Home Lock Rekey

When a key goes missing or you move into a previously occupied home, the uncomfortable truth is that you have no way of knowing how many copies of your current key exist or who has them. A lock rekey solves this cleanly: a skilled technician disassembles the cylinder, replaces the internal pins with a new configuration, and reassembles everything so that only a freshly cut key will operate the lock. The existing hardware — your deadbolt, your door knob lock, your mortise lock body — stays in place. There is no drilling, no new strike plate, and in the vast majority of cases, no damage to your door frame whatsoever. Our technicians are trained to work damage-free wherever the condition of the existing hardware allows.

This approach is especially practical in New Brunswick's mix of older apartment buildings and newer townhomes. Many properties near George Street or in the Hiram Square neighborhood feature original mortise lock assemblies that are expensive to replace outright. Rekeying keeps that period hardware intact and functioning while completely invalidating every key that came before. For landlords managing multiple units, we can also rekey all cylinders in a building to a single master key — a service that saves significant time and simplifies property management without compromising individual tenant security.

Arriving at your address, our technician will assess each lock — deadbolt, door knob lock, mortise lock, or a combination — and confirm the brand, model, and condition before any work begins. For standard pin-tumbler cylinders found in Kwikset and Schlage deadbolts, the rekey process typically involves removing the cylinder, depinning it on a code machine or by hand, and re-pinning it to match a new key. For a mortise lock, which is common in older New Brunswick rental properties and multi-family buildings, the cylinder is extracted from the mortise body, rekeyed separately, and reinserted — all without disturbing the internal cam and latch mechanism. This level of precision is why we send experienced, qualified technicians rather than generalists.

Before a single tool comes out, we walk you through exactly what the job involves and confirm a firm, up-front price. The final quote is based on factors specific to your situation: the number and type of locks being serviced, the lock brand and cylinder complexity, any parts required, the time of day, and travel distance to your address. There are no surprise charges when the invoice arrives. If you have an urgent situation — a lost key late at night or a lock that has seized — our 24/7 availability means you can reach us at (000) 000-0000 any hour and get a real person, not a voicemail.

Not every rekeying job is an emergency, but some absolutely are. If you have reason to believe an unauthorized person has a copy of your key — an ex-tenant, a lost keychain with your address attached, or keys taken during a break-in — waiting until a convenient time to act creates a genuine security gap. As an emergency locksmith team available around the clock, we treat those calls with the same thoroughness we bring to scheduled appointments. We verify ownership or tenancy before any work begins, which is standard practice and protects both you and your property. Typically, a photo ID and proof of address — a lease, a utility bill, a deed — are sufficient documentation. Our technicians are trained to handle this verification professionally and without unnecessary friction.

For situations that fall somewhere in between — you found your spare key but suspect the lost one is still out there — a scheduled same-day or next-day visit often makes sense. Either way, the process is the same: we come to you, we assess the locks, we rekey to a new key combination, and we test every cylinder thoroughly before we leave. If a lock is too worn or damaged to rekey reliably, we will tell you plainly and explain your replacement options, including smart lock rekey-compatible models that allow future reconfiguration without a technician visit. We carry common Schlage and Kwikset cylinders on our mobile units so most jobs are completed in a single visit.

New Brunswick Locksmiths is a fully mobile operation, which means our service area extends across the city and into surrounding communities without requiring a storefront visit. Beyond the core lock rekey service, our trained technicians handle a wide range of residential, automotive, and commercial needs. Here is a representative look at what we offer: residential deadbolt rekeying, door knob lock rekeying, mortise lock cylinder service, master key system setup, high-security cylinder upgrades, smart lock rekey and reprogramming, lock replacement when rekeying is not viable, home lockout service for locked-out residents, emergency lockout response for urgent situations, spare key duplication from an existing key, broken key extraction from cylinders and ignitions, garage door lock service, sliding door lock repair, window lock installation, mailbox lock replacement, safe opening and combination changes, padlock rekeying and replacement, door reinforcement hardware installation, commercial locksmith services for local businesses, mortise lock installation in older properties, door knob lock replacement after forced entry, car key programming for lost or damaged transponder keys, car key fob replacement and synchronization, lost key replacement for vehicles and residences, ignition cylinder repair and replacement, and 24/7 lockout service for homes and vehicles throughout the New Brunswick area. Whether you are a Rutgers student locked out of your apartment on Easton Avenue at midnight or a property manager on French Street needing a building-wide rekey after a tenant turnover, we have the tools and experience to handle it.