If the lock works smoothly and you only need to change who can open it, rekeying usually lets you keep the hardware you like. Rekeying changes the small parts inside the cylinder so old keys stop working and a new key does. Replace the lock when the hardware itself is the problem: it is worn, damaged, loose, or missing a function you need.
Start with the reason for the change
The choice between rekeying and replacing a lock comes down to why you want a change. If the reason is key control, meaning you want keys you no longer track to stop working, the lock is not the problem. Rekeying handles that.
If the reason is the hardware, new keys will not fix it. A lock that is failing, broken, or unable to do something you need calls for different hardware, however good it looks on the door.
Liking the hardware is a fair starting point. A deadbolt or handleset that matches the door and feels solid in the hand does not need to come off just because the keys have to change.
What rekeying changes, and what it leaves alone
A pin tumbler lock, the common type where a key slides into a cylinder, has a row of small spring-loaded pins inside. The cuts on the key push those pins to the right heights so the cylinder can turn. Rekeying swaps the pins for a set that matches a different key. The old key no longer lines them up, so it stops working, and the new key does.
Everything you see stays put. The lock body, the handle or knob, the inside thumb turn, the trim plates, the finish, and the way the bolt meets the strike plate on the frame all remain as they were. The key in your pocket changes. The lock does not.
Does rekeying make a lock more secure? It changes who holds a working key, not how the lock is built. A deadbolt resists prying and picking the same way after a rekey as before, because the same cylinder and bolt are doing the work.
What only a new lock can give you
Some goals depend on the hardware rather than the key, and rekeying cannot reach them.
Hardware that is worn or broken
Rekeying replaces pins in the cylinder and nothing else. It will not straighten a bent bolt or fix a latch that no longer catches. Trouble in the mechanism or the mounting points to door hardware repair or a new lock.
A higher level of protection
A lock's resistance to attack comes from how it is built, and new pins do not change that. If you want a sturdier deadbolt, or keys that are harder to copy, that means a different lock. High-security locks are the place to start that conversation.
Keypad or smart functions
Entering a code, unlocking from a phone, or giving someone temporary access all require hardware built for those jobs. A mechanical lock can be rekeyed, but it cannot gain a keypad. If those functions matter, a smart lock or keypad lock takes the old lock's place.
Checks you can run at the door
A few observations will show you which way to lean before anyone touches the lock.
- Turn the key and the thumb turn several times. Smooth, even movement points toward rekeying. Grinding, catching, or a key that needs jiggling means the hardware deserves a closer look first.
- Look and feel for damage. Pry marks, a cylinder that spins in its housing, or a lock body that shifts when you push on it are signs the hardware needs attention, not just new keys.
- Run through what you need the lock to do. If it already does all of it, the hardware can stay. If you want a code, remote access, or a tougher lock, a rekey will not add that.
- Count the doors. If several locks should open with one key, note whether they come from the same maker, since matching locks are usually easier to rekey to a single key.
If a check leaves you unsure, have a locksmith look at the lock before you decide. Call Williamsburg Locksmith and Key Copy at (347) 699-9268 to talk through rekeying the locks you want to keep or replacing the ones that no longer do the job.
Frequently asked questions
Will my existing keys work after the lock is rekeyed?
After a rekey, the keys that opened the lock before stop working, including any copies other people hold. The exception is when you ask for the lock to be rekeyed to match a key you already use on another door. In that case your current key keeps working and now opens this lock as well.
Can a rekeyed lock still be copied later?
A key for a rekeyed lock can usually be copied the same way the old key could, because rekeying changes the pins, not the keyway, which is the shaped slot the key slides into. If you want keys that are harder to duplicate, that depends on the lock and key design, so it becomes a replacement question rather than a rekey.
Can several locks be rekeyed so one key opens them all?
Several locks can often be rekeyed so one key opens all of them, a setup called keyed alike. The condition is that each cylinder accepts the same key blank, the uncut key a new key is cut from. A lock that takes a different blank would need a compatible cylinder or a replacement before it can join the set.
Does rekeying change how the lock looks or fits on the door?
Rekeying leaves a lock's look and fit alone, so the mounting holes in the door and the trim around them stay exactly as they are. The only new thing you will notice is the key, which has a different pattern of cuts. A scratched finish or a loose handle is a separate door hardware fix, not something a rekey addresses.