The cardboard shim thing... honestly, that’s the kind of fix I see in old houses all the time. As long as it works, right?
I get the appeal of a quick fix, but honestly, those cardboard shims tend to compress over time and you end up right back where you started. I’ve swapped out so many of those with thin wood or even plastic shims—lasts way longer, and you don’t get that weird “crunch” when you close the door. As for painting the keypad, I’ve seen it done, but it’s tricky. Sometimes it just draws more attention, especially if the finish doesn’t match perfectly. I’d probably lean toward swapping out the whole escutcheon for something closer to the original style, if you can find it. Some of those reproduction companies have started making smart lock-compatible plates, but they’re not cheap.
Yeah, I hear you on the shims. Cardboard’s just asking for trouble down the line, but hey, we’ve all done it in a pinch. Upgrading to a keyless entry is a solid move though—makes life so much easier. Matching hardware is always a pain, but it’s worth it if you want things to look right. Those reproduction plates are pricey, but sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet if you want the old house charm with modern convenience.
I totally get the struggle with matching hardware—sometimes it feels like a scavenger hunt, especially with older homes. When I did my keyless entry, I ended up spray painting the new lock to match the original brass. Not perfect, but it blends in way better than the mismatched look. For those reproduction plates, I’ve found some decent deals at salvage yards if you’re willing to dig a bit. It’s a bit of work, but sometimes you luck out and find something with real character.
When I did my keyless entry, I ended up spray painting the new lock to match the original brass. Not perfect, but it blends in way better than the mismatched look.
I totally get this—sometimes you just have to improvise. I’ve tried the spray paint trick myself, and honestly, unless you’re staring at it from a foot away, most people won’t notice. The “perfect match” is kind of a myth with old houses anyway, right? The patina and wear are part of the charm.
I do think salvage yards are underrated for this stuff. It’s a bit of a gamble, but I’ve found some wild treasures buried under piles of junk. That said, I’m always a little torn about using reproduction plates. They’re convenient, sure, but sometimes they just don’t have the heft or detail of the originals. Maybe I’m too picky, but I’d rather wait and hunt down something with a bit of history—even if it means living with a temporary mismatch for a while.
Curious—did you notice any difference in how the keyless lock feels compared to the old hardware? I always worry about losing that satisfying “clunk” when you turn a real key.
- Totally with you on the spray paint hack—did the same, and my “brass” is more like “brass-ish” now.
- The new keyless lock is cool, but yeah, it’s missing that old-school chunkiness. I kinda miss the heavy thunk when locking up.
- Salvage yards are wild. Found a doorknob with a smiley face scratched into it once… kept it for luck.
- Repro plates just feel too shiny and light sometimes. I’m all about the weird mismatched look until I find something with some character.