That's a pretty neat solution, especially considering you were dealing with original iron hardware—those can be a real headache. I ran into something similar myself about six months back on a Tudor revival from the '30s. The owners also wanted keyless entry but insisted on keeping the original ironwork untouched. I briefly considered custom-made handles like you mentioned—great idea, by the way—but budget constraints made us pivot.
Ended up using a discreet remote actuator mounted inside the door frame itself, linked to a hidden relay behind some interior molding. This way, the external hardware stayed completely original and untouched. We had to widen the strike plate recess slightly to accommodate the mechanism, but nothing visible externally. Setup was a bit fiddly—lining up the actuator precisely took some patience—but in the end, it worked out nicely.
So hearing your story definitely validates that sometimes it's worth going the extra mile to keep these older homes authentic while still incorporating modern conveniences. Even if it means getting creative or spending a little more time troubleshooting than you'd planned. Plus, it's satisfying when visitors can't even tell there's tech involved until you show them.
Anyway, kudos again for finding such an elegant solution; always encouraging to see others navigating similar challenges successfully.
"Setup was a bit fiddly—lining up the actuator precisely took some patience—but in the end, it worked out nicely."
I can definitely relate to the "fiddly" part! I'm currently tackling a similar issue with an old Victorian door and original brass fittings. Your actuator solution sounds intriguing—hadn't considered mounting it inside the frame itself. Might give that a try, though I'm slightly hesitant about modifying the strike plate recess... Did you find it challenging to keep alignment consistent over time?
I've had mine installed for about a year now, and honestly, alignment hasn't been much of an issue. Had to tweak it once after a particularly humid summer, but otherwise it's stayed pretty solid. I'd say go for it—just measure twice, cut once, y'know?
"Had to tweak it once after a particularly humid summer, but otherwise it's stayed pretty solid."
Glad to hear alignment hasn't been a big deal for you. I've been considering keyless myself, but my house is pretty old—doors swell and shrink like crazy with weather changes. Did you have to reinforce or adjust your door frame at all before installing? Just wondering if anyone else with an older home ran into unexpected issues...
I've worked on plenty of older homes, and honestly, swelling doors are pretty common. Usually, it's less about reinforcing the frame and more about making sure the door itself is properly sealed and painted on all sides—especially the edges. A good coat of paint or sealant can really cut down on moisture absorption. If your door's already in decent shape, you might not have to do much else. Keyless setups are pretty forgiving once you've got the basics sorted out...
