For many homeowners, front-door security begins and ends with a standard deadbolt. Yet the ability to see who is outside before you unlock the door is equally critical. That is why professional peephole installation ranks among the most cost-effective security upgrades on any residential project. CountBricks has streamlined the process with our AI-driven estimating platform, voice-guided site capture, and proven field crews.
Specialized Residential Focus – Our technicians work exclusively in homes, condos, and multifamily properties, so every installation is tailored to residential door cores and finishes.
Real-Time Cost Certainty – Using CountBricks.com/estimate, we generate labor, material, and scheduling data while we speak with you on site or over video. No waiting days for a quote.
Code & Warranty Compliance – We follow the latest residential fire-door, egress, and warranty guidelines to protect both safety and manufacturer guarantees.
Most modern exterior doors are either solid wood, fiberglass over foam, or steel over honeycomb. Knowing the core matters because:
• Drill bit selection changes between steel and wood skins
• Foam and honeycomb cavities require sleeve adaptors for stable optics
• Fire-rated doors call for intumescent sealants around the viewer barrel
Always verify door thickness with a caliper instead of assuming it is the advertised 1¾″. Factory sanding and paint can shave off several millimeters, causing a loose fit if you order the wrong viewer depth.
1. Scope Capture – A project manager opens a voice session in the CountBricks app, logging door material, thickness, and existing hardware in real time.
2. AI Estimate – Our engine prices the correct peephole kit, specialty bits, finish rings, and labor within seconds.
3. Client Approval – You receive a digital proposal with click-to-sign authorization generated by CountBricks.com/quote.
4. Field Prep – The installer masks the door, uses a spring punch to prevent bit wandering, and drills a pilot hole through the centerline at 60″ from the floor (industry standard eye level).
5. Bore & Deburr – A precision hole saw or step bit creates the required barrel opening, followed by light deburring to protect the lens.
6. Assemble & Seal – The viewer is inserted from the exterior side, the interior collar is threaded tight, and, where code demands, an intumescent bead is applied.
7. QA & Sign-off – The installer cleans fingerprints, verifies focus clarity, and uploads completion photos to the CountBricks dashboard for client recordkeeping.
• Standard 180° brass viewers – Budget-friendly and fits most solid wood doors
• Wide-angle 220° viewers – Ideal for condo hallways where side viewing is crucial
• Integrated privacy shutters – Prevent outside light leakage at night
• Digital screen viewers – Camera lens plus indoor LCD, perfect for accessibility needs
• Solid Wood – Accepts any viewer, easiest drilling
• Fiberglass – Requires slow rpm and backer block to avoid chipping
• Steel – Needs cobalt or carbide bits, lubricant, and rust-proof barrel
The typical New York homeowner asks, “How much will this really cost?” With CountBricks, you receive an itemized line set during your initial call:
• Peephole viewer kit: $18–$45 depending on finish and angle
• Consumables (bits, tape, sealant): $7–$12
• Labor (includes travel, masking, cleanup): $85–$120
• Digital project documentation: Included
Because prices update daily inside CountBricks.com/pricing, you never risk material mark-ups or surprise surcharges.
Most installs take 20 to 30 minutes once the door is prepped. However, seasoned residential GCs know that time blocks matter more than drill time. CountBricks allows you to bundle peephole installation with weather-strip replacement or smart deadbolt upgrades, maximizing a single crew visit and minimizing homeowner disruption.
• Misaligned drill causing fish-eye distortion
• Crushed fiberglass skins from high rpm drilling
• Overtightened barrels that strip finishes
• Forgotten sealant on fire-rated units leading to inspection failures
• Measure twice from both sides to ensure center alignment
• Pilot drill from interior, then finish from exterior to reduce tear-out
• Keep painter’s tape on both faces to catch shavings
• Use a magnetic drop cloth to collect metal filings on steel doors
• Photograph the finished viewer at homeowner eye level for your warranty file
While peepholes are largely maintenance-free, CountBricks recommends annual checks for clarity and barrel tightness. For tech-forward clients, our teams can swap an analog viewer for a digital screen model without replacing the entire door slab, leveraging the same bore hole.
Ready for a safer, more informed front entry? Start a live voice session through CountBricks.com/consultation or upload your door specs to our blueprint takeoff tool. In minutes, you will have an accurate cost, available install windows, and a downloadable PDF quote.
When the owners of a 1920s brownstone in Midtown contacted CountBricks, their priority list was simple: improve entry security without altering the building’s historic façade. Our solution had to respect antique mahogany doors while meeting modern safety standards.
• Site capture completed via a five-minute voice session using the CountBricks mobile app
• AI engine selected a 220° oil-rubbed bronze viewer matching existing period hardware
• Labor scheduled within 24 hours to align with the client’s work-from-home window
The door’s aged wood required a specialized brad-point bit and a slower drill speed to avoid splintering. Our technician tested depth on an off-cut first, then employed painter’s tape on both sides of the slab to safeguard the shellac finish. The bore was executed from the interior to maintain exterior integrity—a key preservation tactic for landmark properties.
• Total on-site time: 28 minutes
• Zero surface blemishes; original varnish untouched
• Homeowner now enjoys a 220° field of vision covering the full stoop and sidewalk
1. Historic doors often vary in thickness—CountBricks verifies depth on every panel before ordering hardware.
2. Matching finish matters; a mismatched viewer instantly dates the doorway, while a coordinated one blends seamlessly.
3. Quick turnaround is possible because CountBricks staffs dedicated micro-jobs crews that specialize in single-task visits.
Whether you manage a portfolio of rentals or own a single-family home, CountBricks scales the same precision process to your project size. Visit CountBricks.com/services to explore bundled security upgrades like smart locks, reinforced strike plates, and weather sealing, all estimated by AI and installed by vetted residential craftsmen.
A peephole may be the smallest item on your punch list, but with CountBricks’ technology and field expertise, it becomes the quickest win for occupant peace of mind. Schedule your real-time estimate today and see how effortless residential security can be.
