Lock Rekeying in Ardmore, PA

When your lost keys are on a ring with your address, anyone who finds them may know which home they fit.

In Ardmore, we rekey the existing cylinders so those missing copies no longer operate the doors you choose. We change the pins inside and provide a new set, while the visible hardware stays in place. Rekeying also makes sense when you move into a home or a roommate leaves and you are unsure who still has a copy.

You can include the front entrance, a side entrance, a back door, or only the doors the missing set opened. Any lock left out will still work with its existing key, so consider where each copy could be used. For an Ardmore home with compatible locks, we can arrange for one key to operate several outside doors. If the hardware is worn, damaged, or not suited to the arrangement you want, replacement is another choice; it changes the hardware rather than just the parts inside.

If you have moved into a home where old keys are still out there, we look at the outside doors you want to secure and check how their locks operate.

We explain which ones can be rekeyed and whether they can be set to use one key. That choice requires compatible locks. If they do not accept the same type of key, you may need separate keys or replacement parts to get a single key for all of them.

Before work starts, we go over which doors you want included and any lock that may be too worn or damaged to rekey reliably. Rekeying changes the pins inside the existing cylinders so the old keys no longer fit their new settings. The handles and other visible hardware remain, and existing wear is not corrected. Replacement is another choice if a lock is faulty or you want different hardware. Afterward, we test the new keys with you on each included door, from both sides where applicable. If an old key is available, we check it against the rekeyed locks as well.

With the door open, try each new key in the doors it is meant to open.

Keep one with you when you close the door and check that the latch catches. An old key from a previous occupant should no longer turn the rekeyed lock. If it does, or if a new key sticks or takes force, stop using it and call us to check the work. Forcing a key can bend or break it.

Store spare keys somewhere secure, rather than under a mat or in a labeled container. Give copies only to people you trust, and keep a record of who has one. If a copy goes missing or someone you no longer trust has one, call us about rekeying again. For routine care, keep dirt out of the keyway and avoid household oil or random sprays, which can collect grime.