Rekeying a lock can be done by a professional locksmith and does not require new locks but will provide you with new keys and the old keys will no longer work. If you have good quality locks on your doors that you want to keep, then rekeying is an excellent option.
Due to the extremely low price of the key pins in the locks, rekeying is almost always much cheaper than getting your locks changed. When rekeying your locks, you are only being charged for the labor, whereas when you get your locks changed, you're paying both for labor and parts.
If you don't know what kind of locks you have, or if you have several brands of locks on your home, hiring a locksmith to rekey your home is the best option. If you try to rekey locks yourself and fail, you could end up ruining them altogether.
The cost of having locks rekeyed ranges from $40-$100, plus $5-$25 for each lock cylinder. Many people rekey locks when they buy a new home, if they lose all the keys to a lock or if they're concerned that unauthorized copies of their keys exist.
Kwikset locks can be rekeyed to accept a Kwikset key, and Schlage locks can be rekeyed to accept a Schlage key, but you cannot use the same key for both brands.
Most common door locks can be rekeyed, but if you have lost the original key or the lock is broken, the lock will need to be replaced. Do you need the original key to rekey a lock? Yes, the original key is necessary to use a rekey kit when rekeying a lock.
Can I have every lock in my home Keyed Alike? As long every lock in your home is the same type then yes. If your locks are different, they will have to be changed in order to use the same keys for all of them.
The cost to change a front door lock will vary depending on the type of lock you have. The average cost to change a Yale lock is around £100 per lock (materials and labour). Meanwhile, the cost to change a standard uPVC door lock is around £125 per lock. Bear in mind that these prices are for standard business hours.
To rekey locks, you or a handyman professional have to remove the key cores from the locking hardware and replace them with lock patterns that match new keys. This sounds simple but actually is time-consuming and can get costly, as you have to pay for labor and buy new equipment.
Hardware stores rekey locks at most locations. This can be convenient if you're already purchasing home improvement supplies. Typically, you must bring the lock or the key cylinder to the store. Hardware stores also often have rekeying kits available if you want to attempt the process yourself.
Most Home Depot's have an associate on staff that can rekey door locks. Call your local Home Depot and make sure that the person that does the rekeying service is there before you arrive. Also there may be a charge for this service.
Generally, it takes a professional locksmith between 10 and 40 minutes to rekey a lock. If you need multiple locks rekeyed, you'll want to plan accordingly as a locksmith is likely to require at least an hour for a job that requires more than one or two locks. The type of lock will impact the job.
Purchase a Rekeying Kit
You can use the same key for each regardless of brand. The rekeying kit comes with everything you need to complete this task, such as tiny picks and tweezers, a key gauge, an assortment of pins and springs, and any other tools you'll need to disassemble and reassemble the lock.
Lowes won't rekey an old lock you carry in, you have to buy it right there. ... unless you get an employee in a good mood that feels like helping. They use the 5 digit code on your key to know what pins to put in the lock.
Yes, it is possible for you to rekey a lock without the original key. A locksmith can change your locks even if you have lost or misplaced the original key. In general, it is possible to pick or shim the lock and unlock the door. Then, the locksmith will have a much easier time removing the lock cylinder.
Rekeying involves changing a lock cylinder's internal pins and springs to make the existing keys ineffective. It does not replace the entire lock or door hardware. There are scenarios where you can choose to rekey the locks rather than changing the whole hardware.
If your keys are nowhere to be found, then the answer is yes, a locksmith can create a new set of keys that will work with your existing locks.
Deadbolt Rekey Steps
Remove the lock from the door by unscrewing the mounting screws. Use the original key to remove the Cylinder Cap and Pin, then the spring. With the key at the 2 O'clock position, insert the Follower Bar to move the housing. Empty the old pins and match the new pins with the KEY CUT NUMBER.
Unlimited amount of times.
The average homeowner spends around $150 to rekey a more complicated house lock like a profile cylinder or 3-point lock system and replace a set of keys. On the low end, homeowners pay $75 to repair a broken door lock. On the high end, having a locksmith replace a house lock and provide a set of keys costs $550.
How long does it take to change a lock on a door? On average changing one lock takes around 30 minutes, but this time may change depending on the type of door, make of lock, condition of your door and other variables. A reputable Locksmith will discuss how long they think the job should take before starting any work.
Locksmiths often provide 24/7 emergency services. This around-the-clock availability means they must be ready to assist at any hour. A locksmith shop has to be prepared for all-day service, which is costly.
Rekeying is usually cheaper, and it still provides you with a renewed sense of security. If you move into a new home or if your key is lost or stolen, rekeying your lock will almost always suffice. If your lock mechanism is beginning to deteriorate, however, consider changing the lock.
To change a lock so that it fits an existing key, you simply work in the opposite direction: You change the pattern of the pins in the lock so that it matches the pattern of notches in the key. If the lock is designed with a universal keying system, any locksmith can re-key the lock in no time.
Schlage Rekeying Kits provide everything you need to get the job done—including all the tools and parts you need for repinning the cylinders of most Schlage locksets so that they work with a single key.