Lock change & replacement

A lock change replaces the entire hardware unit, not just the pins inside it. It's the right call when the existing lock is damaged, low quality, mismatched, or just old enough that the next failure is around the corner.

When to change vs rekey

Quick rule: if the lock works and you trust the hardware, rekey. If the lock is failing, ugly, or you want a different style or smart features, change.

What we install

• ANSI Grade-2 deadbolts — the residential baseline. Schlage B60, Kwikset 980, equivalent.
• ANSI Grade-1 deadbolts for higher security needs.
• Knob and lever sets in matching finishes.
• Smart locks — see smart lock installation.
• Commercial hardware — mortise locks, lever sets with key-in-lever, exit devices. More on storefront and panic hardware.
• High-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) by request and pre-order.

What's actually in a lock change

A proper lock change isn't just unboxing a Home Depot blister pack and screwing it on. We:

1. Inspect the door prep — the bore hole, the strike, the alignment of the latch.
2. Pull the existing hardware and check the door for cracks or wear that need fixing.
3. Install the new lock with the latch oriented correctly for your door swing.
4. Replace the strike plate (we recommend security strikes with 3-inch screws).
5. Test the bolt throw — a deadbolt that doesn't throw fully is decorative, not protective.
6. Hand you the keys, walk you through any features, and clean up.

Common scenarios

• Old worn deadbolt that needs more and more wiggling to open.
• Front door knob lock that no longer holds — common on rentals.
• Three different keys for three doors — replace and rekey to a single key.
• Cracked or split lock body after a forced-entry attempt.
• Builder-grade locks on a new build that you want to upgrade.
• Storefront lock that's failing during business hours.

Door reinforcement

An honest note: most residential break-ins don't pick the lock — they kick the door near the strike plate. The cheapest security upgrade you can make alongside a lock change is replacing the strike plate with a long-screw security strike. We do this as part of the install on request and it usually adds very little to the cost.