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New locks and deadbolts for Halifax doors
Some locks are past saving: corroded by salt air, worn smooth, or bent in a break-in. We take the old hardware out, fit a new lock or deadbolt, and check that the bolt seats fully in the strike before we call it done.
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When is a lock change better than a rekey?
Choose a lock change when the hardware has failed: the cylinder is corroded or gritty, the key has to be forced, the deadbolt stops short, the lock was damaged in a break-in, or the lock is too light for the door. If the lock still works well and you only want old keys to stop opening it, a rekey does that for less.
Signs the hardware has to go
A rekey changes who has a key. A lock change replaces the lock itself. It is time for new hardware when:
- the key feels gritty, catches, or only turns after some jiggling;
- you can see green or white crust around the keyway or on the latch;
- the deadbolt stops short of full extension or needs a shove on the door to turn;
- someone forced the door and bent the bolt, cracked the housing or split the frame;
- the lock is a light builder-grade model on a door that deserves better.
If none of these sound familiar, a rekey is likely the better spend. Our rekey or replace guide sets out the choice in more detail.
Salt air, damp and freeze-thaw
Halifax is hard on door hardware in a way that has little to do with deep cold. Salt rides in on the wind near the harbour and the coast, and road salt gets tracked and splashed onto doors all winter. Fog and long wet spells keep moisture sitting in the cylinder. Then a thaw lets water in and an overnight freeze locks it there. Over a few seasons that corrodes pins and springs from the inside.
Wooden doors move too. They swell in damp weather and shrink again when it turns dry and cold, so a bolt that slid home in the spring can drag on the strike by February. Every lock we fit gets the same check: the bolt has to throw fully and freely with the door closed, and if it doesn't, we adjust the strike before leaving. We also talk you through exterior finishes that hold up better in salty air.
After a forced entry
First, replace what broke. Then find out why it gave. Very often the weak point is short screws in the strike plate or a split jamb, not the lock body. We fit the new lock, reinforce or reset the strike as needed, and tell you straight whether a heavier lock would make a difference. If you want keys that can't be copied at a hardware store, ask about high-security options.
Going keyless instead
If the lock is coming out anyway, this is a natural moment to switch to codes. See smart lock installation.
How booking works
Send a photo of the lock and the edge of the door, and tell us how many doors you want done. We confirm the parts and the price before the visit, and nothing starts until you approve it: see our price promise. We change locks across Halifax and Dartmouth and in the communities on our areas page.
Where we go
Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and out across HRM. See every community we cover; the real timing is given on the phone.
Questions people ask
- Why does my key feel gritty or stiff?
- On the coast, the usual cause is corrosion or grit inside the cylinder. Sometimes cleaning and lubrication bring it back. If the pins are pitted or the key keeps catching, a new cylinder or lock is the lasting fix, and we tell you which before starting.
- My deadbolt sticks after a wet spell. Do I need a new lock?
- Not always. Wooden doors and frames swell with damp and shrink again in dry, cold weather, so the bolt can drag on the strike. Adjusting or moving the strike often fixes it. We check that first.
- Can you replace a lock that was damaged in a break-in?
- Yes. We replace the damaged hardware and inspect the strike, screws and frame, because a forced door usually gives around the lock as well as in it.
- Can the new lock match my other keys?
- Usually. We can set the new lock to your existing key, or rekey the other doors to match the new one.
- Can you fit a lock I already bought?
- Yes. If you don't have one yet, we bring options and explain the differences so you can choose.
Book a time, or ask a question.
Open 24 hours, 7 days. You approve the price before we start.