Yes, the original key is necessary to use a rekey kit when rekeying a lock. If you do not have the original key, you can choose to hire a locksmith to make a new key or you can replace the lock.
Since most homes have multiple doors with multiple locks, re-keying can get expensive. You can re-key a lock like a pro at a fraction of the cost. Re-keying kits are available for most lock brands but they're not interchangeable. You must buy a kit for each brand of lock in your home.
It is usually cheaper to rekey the existing door hardware than to completely replace it. A lock rekey is great if you already like your current door knob and want a cost effective safety solution. Rekeying your hardware is a simple way to keep your home and work place safe and secure.
To rekey locks to use the same key, all of them must be from the same manufacturer. You can't rekey a Kwikset lock to use a Schlage key because each maker's locks have different size holes that will only accept their own keys.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Most locksmiths advise that a door lock should be changed once every seven years.
Schlage locks with a cylinder, whether a mechanical lock or smart lock, can be keyed alike or rekeyed according to your needs.
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.
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.
As it turns out, changing locks is an easy DIY project that can take less than a day to complete. Moreover, if safety is a concern, but you're limited on time, you could hire a professional locksmith to replace the locks.
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.
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.
All SmartKey cylinders feature ANSI Grade 1 security, are bump-proof and highly pick resistant while also passing the most stringent security standards, UL 437, par 11.6 & 11.7.
When purchasing more than one lock, look for packages that have the same “key alike” number on the package. Alternatively, our store associates can key all of your locks to work with the same key. You can also purchase a rekeying kit to swap out pins and springs yourself.
Reasons Not to Have Locks Keyed Alike
Another reason why you might not want to have all of your locks keyed alike is that someone could lose a key. If that happened, you would need to have all of your locks rekeyed to prevent someone who found the key from entering your house.