1. The cylinder comes out
I remove the lock cylinder from each door. The rest of the lock stays put — nothing gets drilled, nothing leaves a mark.
Residential › Rekeying
Rekey Your Locks — Keep the Hardware, Make Every Old Key Useless
New house, lost key, roommate gone, contractor finished? You don't need new locks. You need the locks you have to stop answering to the old keys. That's rekeying, and I do it at your door in about the time it takes to make coffee.
(559) 862-5852Open 24 hours · License #LCO6853 · Clovis, Fresno, Sanger and Madera
When to rekey
If you can't say who has a key, it's time
Rekeying is the cheapest security upgrade there is, and it's the one most people put off. These are the moments it matters.
You just bought or rented a home
The previous owners, their kids, the neighbor who watered the plants, the cleaner, the agent's lockbox. You have no idea how many copies exist. Rekey on day one and you do.
A key is lost or stolen
Especially if it went missing with anything that shows your address — a bag, a wallet, a car. The lock is still perfectly good. The key isn't.
A tenant, roommate or partner moved out
Even when it ended well. Even when they handed the key back. Copies are a few dollars at any hardware store, and you'll sleep better.
Contractors or staff had keys
A renovation, a house-sitter, a caregiver. Once the job's done, the key should stop working. This is routine for landlords and property managers between every tenancy.
You want one key for every door
Front, back, garage entry, side gate — all on one key. Rekeying to a single key (keyed alike) is usually possible when the locks share a keyway, and I can swap out the odd one that doesn't.
How it works
What rekeying actually involves
2. New pins, new key
I swap the pins inside to match a freshly cut key. The old key no longer lines up, so it no longer turns. Done to the correct pin sizes, not eyeballed.
3. Tested, and you get the copies
Every lock tested with the new key and with the old one (to prove it doesn't work). You get as many copies as you want, cut on the spot.
Rekey vs replace
When rekeying isn't the answer
Rekeying keeps the hardware, so it only makes sense when the hardware is worth keeping. I'll tell you to replace instead when:
- The lock is worn, loose or damaged inside
- It's a low-grade lock on an exterior door and you want real security
- You've got a mix of brands that can't share a key and you want one key for everything
- You want to move to a keypad or smart lock anyway
Either way, you'll get a straight recommendation and a price for that, not a sales pitch for the more expensive option.
Rekeying questions
What people ask
What does rekeying actually mean?
I change the pins inside your existing lock so it works with a new key and every old key stops working. The lock stays on the door — only its internals change. It's faster and cheaper than replacing hardware.
How long does it take?
A typical house with three or four locks is usually done in under an hour, including cutting your new keys.
Can you make all my locks use one key?
Usually, yes — as long as the locks share a compatible keyway. If one doesn't, I can replace that single lock so the whole house works on one key.
Do I need to be home?
You, or someone you authorize, needs to let me in and show something proving the address is yours. After that, most people go back to what they were doing.
Can you rekey to a key I already have?
Often, yes. If you've got a key you like — say, the front door — I can usually rekey the other compatible locks to match it.