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Rekeying changes the key that opens a suitable lock. The handle can stay where it is. The door can look just as it did before. What changes is which key works.
That is useful when the hardware is still sound but you no longer want the old keys in use. At Nation Auto Locksmith, we provide lock rekeying in Hamilton, ON, for homes and businesses. We can check the locks you have and explain whether keeping them makes sense.
You may have just moved in. You may have lost a set of keys or finished work with someone who had a copy. None of those things tells us that the locks are worn out. They do give you a reason to look at who can get through the door.
Start at the front entrance. Does it have a keyed handle and a separate deadbolt? If both use keys, there may be two locks to include in the work, even though you are looking at one door.
Then have a look at the other entrances you use. The back door, a side entrance and a door between the house and garage can be easy to overlook. You do not need to take anything apart. A simple note of the keyed locks is enough to start the conversation.
For each one, think about:
Here is why the list helps. If the old house key opens both the front and back doors, rekeying only the front leaves that key working at the back. The work needs to cover the locks you actually want changed.
For a business, include any inside doors affected by a missing key. An office or stockroom may matter just as much as the main entrance. Shared building doors should be discussed with the person who manages them before changes are arranged.
It is a reasonable thing to want. You get home with full hands and would rather use one key than work through three that look almost alike.
Compatible locks can often be rekeyed to use the same key. This is called keying them alike. We need to check the locks before confirming that yours can be set up that way.
A matching finish does not tell us much. Two brass locks can use different key types. Even locks fitted on the same day may not be suitable for the same key.
Bring up the goal early, though. If one lock already needs replacing, that may be a chance to choose hardware that fits the key arrangement you want. Buying a new lock first and thinking about the keys later can make the job harder.
There is also a people question. Would you be happy for everyone with that key to open every door in the group? For your own house, the answer may be yes. For a shared entrance and a private room, you may want to keep the keys separate.
A master key system is a different arrangement again. If your building already has one, mention it when booking. We need to know about it before making changes to an individual lock.
A good lock does not become a bad lock because a key is missing. If it works well and suits the door, rekeying may let you keep it.
On the other hand, a lock that is loose, damaged or unreliable needs a closer look. Changing the key will not straighten a door that catches on the frame or repair a cracked handle.
You might need two jobs: a repair to make the door work properly, and rekeying to change who can open it. Or replacement may be the more useful choice.
We have spent over two decades in the locksmith trade, and keeping sound hardware is worth considering. That does not mean keeping a lock at any cost. We can explain what condition it is in and what each option would achieve.
If you like the existing handles, say so. If you find the lock hard to turn or difficult to grip, say that too. How the door works for you matters when deciding what to keep.
No fixed answer will fit every set of locks. Rekeying can avoid the cost of buying complete replacement locks, but the number of locks, their type and the work involved still affect the price.
New hardware might make more sense where several parts are worn. For sound locks, a new set of keys may be all that is needed. The useful comparison is the full price for each suitable option, including the visit and the keys you need.
For a new home, plan the visit for when you can give access and are allowed to approve the work. Moving day can work, but so can a quieter appointment once the van and boxes are out of the doorway.
Have the keys you were given ready. There may be a front door key on one ring and a back door key loose in an envelope. Keeping them together makes it easier to go through the locks.
No working key? Mention that when you contact us. Rekeying may still be possible, but the lock and the access needed must be checked. If you are locked out as well, that is another part of the request.
To arrange a local locksmith for Hamilton, including Westdale and the Mountain, give us the address and a rough idea of the locks involved. You can also check visits to nearby areas such as Dundas and Ancaster. Availability is confirmed for the job and location.
Before the work starts, agree which locks are included and how many new keys you need. If you rent or share the premises, involve the landlord or building manager before arranging the change.
Once the locks are rekeyed, test the new keys while the locksmith is there. Where you still have an old key, check that it no longer operates the locks that were meant to change. Keep track of any doors left on the old key.
One last detail: rekeying a mechanical lock does not reset a keypad code or a garage remote. If the aim is to remove someone's access, include those other ways in when you discuss the plan. The old key may be useless while their entry code still works.
