbolt can usually be fitted to the existing door. Sometimes the old holes need filling first so the new hardware sits tight.
What is backset, and why does it matter on an older door?
Backset is the distance from the door's edge to the center of the lock hole. Today's locks are commonly made for 2-3/8" or 2-3/4". An older door may match neither, so we measure it before choosing hardware.
What happens if a new lock doesn't fit the old holes in my door?
We rebuild the wood with a snug hardwood plug and glue, let it set, then drill again at the right size. When filling isn't the best choice, a wider rose can cover an old hole.
Will a high-security lock make my original door look modern?
It doesn't have to. A high-security cylinder can often fit inside hardware sized for the existing door. We also look at the door's color and trim before suggesting a finish such as oil-rubbed bronze, satin nickel or polished brass.
Why does my lock work in spring but stick in summer?
Solid wood swells in Georgia's humid summers and shrinks back in winter, and older frames settle. That can shift where the bolt meets the strike plate. A small seasonal change is normal. If you have to push or lift the door to lock it, the strike may need adjusting.
Other services we provide
Ready to fit a new lock to the door you love?
Keep your original door and add a lock that fits it well.
Call Peach Locksmith LLC at (678) 824-6578 or email info@peachlocksmithllc.com. Tell us the door's age and the lock on it now, and we'll plan the fit for your Roswell home.