Totally get the struggle with old doors—mine’s from the ‘30s and nothing lines up right. I tried a bargain smart lock last winter and the batteries died during a cold snap. Ended up climbing through a window... not my proudest moment, but hey, it worked. I still stash a key in the garden shed, just in case. Sometimes old-school backup beats fancy tech.
Honestly, I get the appeal of keeping a backup key stashed, but I’ve always been a little paranoid about hiding keys outside. Maybe I just watched too many crime shows, but it feels like the first place someone would check is under the flowerpot or in the shed. Had a neighbor who did that and, sure enough, got burgled—though maybe that’s just bad luck.
I’ve had better luck with those keypad deadbolts (the kind with the physical buttons, not the touchscreen ones). They seem to handle cold weather better and no batteries to worry about freezing up. Plus, you don’t have to crawl through windows—which, let’s be honest, gets harder every year. Old doors are a pain, though. I’ve spent more time planing and shimming than I care to admit. Sometimes I wonder if the house is settling or just messing with me for fun...
Keypad deadbolts with physical buttons are a solid choice, especially in colder climates. I’ve seen way too many touchscreens freeze up or drain batteries fast when the temps drop. Mechanical keypads just keep working.
Couple of things to watch for with old doors:
- If you’re planing and shimming a lot, check the hinges first. Sometimes just tightening or replacing screws with longer ones (3” into the framing) can pull a sagging door back into alignment.
- Settling is common, but if you notice new cracks or doors getting worse quickly, might be worth checking the foundation or at least making sure water isn’t pooling near the house.
- Weatherstripping can get compressed over time, making doors stick more than they should. Cheap fix—just swap it out.
I’m with you on not hiding keys outside. Too easy for someone to find, and those fake rocks never fool anyone. If you want a backup, maybe give one to a neighbor you trust or stash it in your car’s glovebox (just not with ID info).
Crawling through windows... yeah, that gets less fun every year.
Honestly, I’m always surprised how many people overlook the door alignment thing. Had a client who was convinced her old lock was busted, but it turned out the door had shifted just enough that nothing lined up right. Quick hinge fix and it was good as new.
I do like the idea of stashing a backup key in the car, though I always wonder—what if you lock yourself out of both? Maybe a combo lockbox somewhere discreet on your property? Not perfect, but less obvious than a fake rock. And yeah, crawling through windows isn’t exactly on my list of favorite activities either...
I do like the idea of stashing a backup key in the car, though I always wonder—what if you lock yourself out of both? Maybe a combo lockbox somewhere discreet on your property? Not perfect, but less obvious than a fake rock.
That’s always my worry with the “key in the car” trick too—especially if you’re like me and tend to misplace things when you’re in a rush. The combo lockbox idea seems safer, but I’ve heard mixed things about how secure those actually are. Has anyone tried one of the heavy-duty ones? I keep wondering if it’s worth spending a bit more for something that’ll actually hold up, or if it’s just another thing for someone to pry open.
Also, does anyone have tips for making sure your door doesn’t shift over time? I feel like our front door gets sticky every winter and then loosens up again in summer. Is that just normal with older houses, or am I missing some easy fix? I’d rather avoid paying for a locksmith if it’s something simple.
