Rekeying · Homes, rentals and new move-ins
Rekey your locks so the old keys stop working.
Rekeying swaps the small pins inside a lock so it answers to a new key. You keep the hardware already on your doors, every old copy is shut out, and each lock takes only a few minutes.
- Keep your existing locks
- Every door on one key
- Done at your door
- Price confirmed first
When to rekey
Good moments to change who has a key.
You just moved in
Builders, past owners, their relatives, the old dog walker. There’s no telling how many keys to your new home are still out there.
A key went missing
A key ring dropped in a parking lot, or a spare in a stolen backpack. Rekeying shuts that copy out the same day.
Tenants or roommates moved out
Landlords rekey between leases so a former tenant’s copy no longer opens the door, without buying new hardware for every unit.
Too many keys on the ring
Front door, back door, garage entry and deadbolt, each on its own key. We can set them all to a single key you’ll actually carry.
Someone’s no longer in the picture
An ex, a former housekeeper, a contractor who never returned the spare. No awkward conversation needed, just new pins.
Something feels off
A door you’re sure you locked found open, or a key that turns up where it shouldn’t. A rekey is an inexpensive way to be certain.
Rekey or replace
Which one do you actually need?
Rekeying makes sense when
- Your locks work smoothly and you like how they look
- The main goal is cutting off old keys
- You want every door on one key
- You’d rather not pay for new hardware
Replacement makes sense when
- A lock is damaged, loose or was forced
- You want a stronger deadbolt or a new finish
- You’re switching to a keypad or smart lock
- Parts for an old or bargain lock are hard to find
Not sure which applies to you? We’ll look at your locks and tell you honestly. More often than not, rekeying is enough.
How it works
What a rekey visit looks like.
The cylinder comes out
We remove each lock’s cylinder, the part your key slides into, to reach the pins inside.
New pins go in
The old pin stack is swapped for one matched to a new key. Old keys no longer line up, so they won’t turn.
Every door is tested
Each lock is put back and worked with the new key from inside and out before we move on to the next door.
You get the new keys
As many copies as your household needs, cut on site before we leave.
Rekeying questions
The fine print, explained.
Can every lock be rekeyed?
Most standard house locks from brands such as Schlage and Kwikset can. Some very cheap or very old locks can’t, and smart locks with a backup key cylinder can usually have that cylinder rekeyed. We’ll tell you which is which before starting.
Can my Schlage and Kwikset locks share one key?
Not directly, because the two brands use different key shapes. We can usually still get you down to one key by swapping a cylinder or two, and we’ll lay out the options when we see your doors.
Does rekeying make a lock more secure?
It changes who can open the lock, not how strong it is. If you want better resistance to a forced door, a higher-grade deadbolt is the upgrade to look at; see lock installation.
Do I need to be home?
Yes, or someone you trust needs to be. We test each lock with the new keys and hand them over in person.
Related
Also worth a look.
Ready to retire the old keys?
Tell us how many doors you have and we’ll give you a price on the phone.