Home Rekeying Service

Rekeying is the process of reconfiguring the internal pin tumblers of a lock cylinder so that the old key no longer works and a newly cut key operates it instead. The lock body, strike plate, and door hardware all stay exactly as they are — only the internal pins and springs are changed. This matters because quality hardware, whether it's a Schlage deadbolt, a Kwikset knob, or a heavier-duty mortise lock, is worth keeping. A mortise lock in particular — the type set into a rectangular pocket cut into the door edge, common on older Raleigh homes and on many exterior doors with a more traditional profile — is a premium piece of engineering. Our technicians are experienced with mortise lock cylinder pulls, pin replacements, and reassembly, which requires a more hands-on skill set than working with a standard cylindrical knob lock.

When we rekey an entire home in one visit, we also give you the option of keying all cylinders alike — meaning one key opens the front door, back door, side entry, deadbolts, and even a detached garage or workshop if the hardware is compatible. This is called a keyed-alike setup, and it eliminates the frustration of carrying a separate key for every door while giving you a clean security reset. We cut the new keys on-site using our mobile equipment, test every cylinder before we leave, and confirm everything works smoothly.

There are several situations where rekeying is not just a good idea but genuinely urgent. Moving into a previously owned or rented property is the most common — real estate agents, prior tenants, contractors, and maintenance workers may all hold copies of existing keys, and there is simply no way to account for them all. The same logic applies after any relationship change: a breakup, a divorce, a housemate who has moved out, or a domestic situation that requires immediate access control. Raleigh's rental market moves fast, especially near NC State's campus and in neighborhoods like Mordecai and Five Points, and locks are not always changed between tenants as promptly as they should be.

Other situations that call for a prompt rekey include a lost or stolen key ring, a recent break-in or attempted break-in, or a home that has just had contractor work done where keys were distributed for access. If any of these apply to you, do not wait. Call (704) 850-6756 — we answer 24/7 — and one of our technicians can typically reach you the same day. We treat access security situations with the urgency they deserve, any hour of the day or night.

Not every lock in your home is the same, and a skilled rekey technician needs to be comfortable with all of them. The door knob lock is the most common type on interior doors and secondary entry points — it's the spring-latch style that turns with the knob. A deadbolt adds a second, manual bolt that requires a key from the outside, and most exterior doors in Raleigh homes have at least one. These are the workhorses of residential security, and rekeying them is straightforward for an experienced technician. The mortise lock is a different animal entirely — a larger, rectangular lock body mortised into the door itself, often featuring a deadbolt, latch, and sometimes a chain or thumb turn all within a single unit. Older homes in neighborhoods like Boylan Heights or Oakwood frequently have original or period-appropriate mortise locks that are worth preserving. Our technicians carry the tools and replacement pin kits specific to these lock types, so we can rekey them properly rather than recommending you swap out perfectly functional antique hardware.

We also work with keypad and smart lock cylinders that have rekeyable cores, sliding door locks, padlocks used on gates or outbuildings, and mailbox locks where applicable. Whatever combination of hardware your home has, we assess it all on arrival and walk you through exactly what can be rekeyed, what the process involves, and what the final cost will be before we touch anything.

We do not publish flat-rate pricing online because the honest answer is that the cost of a home rekey depends on several real variables. The number of locks being rekeyed is the most significant factor — a single front deadbolt is a different scope than six exterior cylinders plus a mortise lock. The type of hardware matters too: a standard Kwikset deadbolt takes less time and fewer specialized parts than a vintage mortise lock or a high-security Schlage cylinder with a restricted keyway. Time of day is another variable — a rekey at 2 a.m. on a Sunday involves different resourcing than a scheduled weekday appointment. Travel distance from our base in the Raleigh area also factors in, and if replacement pins, springs, or other internal parts are needed, those parts costs are included transparently.

What we commit to without exception: our technician confirms the exact price with you before any work begins. There are no surprises on the final bill. You know what you're paying and what you're getting, and you can ask questions until you're fully comfortable. We believe that straightforward pricing is a basic courtesy, and it's how we've built a reputation for honest service across Raleigh and Wake County.