I get the appeal of smart locks, but honestly, I don’t trust them on my old place. Too many stories about glitches or apps crashing right when you need them. My house still has the original hardware from the 1920s—solid brass deadbolt, weighs a ton, and never once failed me. A hidden key in the garden gnome’s foot has bailed me out more than any “smart” gadget ever could. Sometimes old-school just works better, especially with these drafty doors that barely line up anyway.
That brass deadbolt has seen more decades than most smart gadgets will ever survive. Honestly, those old doors are their own kind of security system—half the time you need to know the secret handshake just to get them open. I’ve installed plenty of smart locks in newer homes, but on a drafty 1920s door? Sometimes tech just doesn’t play nice with character. If it ain’t broke (and your gnome’s still got your back), I say stick with what works.
Totally get where you’re coming from. Those old doors have quirks you just can’t replicate—half the time, the frame’s not even square anymore, so good luck getting a smart lock to line up right. I’ve tried retrofitting a few and it’s always a headache. Plus, there’s something about the weight and feel of a solid brass deadbolt that just feels… safer? Maybe it’s nostalgia talking, but sometimes the old-school stuff just works better with all that character.
Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?
That’s such a good point about the old doors and their quirks. I’ve run into the same thing with clients who want to keep their original doors but also want the convenience of smart locks. It’s always a bit of a puzzle—sometimes you can make it work with a lot of sanding and adjusting, but other times, it just feels like you’re fighting the door every step of the way. Have you ever tried one of those retrofit smart locks that just go over the existing deadbolt? I’m curious if those actually hold up on older, slightly warped frames, or if they just end up being more trouble than they’re worth.
I totally get what you mean about the feel of a solid brass deadbolt. There’s something reassuring about that weight and the sound it makes when it clicks shut. Maybe it is nostalgia, but I think there’s also something to be said for how those older locks were built—less plastic, more metal, and they seem to last forever if you keep them oiled. But then again, I’ve had clients who swear by their smart locks because they’re always losing keys or need to let dog walkers in when they’re not home.
Have you ever had a situation where you were locked out and had to choose between calling a locksmith or trying to jimmy your way back in? I always wonder if people with smart locks feel more secure or just end up with different kinds of headaches (like dead batteries at the worst possible time). Would you ever consider swapping out an old lock for something high-tech, or do you think it’s better to stick with what works—even if it means carrying around an extra key?
Locked Out Drama—What Would You Do?
I’ve wondered about those retrofit smart locks too, especially for doors that aren’t exactly straight anymore. Does anyone actually trust them long-term, or do they just end up being a band-aid fix? I had a place once where the door swelled in the summer and you basically had to hip-check it to get it closed—can’t imagine a smart lock would’ve survived that. If you had to pick, would you rather risk tech headaches or stick with old-school reliability, even if it means dealing with quirks?
