Front Door Handleset Replacement — New Holes Bored, Old Ones Filled
You bought a new handleset for the front door and the box says it fits standard doors.
Reply within one business day. Or call / text 763-204-2099.
Front door handleset replacement: JMB Builders takes off the old handle and deadbolt, checks the new handleset against the bores and backset in your door, re-bores or drills the grip mounting hole where they do not match, fills and covers the old holes, and sets the strikes so the latch and deadbolt throw clean. Across the Twin Cities metro. Priced per door, quoted from photos, with a reply within one business day.
- Priced per door, you buy the handleset
- Re-boring and old holes filled
- Strikes set so it latches and locks
A handleset is the long grip handle outside with a thumb latch, a knob or lever inside, and a deadbolt above, all tied together. It mounts through the latch bore, through the deadbolt bore, and through one more hole below the latch for the bottom of the grip. A plain knob and deadbolt use only the first two. That third hole, and the spacing between the latch and deadbolt, are where most handleset swaps go wrong.
Most new handlesets are made for the common bore size, backset and spacing. Older doors, and doors that had a mortise lock or a different brand of handleset, may not match. The fixes are specific: bore a new hole with a jig, plug the old one with hardwood and glue, use a larger escutcheon plate to cover what is left, or move the strikes in the jamb. On steel and fiberglass doors, old holes are covered with a reinforcer plate or plate trim, since a wood plug does not hold.
Adding a deadbolt where there was none, or a smart lock, is covered on our deadbolt page. This page is swapping the handle and lock you have for a handleset, or one handleset for a new one.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough: a reply within one business day, or ask for a free in-home estimate. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
What you supply
- The new handleset, in the finish you want, with the keys and parts list
- A photo of the edge of your door with a tape across the latch and deadbolt
- A smart lock version if you want one, bought before install day
What JMB supplies
- A check of the handleset against your door's bores, backset and spacing from photos
- Old handle, lock and deadbolt removed and set aside for you
- New holes bored with a jig where the old ones do not match
- Old holes plugged and filled on wood doors, or covered with plates on steel and fiberglass
- Latch and deadbolt strikes moved or re-mortised in the jamb so both throw clean
- Long screws through the strike plates into the framing
- Paint touch-up on filled holes as its own line on the quote
How it is priced: per door
Quoted in writing from your photos, with a reply within one business day. What moves the number:
- A handleset that matches the old holes vs. one that needs re-boring
- Old holes to plug and fill on a wood door vs. cover on a steel or fiberglass door
- A mortise lock in an older door that has to be removed or covered
- Strikes that have to move in the jamb
- Two or more doors in one visit, such as front and back keyed alike
- Paint touch-up over filled holes, quoted as its own line
Send a photo of the door edge with a tape across both bores, a photo of the outside handle, and the handleset model or box.
How long it takes
A handleset that fits the old holes: under an hour. Re-boring, filling old holes and moving strikes: one to two hours per door.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized reply within one business day. Prefer a look in person? A free in-home estimate is always an option.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Knob and deadbolt to a handleset
The most common swap. The latch and deadbolt bores are reused if they match, and one new hole is drilled below the latch for the bottom of the grip. We check the spacing first so the grip lines up with both.
Old handleset to a new handleset
Different brands put the grip mounting holes in different spots. The new one may cover the old holes or leave one showing. We fill or plate what shows and drill for the new mount.
Old door with a mortise lock
Older doors may have a mortise lock, a tall box set into the door edge. A modern handleset needs round bores. Converting takes a filler block in the mortise and new bores, or a handleset made for mortise doors.
Steel or fiberglass entry door
Holes in a steel or fiberglass door cannot be plugged with wood. They are covered with a reinforcer or wide plate and sealed so water does not get into the core.
Front Door Handleset Replacement — New Holes Bored, Old Ones Filled: questions, answered
Why doesn't my new handleset fit the old door holes?
Handlesets mount through three holes: the latch bore, the deadbolt bore and a hole below the latch for the bottom of the grip. If your door has a different bore size, backset or spacing between the latch and deadbolt, or the old grip hole is in a different spot, the new one will not line up. Re-boring with a jig and filling or covering the old holes fixes it.
Can you replace my front door handle and lock without replacing the door?
Yes. Almost any entry door can take a new handleset or lockset. The work is matching the new hardware to the door: re-boring where needed, filling old holes, and moving the strikes in the jamb so the latch and deadbolt throw clean. Replacing the door only makes sense if it is damaged or failing.
How do you fill old holes when changing a front door handleset?
On a wood door, old holes are plugged with hardwood and glue, filled and sanded flush, then painted or stained. On a steel or fiberglass door, a plug does not hold, so the old hole is covered with a reinforcer plate or a wider escutcheon and sealed. Paint touch-up is quoted as its own line, or you can do it yourself.
What should I check before buying a new handleset?
Measure the backset, from the door edge to the center of the latch bore, and the center-to-center spacing between the latch and the deadbolt. Note the door thickness and whether the door swings left or right. Check those against the handleset box. Send a photo of the door edge with a tape across it and we tell you whether it fits.
Can a smart lock be part of a front door handleset?
Yes. Several makers sell handlesets where the deadbolt is a keypad or smart lock. They mount the same way, with the smart deadbolt in the upper bore. Have the app downloaded and the account ready if you want it paired on install day. Adding a smart lock to a door without a deadbolt is covered on our deadbolt page.
Do you upgrade front door hardware on the back door too?
Yes, and doing both in one visit costs less per door. If you buy two handlesets or locksets keyed alike, one key opens both doors. We install them the same way, checking the bores, filling old holes and setting the strikes so both latch and lock clean.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and the builders we work with. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
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Read morePage reviewed October 9, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All doors pages
Where we work
Door Replacement & Installation near you
Based in Zimmerman, scheduling across the Twin Cities metro. Closest first: