Mortise Lockset Installation

Yes, and this is one of the most common commercial upgrade requests we handle. A door fitted with a cylindrical door knob lock or a standard deadbolt will need to be mortised — meaning a pocket machined into the door stile — to accept the lock body. Our technicians assess the door stile width first, because a stile that is too narrow for the chosen mortise body requires either a different hardware selection or a door replacement discussion. In most standard commercial door stiles of 4 inches or wider, a Grade 1 mortise body installs cleanly. We patch and refinish the old cross-bore holes as part of the job so the door presents cleanly.

On a door that is already prepped with a correctly sized mortise pocket, a full installation including cylinder, trim, and strike takes most experienced technicians roughly 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on door material and finish work. On a door that needs fresh machining, expect 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the door construction and the complexity of the trim package. We give you a realistic time estimate on the phone before dispatch so you can plan around it — we will not quote 30 minutes and then still be on site three hours later.

ANSI mortise functions define how the lock behaves from each side of the door. An Entry function (F01) is the most common for front doors: the outside lever is locked by key or thumbturn, and the inside lever always allows free egress. A Storeroom function (F07) keeps the outside lever permanently locked — entry by key only — which suits stock rooms or server closets. A Classroom function (F05) allows the outside lever to be locked or unlocked by key from outside without opening the door, useful for offices that need periodic lockdown capability. An Office function (F06) locks the outside lever by thumbturn from inside. We walk through your traffic flow and security requirements on site and recommend the function that matches your actual use case.

Rekeying to a master key system or matching an existing key is standard practice for commercial installations and we do it on-site in the same visit. If your building uses a hierarchical master key system — common in multi-tenant Douglaston commercial properties — we can key the new cylinder to participate in that system without replacing all other cylinders. Bring your current building key to the appointment and let us know your keying requirements when you call so we arrive with the right pinning kit.

If the door is stuck open and the business is unsecured, call 718-521-4103 immediately — we dispatch emergency locksmith technicians around the clock and will prioritize a business with an open or inoperable door. Do not attempt to force the latch or deadbolt with tools, as this can score the strike, distort the faceplate, or crack the door stile in ways that require more extensive repair. If the door is stuck closed with personnel inside, check whether there is a secondary exit or window that provides safe egress while you wait for our technician. We will diagnose the failure on arrival and advise on the fastest repair or replacement path.

Our technicians are trained and experienced with high-security cylinder formats including restricted keyway systems that limit unauthorized key duplication. These cylinders are increasingly common in Douglaston commercial properties where key control is a compliance requirement. High-security cylinders are installed within the same mortise body as standard cylinders — the change is at the plug and keyway level — so the installation process is essentially identical with the added step of registering the keyway with you for future key control records. We carry documentation for the cylinders we install so your business has a clear chain of custody for every key cut.