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$25 to $75 for average lockset, although some models cost twice as much
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Boring holes and cutting mortises require careful layout and patience, but at least there’s no heavy lifting.
Whether you’re planning a major renovation or looking for a quick face-lift, changing the locksets on the doors in your home can make a substantial—but subtle—statement about you. Locksets come in a wide array of styles and finishes, but they all work the same and they’re fairly simple to install yourself.
If you’re buying several keyed locks, and don’t want a pocketful of different keys, have a locksmith re-key all locks of the same brand to use the same key. If you’re mixing brands, check with the locksmith—some can be keyed alike, some can’t.
Here, This Old House master carpenter Norm Abram shows how to install a lockset. If you’re replacing a lockset or installing a new one in a pre-drilled door, the installation shouldn’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes. If you need to drill the holes, give yourself an hour or two.
