Rekey or Replace Your Locks? How to Decide

The difference in one paragraph

Rekeying changes the pins inside the lock cylinder so it works with a new key. The handle, deadbolt and everything you see stay the same. Replacing means new hardware. Rekeying is usually quicker and costs less because you're not buying new locks. Replacing is right when the lock itself is the problem.

Rekey when…

• You just bought or rented a home and don't know who has keys.
• A key was lost or stolen.
• A roommate, tenant, employee, nanny or contractor has left.
• You want one key for every door, and the locks share a keyway (e.g. all Kwikset or all Schlage).
• Your locks work smoothly and you like them.

Replace when…

• The lock is worn, loose, sticking or corroded. Salt air near the coast is a common culprit.
• It's a cheap, low-grade lock on an exterior door. The ANSI/BHMA grade is printed on most packaging; Grade 1 is the toughest.
• There's no deadbolt on an exterior door, or it's been damaged in a break-in attempt.
• You want a different kind of lock: keypad, smart lock or a high-security cylinder.
• Your locks use different keyways and you want one key. Replacing one or two cylinders to match can be cheaper than rekeying everything to a mix.

One key for everything

"Keyed alike" means one key opens several locks. It's one of the best quality-of-life upgrades there is: one key for the front door, back door and garage entry. If your locks already share a keyway, a rekey does it. If not, we replace the odd ones out with matching cylinders. Businesses can go further with a master key system, where each person's key opens only what they need.

Don't forget the frame

If you're replacing locks for security, the strike plate and the screws that hold it matter as much as the lock. A reinforced strike with long screws into the framing turns an ordinary deadbolt into a much harder door to kick in. It costs little and is invisible once installed.

What we do

We'll look at your locks and tell you honestly which ones to rekey and which to replace, and we'll quote both before starting. See rekeying and lock installation.