Locksmith FAQ
Locksmith FAQ: Answers Before You Book
Do you make automotive keys or remotes?
This locksmith FAQ covers rekeying, lockout assistance and the limits of our vehicle unlocking service. Call with your door or vehicle details to confirm the right service.
No. Our automotive service is vehicle unlocking for car lockouts only. We do not cut, replace, duplicate, or program automotive keys, remotes, transponders, or key fobs, and we do not repair ignitions.
Is it better to rekey or replace locks?
Rekeying is usually the cheaper and quicker option, and it is the right choice when your locks are in good working order and you simply want the old keys to stop working — after moving in, a tenant leaving, a relationship ending, or a key going missing.
Replacing makes more sense when the hardware is worn, damaged or dated, or when you want to move up to a higher security grade or a smart lock. Tell us the situation and we will tell you which one it actually calls for, not which one costs more.
What lockout services do you provide?
We provide lockout help for homes, offices, and vehicles. Vehicle service is door unlocking only, not automotive key replacement or programming. For security, be prepared to show identification or proof that you are authorized to access the property or vehicle.
Will opening my lock damage the door or the lock?
In most cases, no. Standard residential and commercial locks can be opened without damage, and that is always our first approach — the lock goes back into use afterwards.
A small number of high-security cylinders and badly damaged locks cannot be opened that way, and drilling is the only route in. If that is your situation we will say so before we start, along with what replacing the cylinder will cost, so you can decide.
Can you rekey all my locks to work on one key?
Usually yes. Where your locks share the same brand and keyway they can simply be rekeyed to match. Where they do not, we can often swap the cylinders so everything still runs on a single key.
It is one of the most common requests we get after someone buys a house with a mix of hardware on the front, back and garage doors, and it is considerably cheaper than replacing every lock.
My key has snapped in the lock. Can you get it out?
Yes. Extracting a broken key is routine work and the lock itself usually survives it, so you are often looking at a new key rather than a new lock.
Please do not try to pull the fragment out with pliers or glue first. That normally pushes it deeper or damages the cylinder, and turns a small job into a replacement. Call (636) 628-7803 and leave it alone until we arrive.
