Lock Rekeying
Lock rekeying in Pacific Beach: same locks, brand-new keys
Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing lock so it works with a new key and rejects every old one. It is faster and cheaper than replacing hardware, and it is the single most effective thing you can do after moving, losing a key, or parting ways with someone who had one. In a neighborhood where leases and roommates turn over as often as they do in PB, and in the student blocks around UTC, it is the job we do most.
What we do
- Rekey every exterior door in one visit
- Key all your locks alike so one key does everything
- New home and new tenant rekeys
- Lost or stolen key rekeys
- Rekeys when a roommate, partner or contractor moves on
- Landlord and property manager turnovers
- Kwikset SmartKey rekeys and resets
- Commercial rekeys and master key changes
- Extra keys cut while we are there
Rekey or replace?
Rekey when the lock is in good working order and you just need control over who has a key. Replace when the hardware is worn, corroded from salt air, a low-grade builder lock, or when you want to upgrade to a deadbolt, a higher security grade or a smart lock. Most PB homes need a mix: rekey the good locks, replace the one on the back door that has been sticking for years. We look at what you have and tell you which is which.
When you should rekey
- You just bought or rented a place in PB, or one of the 1950s homes in Clairemont still on its original locks
- A key was lost, stolen or never returned
- A roommate, tenant, employee or contractor no longer needs access
- You want one key for the front, back, side and garage doors
- You have no idea how many copies are floating around
- A vacation rental guest left with a physical key
Just moved? The move-in security checklist covers rekeying and everything else worth doing in the first week.
How rekeying works
We remove the cylinder from the lock, swap the pins to match a freshly cut key, reassemble and test it. About ten to fifteen minutes per lock, and the lock looks exactly as it did before, only your old keys no longer turn it. Kwikset SmartKey locks are even quicker: with a working key they rekey in seconds, and if the working key is lost we reset the cylinder instead of replacing it.
One key for every door
If your locks share a brand and keyway, we key them all alike so a single key opens the front, back, side and garage. If they do not, we tell you which cylinders would need to be swapped to make it work, and often that is cheaper than you expect. Landlords can go a step further with a master key that opens every unit while each tenant's key opens only their own door.
How pricing works for rekeying
Rekeying is priced by the cylinder, so the number of locks is the main factor. Keying everything alike, cutting extra copies, resetting a SmartKey lock without a working key, and master keying each add a little. Locks that turn out to be too worn or corroded to rekey are quoted as replacements instead, and you decide.
Tell us how many doors you have and you get a firm price before we come out. We confirm it on arrival, and extra keys are priced per key so there are no surprises when you ask for two more at the end.
What to have ready when you call
- How many doors and locks you want rekeyed, and whether you want them all on one key
- The lock brands if you know them, or a photo of each lock
- Whether you have a working key for each lock
- Proof you live there or own it; tenants need the landlord's okay if the lease requires it
- How many copies of the new key you want
Common questions
How long does rekeying take?
A typical home with three or four exterior doors takes under an hour, including cutting your new keys. A single lock is usually done in about fifteen minutes. Larger jobs, like a multi-unit building, are scheduled so tenants know when to expect us.
Can every lock be rekeyed?
Almost all standard pin-tumbler locks can, which covers the vast majority of residential and commercial hardware. Some very cheap locks and locks badly corroded by salt air are not worth it, and we say so and quote a replacement instead of pretending.
Will the lock look different afterwards?
No. Rekeying is entirely internal. Same lock, same finish, same feel; only the key that opens it changes.
Can you rekey my locks to a key I already have?
Often, yes. If the key fits the same keyway and is not badly worn, we can pin your locks to match it, which is handy when you want the new place on the same key as a gate or a storage unit. If the keyway is different, we tell you what it would take.
Do I need to be home for a rekey?
Yes, you or an adult you authorize needs to be there, both to let us in and to receive the new keys. We verify that the person authorizing the rekey has the right to do so, which is the same protection you would want if someone else tried to rekey your door. Our licensing and ID FAQ explains what we check and why.
Lock Rekeying in Pacific Beach, today
Call or text and you get a price, an ETA and the name of the technician heading your way. Open 7 am to 9:30 pm, every day.