Can I rekey my own house?

Author: Tremaine Fisher  |  Last update: Monday, October 16, 2023

If you know the brand or keyhole style of your locks, you may be able to buy a lock rekeying kit from your local home hardware store. But, while most homeowners already have the tools they need to change locks, rekeying them can require special tools, and those can be expensive.

Can I rekey a door lock myself?

Rekeying a lock is a common task for a locksmith, and this simple project only takes about 30 minutes to complete. The only tools you'll need to rekey your lock yourself are a rekey kit and the current key to the lock. This saves considerable money, especially when you need to access multiple locks with the same key.

Is it cheaper to replace door locks or rekey?

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.

Can I rekey a lock without the original key?

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.

How do you use the same key for all locks in a house?

Pick the key you like the best (or have the most of) and have all the other knobs keyed to it. Remove the locks that need to be rekeyed and take them to a locksmith or a hardware store. Bring a key that works each of the locks and the key you want all the locks keyed to and give us five minutes a lock.

Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks? | Mr. Locksmith™ Video

Can 2 houses have the same key?

Hello, YES, many thousands of homes share identical keys. Look at any lock manufacturing company, many say that they have 10,000 key patterns, If they make 1,000,000,000 locks of a particular design, they would make 100,000 different keys of each design.

How long does it take to rekey a lock?

Rekeying a lock generally takes about 15 minutes, but this depends on the type of lock as well as the skills of the person working on it. The most time-consuming part of the process is removing the lock from the door – the actual rekeying is much simpler. If it's simple, should you rekey your lock yourself?

What are the easiest locks to rekey?

Although there are many different types of locks, today we're going to talk about rekeying a pin and tumbler lock. This is the most common and one of the easiest types of locks to rekey aside from old-school locks.

Can Ace hardware rekey locks?

We rekey Kwikset and Schlage locks at a fraction of the price of having to replace your locksets. We can also create a 'master key' for superintendents or landlords that need access to multiple units without carrying a hundred keys. We also key Masterlock padlocks to an existing Masterlock key.

Should I rekey my house?

If you've moved into a new home for the first time, rekeying your locks can be an affordable way to guarantee that no one but you and your family has keys to your new home. You never know who may have obtained keys to your home from the previous owner and how many copies of those keys have been made.

Should you change locks after buying house?

While you get the keys to your new home at the closing, you can't know how many copies of the keys the previous owners had made and how many might still be floating around. That's why it's important to have the locks changed out.

Can I rekey my own Schlage locks?

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. Navigating your way through the Kit tray.

What is a rekey kit?

A lock rekey kit is exactly what you might imagine. It is a kit that can be used to change the locks in an organization, without having to call a locksmith. There are no tools required, no hardware removal, and you do not have to have the expertise of a locksmith to perform a rekey.

Is it illegal to have a double keyed deadbolt?

Fire codes in some homes prohibit the use of double-keyed deadbolts on egress doors. In rental houses, it's crucial to take into account the liability of using double-keyed deadbolts. Before installing such a lock, be sure to check local laws.

Does Ace hardware rekey deadbolts?

Do you have too many keys to get into your house? For $10.00 each, our qualified staff will rekey your Schlage, Kwikset, or Ace brand doorknob or deadbolt. If you have a newer Kwikset lock it may use SmartKey technology, which makes re-keying quick and easy. We'll gladly show you how to rekey those locks for free!

Why use a double keyed deadbolt?

Businesses often use double-cylinder deadbolt locks because they provide more security on exterior doors that have windows. When intruders attempt to break into a building through a window, the key lock on the inside of the door will stop them from entering.

How much does it cost to rekey a deadbolt lock?

In general, prices average between $20 and $50 for a single lock and can cost up to $130 for a house. However, if you call a locksmith out on an emergency you can expect it to cost an extra $100 to $150. If you need to rekey your vehicle the price ranges from $75 to $180 for most locksmith companies.

Can I get all my locks keyed the same?

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.

Can you rekey without changing lock?

Rekeying Your Locks

Some locksmiths may tell you that you should change your locks. But in many cases, you can just rekey them, which means changing the existing lock system so a new key operates it. A locksmith simply replaces the tumblers and pins to create a lock that can be opened by a brand-new key.

How many times can you rekey with SmartKey?

Am I limited to how many times a SmartKey lock can be re-keyed? A: No, you can re-key a SmartKey lock as often as you'd like.

How long should a deadbolt last?

Or, for example, we've seen houses that use the same deadbolt for 50 years without a problem and others that need to be replaced after just a few years. If you have a high-quality pin tumbler lock, it should last tens of thousands of key turns, if it's not abused of course, without needing to be repaired or replaced.

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