Rekey the locks, or replace them?

Rekeying explained, replacement explained, and the one question that decides between them.

Rekey vs replace

If the lock is sound, rekeying keeps the hardware and changes the pins. Unless the lock is worn or you want an upgrade, rekeying does the job.

Deadbolts

Grade 2 and Grade 1 deadbolts installed, including on a door that has no bore in it yet.

Mortise lock on a storefront door in Trenton, NJ

✓

Smart locks

Keypad and app locks installed and set up, with a mechanical key override that actually works.

✓

One key opens everything

Front, back and garage side door all keyed alike, so you carry one key.

✓

Sliding doors

Proper hardware on the slider, so it locks like a door should.

✓

Rekey after moving in

You have no idea who holds a key to a house you just bought. Every exterior lock rekeyed inside an hour.

The word people look up

Rekeying is changing the key a lock accepts while leaving the lock itself in place. Inside every cylinder is a row of pins; a new set of pins means a new key, and every old key becomes a piece of metal. Minutes per lock, done at your door.

New house, lost key, old tenant, ex-partner, the cleaner who no longer comes: those are rekey calls.

Keypad deadbolt installed on a front door, NJ

New deadbolt being installed in a front door, NJ

When the hardware itself goes

A lock change removes the hardware and installs new. That's for locks that are failing (stiff, loose, corroded, forced in the past) or the wrong kind for the door (a knob where a deadbolt belongs), and for upgrades like keypads and heavier grades.

Ask one thing: is the hardware sound? If yes, rekey. If no, replace.

Deciding at the door

The technician checks each lock. Sound hardware is rekeyed; failing or flimsy hardware is replaced. The typical outcome in Trenton is a new deadbolt on the front, rekeyed locks everywhere else, and a single key for the lot.

One key for the whole house is normal, brand mix included; exceptions are rare and named up front.

You've just bought the place

Moving in is the classic rekey. The old owners' keys, the agent's lockbox key, the relative's spare: all dead after one visit. Check the garage door into the house at the same time; it's the door people forget and the one that matters.

Between tenants a rekey is standard practice and takes minutes per door.

How it goes

Proof that the locks are yours to change comes first. Then the work, door by door, rekeying or replacing as agreed. New keys are cut on site, and the technician checks every door closes and locks cleanly before leaving.

Under an hour for most homes; longer for a building with many doors or a master key system.

Things people are told

Rekeying is a stopgap. It's as permanent as the lock. One key per brand. Most brands key alike. Replacement is always the secure choice. Grade decides that, not age. Lost a key, so replace everything. Rekey everything instead; same result, less time.

Questions we get asked

Can all my doors be on one key?

Usually. Rare exceptions get named before any work.

How long does a rekey take?

Short. Most houses are done inside an hour.

Do you need to see ID?

Always. It's the check that makes sure the person changing the locks is allowed to.

Should I rekey after a break-in attempt?

Rekey, and replace any lock that was damaged. One visit covers both.

Can you add a deadbolt where there's only a knob?

We do, routinely. It's the single most useful upgrade on most doors.

Ready when you are

A technician is dispatched as soon as we have the address.

Call now