Lock Replacement in Memphis, TN

Old doors set the terms

In Memphis, 31.8 percent of housing was built before 1960. Original doors from that era may carry mortise locks, or bores that a modern deadbolt will not fit without an adapter plate, so measure the old hardware before you order anything.

Where the doors are oldest

• Central Gardens. About 83 blocks and 1,540 structures, built mainly between 1850 and 1930, in styles from Queen Anne and Colonial Revival to Craftsman and Tudor Revival. On an original door, new hardware has to suit the openings already cut in the wood.
• Annesdale Park, Hein Park and Idlewild. Like Central Gardens, these are historic districts in Midtown, so find out which design guidelines apply to your street before you choose hardware.
• Harbor Town. Developed in 1989, it is newer than the pre-1960 doors above, so age-related fit problems are less likely there. Measuring still applies.

A lock is not a door

The Memphis Landmarks Commission (Chapter 14-24 of the Memphis Code of Ordinances) was created by Ordinance No. 2276, passed by the City Council on July 15, 1975. It looks at zoning requests and work visible from the street in the historic districts, and Memphis has 19 local historic districts, each with its own design guidelines. Changes visible from the street that need a Certificate of Appropriateness include replacing the front door or windows and installing fences and gates; most repair and maintenance projects do not. In Central Gardens, an owner seeking a building permit for exterior work must receive one from the commission.

Swapping a lockset is not the same as replacing a door, but if your plan changes what shows from the street, ask the commission first. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send

Send photos of both faces and the edge of the door, the door thickness if you measured it, the brand on the existing lock, and whether the house sits in a historic district such as Central Gardens or Evergreen. If the hardware can be saved, lock repair may do instead. Tennessee Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Memphis. See lock replacement service.