See Who's at the Door
Before You Open It

The core difference is door release integration and reliability. A video doorbell lets you see and speak with visitors over Wi-Fi — but there's no built-in door release, so the visitor still needs a key or has to wait for you to physically open the door. A wired video intercom includes an electric strike or door buzzer wired to the intercom panel — when you press the button, the door actually unlocks. Additionally, wired intercoms don't depend on Wi-Fi, which matters significantly in NYC masonry construction where signal penetration is poor.

Yes, with an IP-based video intercom. When a visitor presses the door station button, your phone rings with a live camera feed. You can speak with them and press a button in the app to release the door. This works anywhere you have a cell or data connection. The most common use case for this in NYC single-family homes is admitting delivery workers, dog walkers, cleaners, or contractors without needing to be physically present.

We minimize wall work wherever possible. Cable routes are planned to use existing conduit, run through the basement and up interior wall cavities, or follow inconspicuous paths. In many cases, cable can be run through the door frame itself and into the interior without any visible wall penetration. Where wall work is unavoidable, we make clean, small penetrations and patch properly. We photograph everything and discuss the routing plan with you before starting.

Yes. Surface-mount door stations work on iron gate frames, welded steel posts, and brick piers adjacent to gates. We use weatherproof housings and stainless hardware appropriate for outdoor metal installation. The electric strike or magnetic lock for the gate is selected based on the gate frame material and how the gate latches. Gate hardware is more varied than door hardware — we assess during the site visit and specify correctly.

A straightforward installation — door station, indoor monitor, and electric strike on a single door — typically takes half a day to a full day. Homes where new cable needs to be fished through finished walls or run through a basement take longer. Homes with existing conduit or accessible wall chases are faster. We give you a time estimate when we provide the quote, after seeing the property.