Locksmiths for Lock Change

Lock Change or Rekey: Decide This First

Most home and office door locks are pin tumbler locks. Inside the cylinder, spring-loaded pin stacks sit at different heights, and only a key cut to match those heights will turn it. Rekeying keeps your hardware and swaps those pins so old keys stop working. A lock change replaces the hardware itself. A full change is usually the better call when:

• The lock is worn out: the latch sticks, the key grinds, or the cylinder wobbles in its housing.
• The lock was damaged in a break-in attempt.
• You want a stronger deadbolt, a new style, or a matching finish.
• You want a different function, such as adding a deadbolt where only a knob lock exists.

If the hardware is healthy and you just need old keys to stop working, rekeying is often the simpler route.

Know What Is Actually on Your Door

Not every door uses the same lock format, and the format decides what a replacement looks like.

• Cylindrical locks (knobs and levers) and standard deadbolts mount through round holes bored in the door face. They are the most common type in homes.
• Mortise locks sit in a rectangular pocket cut into the door edge, common on older homes and commercial doors. A replacement mortise case must match the pocket dimensions.
• Euro cylinder locks, found on many patio and uPVC doors, are measured from each end to the center cam, so a replacement has to be measured rather than guessed.

A quick photo of the door edge and faceplate tells a locksmith most of this before anyone visits.

What a Professional Lock Change Involves

A clean lock change starts with three measurements: the backset (from the door edge to the center of the bore, usually 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches), the cross-bore diameter (commonly 2-1/8 inches), and the door thickness. Hardware that matches those numbers drops in without cutting new holes.

Strength is graded too: ANSI/BHMA rates deadbolts and locksets as Grade 1, 2, or 3, with Grade 1 the most durable under testing. A locksmith can also reinforce the strike plate with 3-inch screws that reach the wall framing instead of just the jamb, a high-value upgrade during any lock change. If you are changing several locks at once, ask about keyed-alike cylinders so one key operates every new lock.

How to Prepare Before You Call

A few minutes of prep makes the call faster and the plan more accurate:

• Count the doors and note which have a knob, a lever, a deadbolt, or both.
• Photograph each lock, including the faceplate on the door edge, where the brand name is usually stamped.
• Decide whether you want the new locks keyed alike.
• Mention any door that sticks or sags, since alignment problems can mimic lock failure.

Avoid forcing a seized cylinder or drilling a lock yourself; both can damage the door and turn a simple swap into a bigger repair. When you call, describe your situation first and confirm the service is a fit before any technician is scheduled. Ready to change your locks? Call (916) 913-5080 and tell us what is on your door.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between changing a lock and rekeying it?

Rekeying keeps your existing lock body and changes the pin stacks inside the cylinder so a new key operates it and old keys no longer work. Changing a lock replaces the whole unit, latch included. Rekey when the hardware is in good shape and you only need key control. Change the lock when it is worn, damaged, or you want a stronger grade or a new style.

Can all my new locks be opened with one key?

Usually, yes. When locks share the same keyway, a locksmith can key them alike so one key operates the front door, back door, and garage entry. This works best when the new hardware comes from the same brand family, since different brands often use incompatible keyways. Ask for keyed-alike locks before the job starts; matching cylinders is easiest at install time.

How do I know if a new lock will fit my door?

Three numbers decide fit for standard bored locks: the backset (usually 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches), the cross-bore diameter (commonly 2-1/8 inches), and the door thickness. Many residential locks ship with adjustable latches that cover both common backsets. Mortise and euro cylinder locks need extra edge and cam measurements, so photograph the door edge and share the numbers when you call.

Call (916) 913-5080 about locksmiths for lock change.