Serving Alexandria, Arlington & Fairfax
Rekeying vs replacing locks in Alexandria, VA
Rekey your locks when the hardware works properly and you want to change who can use a key. Replace them when they are damaged, unreliable, or unsuitable for the features you need. If a lock sticks or the deadbolt does not close smoothly, have the problem assessed before choosing either option.
Not sure yet? Answer five questions about your doorBoth services solve different problems. Lock rekeying changes key access while keeping your existing hardware. Lock replacement changes the hardware itself, which matters when a lock is worn out, damaged, or no longer suits the door.
Because the hardware stays in place, rekeying sound locks generally costs less than replacing them.
Lock rekeying serviceWorth a closer look when the lock itself is the problem, not just who holds a key.
Lock replacement serviceChoose one door and answer what you know. The result shows which option usually fits. It is a starting point for the conversation, not a diagnosis.
Does the lock turn and latch smoothly?
Is any part damaged, loose or forced?
Do you want a keypad, smart lock or new finish?
Do you mainly need old keys to stop working?
Should this door share one key with other doors?
Want one key for several doors? Locks that share a keyway can usually be rekeyed alike. Mixed brands may need a cylinder change first.
Rekeying changes which key operates a compatible lock. You keep the existing hardware, but the previous key no longer opens the rekeyed cylinder. Inside a standard pin tumbler cylinder, the pins are changed to match a new key, so every old copy stops working at once.
Rekeying does not repair a damaged frame or add features such as keypad entry. Those are separate decisions. It also does not make a lock physically stronger: the bolt, strike plate and door stay exactly as they were. What it does change is who can open the door.
Our lock rekeying page explains the service in more detail.
Original pins, original key
New pins, new key
A lock that turns smoothly, latches cleanly and suits the door is usually a candidate for rekeying. A lock that is failing, damaged or missing a feature you need deserves a closer look before you spend money on new keys for it.
If the locks work well, rekeying makes sure keys held by previous owners, contractors or lockboxes stop working.
Rekeying restores control without replacing the hardware, which matters most if the key was with your address.
Changing the key between occupants is the usual approach when the hardware is sound.
Rekey the affected doors, or consider a master key system if access levels need to differ.
Forced or damaged hardware usually needs replacing, and the door and frame should be checked too.
Rekeying cannot add electronic features. A compatible new lock can, through smart lock installation.
The cause may be the key, the cylinder or the door alignment. Find out before buying anything.
Locks that share a keyway can usually be rekeyed alike. Mixed brands may need a cylinder change.
Start by listing the exterior doors and deciding who should have access. Receiving keys at closing does not establish whether other copies exist. Previous owners, neighbors, cleaners, contractors and real estate lockboxes may all have had keys at some point.
Assess each door separately: sound locks may be candidates for rekeying while damaged hardware needs different attention. Many new homeowners walk the house and check:
Schlage identifies moving into a new home as a reason to review the locks. Our residential rekeying page explains how a home rekey works.
A lock that is hard to turn does not automatically need to be replaced. A worn key, cylinder fault or alignment issue can produce similar symptoms. Replacing the lock without identifying the cause could leave the same problem in place on a brand new lock.
Rekeying changes the key, not the condition of the door or the hardware around it. It will not correct:
If the bolt catches on the frame, the door and strike usually need attention as a system before any decision about the lock itself.
Some symptoms point to the key or the cylinder rather than the whole lock:
Explain whether the problem is constant or comes and goes, and whether it affects one door or several. If a key has already snapped inside a cylinder, do not keep forcing it: see our broken key extraction page.
Offices, storefronts and rental properties face the same decision on a larger scale, usually after a change in who should have access. Businesses often rekey after:
Replacement is worth considering when commercial hardware is worn from heavy daily use, when a door needs a different type of lock, or when the business wants tighter control over key copies through a restricted key system.
Where several people need different levels of access, a master key system may be a better fit than rekeying every lock to one key.
For commercial doors, ask which cylinders are included, whether any hardware is being swapped, and how new keys will be issued and tracked. Our commercial locksmith page covers office and storefront work in more detail.
Possibly, if the keyways and hardware are compatible. This is often a deciding factor between rekeying and replacing. Tell the technician which doors you want on one key and whether an entrance should remain separate.
Locks from the same brand and keyway can often be rekeyed to share one key. Locks from different brands may use different keyways, and in that case one or more cylinders may need to be replaced before every door can run on the same key. Keying alike is popular for:
Our residential rekeying page explains keying several doors to one key.
Sometimes the question is not whether the old lock works, but whether it still does what you need. Rekeying cannot add keypad entry, app access or a different style of handle. If you want those features, replacement is the route, provided the new hardware is compatible with the door.
Many smart locks still include a key cylinder, and that cylinder may itself be rekeyable, so the two options are not always either/or. Ask why any proposed hardware suits your door, and whether alignment or strike plate work is included in the quote.
Our lock replacement page covers replacement in more detail.
Pricing depends on the doors, the hardware and the number of keys, so ask what each quote covers.
Navy Locksmith provides lock rekeying and lock replacement throughout Alexandria, and in Arlington and Fairfax.
No. Rekeying changes which key operates the lock while the existing hardware stays in place. Replacement removes the lock and installs new hardware.
Rekeying sound locks generally costs less than replacing them because the hardware stays in place. The final quote depends on the number of cylinders, the type of hardware and how many new keys you need.
If the locks work properly and suit the doors, rekeying is usually enough to make sure previous keys no longer work. Damaged, unreliable or outdated hardware is a better candidate for replacement.
Not always. A sticking lock can be caused by a worn key, a cylinder fault or a door that is out of alignment. Rekeying changes the key, so the cause should be identified first.
Often, if the locks share a compatible keyway. Locks from different brands may need one or more cylinders replaced before every door can use the same key.
Many smart locks include a key cylinder that may be rekeyable, but not every model has one. Rekeying does not change the electronic features, so codes and app access are managed separately.
Moved into a new home, lost a key, changed tenants or noticed a lock that no longer works smoothly? Call with the address and door details, and we can talk through whether rekeying or replacement suits your locks.
(571) 202-6721Hours: Sunday to Friday, 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. Saturday, 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
