Reflections on Replacing a Lock

The old parts are held at the bottom.

One reason for calling in an outside professional (plumber, electrician, etc.) is that not only will he do projects right, but he will eliminate the possibility of damage from amateur attempts gone awry. If the home handyman knows his limitations, however, he can save money.

For example, last month the 30-year-old knob on the door to the garage stopped working. The task was to replace the knob and match the key to the deadbolt. The knob was Kwikset, which is the cheapest of the major brands. Home Depot had a $25 knob that would fit the opening but didn't quite match the look of the old knob and deadbolt. And the key would still have to be fitted.

The easiest and most expensive solution would be to summon a locksmith to replace and re-key the part for about $150. Instead, I took the old knob and latch to a locksmith in San Mateo. He had a same-model Kwikset in inventory and adjusted it to fit the old key. The total cost: $80.

I could affect a false frugality and say $70 saved here and there really adds up, but to be perfectly honest I hated spending $70 for being too lazy to take a few minutes to put in a lock. Self-knowledge may not always make one happy, but it can avoid disgruntlement.