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Lock rekeying in Halifax and Dartmouth
A rekey leaves your locks on the door and changes the key that opens them. We replace the pins in each cylinder, so every old copy is useless and a single new key works on the doors you pick.
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What is rekeying a lock?
Rekeying replaces the small pins inside a lock cylinder so that it answers to a different key. The lock stays where it is, the old keys no longer turn it, and several locks can be set to share one new key. When the hardware is in good condition, it usually costs less than new locks.
What a rekey actually changes
Most house locks hold a short row of spring-loaded pins. Only a key cut to the right depths lines them up and lets the cylinder turn. On a rekey we take the cylinder out, swap those pins for a new combination and cut keys to suit. Your handles, deadbolts and finishes stay put. The keys held by the previous owner, a former roommate, the dog walker from two years ago or a contractor you forgot about all stop working.
Common reasons people rekey in HRM
- You just moved in. Sellers, agents, builders and trades may all have had keys. The new home page covers the rest of the possession-day list.
- A lease is turning over. Rental turnover is heavy around September 1 in a city with several universities. Landlords can arrange turnover work on the landlords page.
- Keys went missing. It matters most when the ring also held a car fob or anything showing your address.
- Too many keys on the ring. Bringing the front, back and garage side door onto one key is a request we get on most booked visits.
When a rekey is the wrong job
Rekeying only changes the pins. If a lock is loose on the door, the bolt drags, it was damaged in a break-in, or salt air has corroded it inside, new pins won't fix it. In those cases we recommend a lock change and explain why before any work begins. Our rekey or replace guide covers the trade-off in more depth.
On the day
We look at every lock first, confirm which doors go on the new key and give you the price. Then each cylinder comes out, gets its new pins and goes back in. Before we leave, we try every door with every new key. Nothing starts until you approve the price; our price promise explains how that works.
We rekey homes on both sides of the harbour and in the communities listed 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
- Do the old keys still work after a rekey?
- No. With the new pins in, the old keys won't turn the cylinder. That is exactly what you are paying for.
- Can I get one key for the front, back and garage side door?
- Usually, if the locks share a keyway, which is common when they are the same brand. If they are mixed brands, we tell you on the visit what it would take to bring them onto one key.
- Can you rekey a lock that is corroded?
- If the corrosion is light, we clean the cylinder and rekey it. If salt and damp have pitted the parts inside, new pins in a worn housing won't last, so we recommend a new lock and explain why before doing anything.
- Is the garage side door rekeyed the same way?
- Yes. A standard deadbolt on the garage side door rekeys like any other entry lock, and it is the door people forget most often.
- Do landlords rekey between tenants?
- Many do, especially around the September moves. Landlords and property managers can set up an account for turnover rekeys through the landlords page.
Book a time, or ask a question.
Open 24 hours, 7 days. You approve the price before we start.