Rekey Your Locks, Keep Your Hardware
Rekeying changes which key opens a lock without replacing the lock itself. The old keys stop working, the new ones do, and your door hardware stays exactly where it is. It is usually the quickest way to feel safe in a place again.
When rekeying is the right call
You just got the keys to a house or apartment and have no idea how many copies are floating around. A roommate moved out. A contractor, nanny or dog walker had a key and does not need one anymore. You lost a key ring that had your address on it. In all of these the lock itself is fine. The problem is who else can open it.
That is exactly what a rekey fixes. If the lock is worn out, cheap, or you want a different look, a full lock change makes more sense, and we will say so when we see it.
Landlords between tenants, people leaving a relationship, and anyone whose purse or backpack was stolen with keys inside all land in the same place. The hardware is good. The keys are compromised. A rekey closes that gap the same day, without new holes in the door or a trip to the store to pick out matching handles.
What actually happens at your door
Inside every pin tumbler lock is a row of small pins cut to match one key. We take the cylinder out, swap those pins for a new set, and cut you fresh keys to match. The lock goes back in, we test every key in every door, and you watch the old key fail.
One door takes a few minutes. A whole house with a front door, back door, garage entry and a side gate is still usually a single visit. We carry pin kits for the common brands on the truck, so there is rarely a wait for parts.
One key for the whole house
If your front door takes one key, the back door another and the garage a third, a rekey is a good moment to fix that. As long as the locks share a keyway (Kwikset with Kwikset, Schlage with Schlage, or a brand we can match), we can set them all to the same key. One key on the ring instead of four.
Mixed brands sometimes cannot share a key. Text us a photo of each lock face and we will tell you before we come out.
How pricing works
Text your ZIP code and a photo of the lock or key to (657) 478-8248. We reply with a price and an honest arrival time. Nothing starts until you say go, and you get a written receipt when we finish.
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Common questions
Is rekeying the same as changing the lock?
No. A rekey keeps the lock body and handle and only changes the pins inside, so a new key works and the old one does not. A lock change removes the whole lock and puts in a new one. Rekeying makes sense when the lock is in good shape and the only worry is old keys.
Can you rekey a lock if I have no key at all?
Usually yes. It takes a bit more work to get the cylinder out without a key, and we will explain what is involved and price it before we start. If the lock turns out to be damaged, we will tell you and give you a price for a replacement instead.
Can you rekey smart locks and electronic keypads?
Most smart locks still have a key cylinder as a backup, and that cylinder can be rekeyed like any other. The code or app access is separate and you reset that yourself in the lock's settings. We can walk you through it while we are there.
I just moved in. Should I rekey right away?
It is a good idea. You do not know who the previous owner, tenants, agents or cleaners gave keys to. Rekeying on move-in day means the only working keys are the ones in your hand.