Lock Rekeying Services in St. Louis, MO
You can change the keys that operate your locks without buying new hardware. That is all rekeying is, and it is usually the cheaper answer. We are a fully mobile locksmith service, so the work is done at your door or in the van on your driveway at a time that suits you.
Need your locks rekeyed? Call (636) 628-7803. We are out seven days a week, 8 AM to 10 PM.
What Lock Rekeying Actually Means
People often assume that changing which key opens a door means buying a new lock. In most cases it does not. Inside the cylinder is a set of small pins arranged to match one particular key. Rekeying re-arranges those pins to match a new key instead. The lock stays on the door, the handle and finish stay as they are, and every old key stops working. Deciding when to do it is a separate question, and there is a short list of moments when it is worth doing straight away.
We rekey locks for homes, rental properties and businesses across West St. Louis County, including Chesterfield, Wildwood, Kirkwood, Ladue, Creve Coeur and the surrounding communities in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Why Choose Locks R Us for Rekeying
- Locally owned and operated for Lock Rekeying
- Licensed and insured
- Open every day, 8 AM to 10 PM
- Help choosing suitable hardware
- Call to discuss your job
- Experienced technicians
- Homes, rentals and businesses
When Should You Consider Rekeying Your Locks?
- You have moved into a new home or apartment.
- A set of keys has been lost or stolen; lock rekeying is required.
- A tenant has moved out, or you are letting the property to someone new.
- An employee has left, or you have had staff turnover.
- A relationship has ended and you want the old key to stop working.
- You have lost track of who holds copies.
- You suspect somebody has been in the property without permission.
- You are juggling several different keys and want fewer.
- You are moving into a new office or commercial unit.
If any of those apply, rekeying is usually faster and cheaper than replacing the hardware, and the result is the same: the old keys no longer open your doors. If you want figures before you call, we set out what a residential locksmith visit typically costs.
Rekeying Guides Worth Reading
- Just bought a house? Work through our new home lock rekey checklist door by door.
- Landlords: here is what to change when a tenant moves out.
- Own several units? Read about keeping rental property locks secure between tenancies.
Lock Rekeying Questions
How is rekeying different from changing the lock?
Changing the lock means taking the old hardware off the door and fitting new hardware in its place. Rekeying leaves the lock exactly where it is and alters the pins inside the cylinder so a different key operates it. The door looks identical afterwards. The only thing that changes is which key works, which is usually all anyone actually wanted.
Compare rekeying and lock replacement to decide which approach suits your existing hardware.
Can every lock be rekeyed?
Most standard residential and commercial cylinders can, provided they are in sound working order. A cylinder that is worn out, damaged or seized is a different matter, and so are some high-security and older mortise locks. We check the hardware before starting and tell you if replacement is the better answer rather than rekeying something that is on its way out.
Can all my doors be set to one key?
Usually yes, and it is one of the most popular reasons people call. Where the locks are the same make and type we can key them alike, so a single key opens the front, back and garage doors. If the hardware is mismatched we will say what would need changing to make it work.
I have just moved in. Should I rekey or replace?
Rekey, in almost every case. On a house that has changed hands there is no way to know how many keys exist or who still holds one, but the locks themselves are often perfectly good. Rekeying retires every old key for a fraction of the cost of new hardware. Replace only if a lock is failing or you want to upgrade it anyway. Rekeying is one line on a longer list of things worth sorting in a new home.
How long does it take?
A typical house with two or three exterior doors is usually a single visit and does not take long. Larger jobs, businesses with several entrances, or locks that turn out to need repair first will take more. Tell us how many doors are involved when you call and we will give you a realistic idea before we set off.
Do you rekey for landlords between tenancies?
Yes, and it is routine work for us. Where the existing locks are compatible and serviceable we change which key operates them without replacing anything, which keeps the cost down on a property that turns over regularly. We can work around a check-out date if you let us know it in advance.
