Lock Rekeying in Maryland & Washington, DC

Rekeying changes the pins inside a lock cylinder so the old keys stop working and a new key takes over. The lock stays on the door. For most situations where you simply need the existing keys to stop opening things, it is the sensible answer — you are paying for the work rather than for new hardware.

When rekeying is the right call

• You have just moved in and have no idea how many keys are out there
• A tenant has moved out, or staff have left
• Keys were lost, or a bag or wallet holding them was taken
• A relationship ended and someone still has a key
• A contractor, cleaner or dog walker had a key during a project
• You want several different locks to open with one key

That last one is worth calling out. If your front door, back door and garage side door all take different keys, they can usually be rekeyed to match, provided the cylinders are the same keyway. Most homes have a mix that grew over the years without anyone planning it.

When replacement makes more sense instead

We will tell you when rekeying is not worth it. If the cylinder is worn to the point where the key is already sticking, if the lock is a low-grade unit that offers little resistance to forcing, or if the hardware is physically damaged, rekeying preserves a lock that was not doing its job. In that case replacement is the sounder choice, and we would rather say so than take the easier ticket.

There is also a security ceiling to consider. Rekeying a builder-grade cylinder gives you a new key for a lock that can still be bumped or picked without much difficulty. If the point of the exercise is that you no longer feel secure, upgrading the cylinder is the change that actually addresses it.

What we work with

Standard residential cylinders — Kwikset, Schlage, Defiant, Baldwin and the rest — are routine. We also rekey higher-security cylinders including Medeco, Mul-T-Lock and Schlage Primus, though restricted keyways need proof that you are authorised to hold keys for that system, which is the entire point of a restricted keyway.

For businesses, rekeying often means a master key system rather than a set of matched locks. That is a different job with a different structure behind it, and it has its own page.

How the visit works

• We come to the property — there is nothing to bring anywhere
• Cylinders are removed, repinned to a new key and refitted
• Every lock is tested with the new key before we leave, and with the old key to confirm it no longer works
• You get the number of copies you asked for, cut on site
• Pricing is given upfront, before anyone is dispatched

Proof of ownership

We verify identity and authorization before performing lockout, rekeying, or lock-change work — a licence showing the address, a lease, a deed or a utility bill. Rekeying a door is exactly the capability someone would want in order to lock a rightful occupant out, so the check is what makes the service safe to offer. If you are not the owner, tell us on the phone and we will explain what authorisation we need.

Is rekeying as secure as fitting a new lock?

For the purpose of stopping old keys from working, yes — the pin combination is genuinely new. What rekeying does not do is improve the lock itself. A rekeyed builder-grade cylinder is still a builder-grade cylinder.

Can all my locks be rekeyed to one key?

Usually, provided the cylinders share a keyway. Where they do not, we can often swap the odd one out so the whole house runs on a single key. We will tell you which of your locks can be matched before starting.

Do I need to be there?

Someone who can prove they are entitled to authorise the work needs to be present. For rental properties that is normally the owner or the managing agent rather than the outgoing tenant.

How many keys do I get?

As many as you need — tell us the number when you call and they are cut during the same visit.