Hardware gets specified last and installed near the end. That timing mismatch causes more delays and budget surprises than most people expect.
Hardware gets specified last and installed near the end of a build. That sequence creates a predictable set of problems: rushed decisions, unavailable lead times, budget surprises, and installations that happen faster than they should. Here is a builder's guide to getting hardware right — starting much earlier in the process than most projects do.
When to start the hardware conversation
The hardware specification should begin at the same time as the door and cabinetry schedule — not after. Why? Because hardware finish affects cabinetry finish selection, hardware function affects door prep specifications, and hardware lead times can range from 2 weeks to 14 weeks depending on the source. Starting hardware discussions after the doors are hung and the cabinets are installed is how you end up with emergency substitutions and builder-grade hardware in a custom home.
For a custom home with a typical 12–18 month build timeline, hardware should be on the specification schedule by month 4–6 — earlier for projects with imported European hardware or special-order finishes.
The full hardware quantity schedule
Before ordering anything, build a complete hardware schedule — a room-by-room count of every piece of hardware the project requires. This prevents under-ordering (the most common cause of project delays) and prevents over-ordering (the most common cause of wasted budget). For each door, you need:
- Lever or knob set (with function: passage, privacy, dummy, or entry)
- Hinges (count: 3 per standard interior door; 4 per tall or heavy door)
- Deadbolt (exterior doors only)
- Door stop (behind the door — often missed until move-in)
For cabinets: one pull or knob per door and drawer, plus appliance pulls for refrigerator panels, dishwasher panels, and oven handles where applicable.
Lead times by hardware type
- Standard residential hardware (Emtek, Top Knobs, Amerock): 2–4 weeks in most cases; some finishes and special orders 6–8 weeks
- European hardware (Colombo Design, PullCast, Pomelli): 6–14 weeks from order to delivery; confirm before the project schedule locks in
- Concealed hinge systems: 4–8 weeks; require precise door and frame prep that must be coordinated with the millworker before any frames are installed
- Custom or special-order finishes: Add 4–6 weeks to any standard lead time
The pre-drilling specification
Before your doors are delivered and hung, confirm with your millworker or door supplier that all doors are pre-drilled (or "pre-bored") to the correct specifications for your hardware. This means:
- Backset: 2-3/8" (interior) or 2-3/4" (exterior)
- Bore hole diameter: 2-1/8" (standard)
- Hinge mortise: sized and positioned to match the hinge size you are using (3-1/2", 4", or 4-1/2")
Retrofitting bore holes or mortises after a door is hung is expensive and time-consuming. Get the door prep specification to the millworker before any doors are manufactured.
Keying strategy: plan it before the locksmith arrives
Decide on the keying strategy before any hardware is ordered. Keyed alike (one key for the whole house), keyed different (each lock has its own key), or a zoned approach (keyed alike per zone) — each has implications for the hardware order and the locksmith's work at installation. See our guide: Keying Alike vs. Keying Different.
Installation sequence
Hardware should be installed in two passes on any custom build:
- First pass (rough-in): Hinges installed on doors and frames, door stops installed, strike plates mortised into frames — this happens during construction, before paint or finish flooring.
- Second pass (finish hardware): Levers, knobs, deadbolts, and cabinet pulls installed after all painting, flooring, and millwork is complete — this happens in the final two weeks before occupancy. Hardware installed before painting will be masked, taped around, or — worst case — painted over.
Working on a custom build in the GTA or Halton region? Contact our team for a builder account and project specification support. We work directly with builders and their trades on complete hardware schedules from spec to installation. Visit our Oakville showroom to review the full hardware line.
VK Hardware
Questions about your project? We are always happy to talk hardware.
