Lock Rekey
in Santa Monica

Should I rekey or replace the locks?

If the lock body still works and the finish looks solid, rekeying is cheaper and faster – we keep your hardware and change only the pins. We'd point you toward replacement if the cylinder is corroded from the ocean air, if it's a flimsy builder-grade unit you were going to upgrade anyway, or if you want a higher security grade. For a straight new-tenant situation in an Ocean Park rental where you just want the old keys dead, rekey is almost always the move.

Can you get all my doors on one key?

Usually, yes. As long as the locks share a brand and keyway – most Santa Monica homes run Kwikset or Schlage front and back – we repin every cylinder to one new key, so your front deadbolt, entry knob, and side door all open with the same key. Mismatched brands can sometimes be keyed alike too, but occasionally one odd lock has to be swapped out to match the rest.

Will the old keys really stop working?

Yes, that's the whole point of a rekey. Once we reset the pins inside the cylinder, any key cut to the old pattern won't turn the lock at all. Whatever copies a past tenant, contractor, or ex-roommate held onto become useless the moment we finish. You walk away with the only keys that fit those doors.

How is rekeying priced?

Per cylinder, plus the service call to reach you. Each lock we repin has a flat rate and the new cut keys are included, and the more doors you do in one visit, the lower the per-lock cost tends to land. We give you the number over the phone once you tell us how many locks and what brand, so nothing on the invoice is a surprise.