"Had one where the numbers faded after a year, and suddenly it turned into a guessing game every time I came home late."
Haha, been there myself—nothing like playing keypad roulette at midnight! Did you try sealing the buttons with something protective? I've heard clear nail polish can help, but haven't dared to test it on mine yet. Wonder if anyone's found a keypad model that's both durable and blends nicely with an older home's aesthetics...
I've tried the clear nail polish trick myself—honestly, didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped. Eventually swapped mine out for a backlit keypad. Not exactly vintage-looking, but at least no more midnight guessing games...
I've been debating the keypad route myself, but honestly, I'm still on the fence. My place is an older home, and I've been trying to keep everything as authentic as possible—right down to the hardware. The clear nail polish trick was tempting, but after hearing your experience, maybe I'll skip it. I did try glow-in-the-dark paint once... total disaster. Looked cool for about a week, then just faded into this weird blotchy mess that made the keys even harder to read at night.
The backlit keypad sounds practical, but I'm worried it'll clash too much with the vintage aesthetic I've got going on. Did you find a way to blend it in at all, or did you just embrace the modern look? I'm wondering if there's a middle ground—maybe something with a brass finish or a more subtle lighting effect? I've seen some keypads advertised as "antique bronze," but I'm skeptical about how authentic they actually look in person.
Also curious—did you have any trouble with installation? My door frame is original woodwork from the 1920s, and I'm hesitant to start drilling holes unless I'm sure it's going to work out. Last thing I want is to mess up something that's lasted nearly a century just for convenience's sake...
Anyway, appreciate hearing your experience—it helps narrow down my options.
I totally get your hesitation about drilling into original woodwork—been there myself with my 1930s bungalow. Honestly, the "antique bronze" finishes can be hit or miss. I ended up going with a keypad that had a matte brass finish and subtle amber backlighting. It doesn't scream modern tech, but it's still practical at night. Installation-wise, just measure twice (or three times...) and use pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood. Worked out fine for me, and the convenience has been worth the initial anxiety.
"Installation-wise, just measure twice (or three times...) and use pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood."
Haha, sounds like you've learned that lesson the hard way too... Did you notice any issues with battery life in colder weather, or has it been pretty consistent year-round? I'm almost convinced to take the plunge myself.
