Lock Rekeying in Concord, PA

A contractor had a key to your Concord home for a project, and you may not know whether any copies remain.

We rekey the existing lock cylinders so the old keys no longer operate them and a new key does. The handles and the rest of the hardware stay in place, so the door looks and works much as it did before. This changes key access to the locks you select, not to every entry on the property.

You can choose which exterior doors to include, such as the front, back and side entrances. In Concord, you may want one key for all of them, which is possible when the locks are compatible. If they are not, replacing some hardware may be necessary to use one key. Rekeying does not fix a worn or damaged lock, so replacement may be the better choice if a lock is not working properly or you want different hardware.

We look at the locks on the doors you want included and check whether they accept the same type of key.

After moving into a home, you may not know who has copies of the old keys. We explain which locks are suitable for rekeying and whether wear makes replacement a better choice. You can choose which exterior doors to include, such as the front, side, and basement doors, based on which ones have keys you want changed.

Rekeying changes the pins inside each cylinder so it works with a different key, while the visible hardware stays in place. If the locks are compatible, we can set them to work with one key. When they are not, you can keep separate keys or choose replacement hardware that accepts the same key type. Once the work is complete, we try the new keys with you at each included door. If you have an old key available, we also test it to check that it no longer operates the rekeyed locks.

After rekeying, try each new key with the door open, then check that it locks and unlocks when closed.

If you still have the key a contractor used during a project, try it with the door open too. It should no longer turn a rekeyed lock. It may still work on a door you chose not to include, so keep track of who has access to those doors.

Keep spare keys somewhere secure, and be selective about who receives a copy. For routine care, use only a lubricant recommended by the lock manufacturer, and avoid forcing a key that sticks. If an old key still turns, or a new one catches or refuses to turn, call us to check it. Mention loose hardware or a door that is difficult to latch, since those symptoms may point to a separate problem.