"had to carefully chisel out extra space for the strike plate and adjust the alignment twice."
Can totally relate—older homes always throw curveballs. Glad you stuck with it though, sounds like the convenience is worth the hassle. Bet you'll never miss those keys again...
"had to carefully chisel out extra space for the strike plate and adjust the alignment twice."
Haha, I admire your patience—I would've probably thrown in the towel after the first alignment fail. But honestly, is keyless entry really that much of a game changer? I mean, sure, fumbling around for keys in the dark isn't exactly fun, but what about when the batteries die or the keypad glitches out? Maybe it's just my paranoia talking, but I can't shake the feeling that I'd end up locked out at the worst possible moment (like when I'm already late for work or carrying groceries in the rain).
Also, speaking from experience as someone who's been wrestling with an old house renovation myself, sometimes these modern upgrades feel a bit out of place. Don't get me wrong—I'm all for convenience—but there's something oddly satisfying about the old-school click of a key turning in a lock. Plus, isn't it easier (and cheaper) to just make a few spare keys and stash them strategically around?
I guess what I'm wondering is: does the convenience really outweigh the potential headaches? Or am I just being overly cautious here? Maybe I'm just not ready to trust technology completely yet... especially when it comes to something as basic as getting into my own home.
I totally get where you're coming from—switching to keyless entry felt like a leap of faith for me too. But honestly, after about a year with mine, I'd say the convenience is worth the minor headaches. Yeah, I've had moments when the keypad acted glitchy, but keeping a spare battery on hand pretty much solved that issue. Most locks give you plenty of warning before they die completely, so getting locked out unexpectedly isn't as common as you'd think.
"sometimes these modern upgrades feel a bit out of place."
True, especially in older homes (mine's from the '40s). But there are some sleek designs now that blend nicely without screaming "high-tech gadget." Plus, not fumbling for keys while juggling groceries or kids has been surprisingly nice. That said, I still keep one old-school lock on a side door just in case...call it my backup plan for peace of mind. You're definitely not overly cautious—just practical and realistic!
I agree, especially about older homes—I live in a Victorian, and at first, the idea of a keypad felt oddly futuristic. But honestly, after a few months, I barely notice it. Plus, guests find it easier than fumbling with spare keys...which is a nice bonus.
I get the convenience aspect, especially for guests, but honestly, I'm still hesitant about keypad locks on older homes. I renovated a 1920s bungalow last year, and when I looked into keyless entry, the aesthetics just didn't line up. Even the vintage-styled keypads seemed a bit off to me. Instead, I ended up going with a smart lock that hides behind the original door hardware—so from the outside, it's still the classic look, but I can unlock it remotely or give temporary digital keys to visitors. Installation wasn't too complicated either: remove interior hardware, install smart lock mechanism, reinstall original hardware over it. Done in an afternoon, and no worries about clashing styles. Might be worth considering if you're attached to the traditional look but still want some modern convenience.