Best way to re-key locks on new house?
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Best way to re-key locks on new house?
The last time I paid to re-key locks on a house I called a few locksmiths and it was very expensive, about $450 for 5 locks.
I called Lowe's and they will re-key locks for free, but I have to buy all new locks from Lowe's (about $50-100 per lock depending on the type) and install them myself. However, I'm not very handy and don't have the tools at home to install them. We also need a new deadbolt for one of the doors.
So what is the best approach?
A. Buy locks from Lowe's and pay a handyman to install them.
B. Pay locksmith to re-key the current locks and install a new deadbolt.
C. Other ideas.
I called Lowe's and they will re-key locks for free, but I have to buy all new locks from Lowe's (about $50-100 per lock depending on the type) and install them myself. However, I'm not very handy and don't have the tools at home to install them. We also need a new deadbolt for one of the doors.
So what is the best approach?
A. Buy locks from Lowe's and pay a handyman to install them.
B. Pay locksmith to re-key the current locks and install a new deadbolt.
C. Other ideas.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I suggest you buy Kwikset Smart key locks AND install them yourself.
I own rental properties and I am slowly moving to all these smart locks. That way, when tenants leave, I can re-key them myself.
http://www.kwikset.com/smartsecurity/re ... ology.aspx
Truly....it only takes about 15 minutes to replace a lock and you can find plenty of how to videos on youtube. I just installed a new lock last month in one of my rentals.
Once you have your smart key locks installed, you can "re-key" them yourself...which only takes about 30 seconds...using their little tool.
If I can do it, anybody can.
I own rental properties and I am slowly moving to all these smart locks. That way, when tenants leave, I can re-key them myself.
http://www.kwikset.com/smartsecurity/re ... ology.aspx
Truly....it only takes about 15 minutes to replace a lock and you can find plenty of how to videos on youtube. I just installed a new lock last month in one of my rentals.
Once you have your smart key locks installed, you can "re-key" them yourself...which only takes about 30 seconds...using their little tool.
If I can do it, anybody can.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
If you are not handy, then get handy because it will help you the rest of your life.
I bought 5 locks/doorknobs from Lowe's or HD (can't remember which) and installed them myself.
I bought 5 locks/doorknobs from Lowe's or HD (can't remember which) and installed them myself.
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Great, thanks!
I can probably buy and replace the locks, but drilling/installing a deadbolt on one of the doors is probably beyond my scope.
I can probably buy and replace the locks, but drilling/installing a deadbolt on one of the doors is probably beyond my scope.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
My doors already had deadbolts, so I used the existing holes. I only replaced the locks/knobs because my old ones were getting ratty, scratched, and dinged.financial.freedom wrote:Great, thanks!
I can probably buy and replace the locks, but drilling/installing a deadbolt on one of the doors is probably beyond my scope.
- cheese_breath
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Tools? All you need with most door knobs & locks today is a Phillips head screwdriver.
The surest way to know the future is when it becomes the past.
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I meant the tools to install a new deadbolt.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
If you do not have deadbolts now, then re-keying will not make them appear magically. I don't quite understand what this deadbolt discussion is about because if you have deadbolts now, new deadbolts will very likely fit in the same holes.
- cheese_breath
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
And you can use the same Phillips head you used for the other locks.livesoft wrote:If you do not have deadbolts now, then re-keying will not make them appear magically. I don't quite understand what this deadbolt discussion is about because if you have deadbolts now, new deadbolts will very likely fit in the same holes.
The surest way to know the future is when it becomes the past.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I bought the re-key set from HD and re-keyed the 3 entrance locks myself. It took a bit of reading and patience bit it worked and I'm happy I didn't pay anyone to do it. Start slow with a lock you can afford to mess-up and leave it like that for a short while if need be, such as the garage entrance. This was my first major DIY experience.
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
There is one door to the outside that does not have a deadbolt. It needs to have a hole cored into it with a device that fits on a drill and a deadbolt needs to be installed. The other doors just need to have the locks re-keyed.livesoft wrote:If you do not have deadbolts now, then re-keying will not make them appear magically. I don't quite understand what this deadbolt discussion is about because if you have deadbolts now, new deadbolts will very likely fit in the same holes.
- Crimsontide
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
+1 we just replaced all our locks and deadbolts with the Kwicksets and re-keyed ourselves.renue74 wrote:I suggest you buy Kwikset Smart key locks AND install them yourself.
I own rental properties and I am slowly moving to all these smart locks. That way, when tenants leave, I can re-key them myself.
http://www.kwikset.com/smartsecurity/re ... ology.aspx
Truly....it only takes about 15 minutes to replace a lock and you can find plenty of how to videos on youtube. I just installed a new lock last month in one of my rentals.
Once you have your smart key locks installed, you can "re-key" them yourself...which only takes about 30 seconds...using their little tool.
If I can do it, anybody can.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Let's view this as two projects then. Project 1 is to replace the existing locks on all the external doors. You can easily DIY with the lock kits and tools everyone has mentioned. Do that first, including the non-deadbolt part (e.g. regular knob) of this door's lock.financial.freedom wrote:There is one door to the outside that does not have a deadbolt. It needs to have a hole cored into it with a device that fits on a drill and a deadbolt needs to be installed. The other doors just need to have the locks re-keyed.livesoft wrote:If you do not have deadbolts now, then re-keying will not make them appear magically. I don't quite understand what this deadbolt discussion is about because if you have deadbolts now, new deadbolts will very likely fit in the same holes.
Project 2 is to add a deadbolt to that door. When doing Project 1, get a kit that has both the regular knob and the deadbolt. Then you just need to have someone drill the hole out for the deadbolt and install the metal guards, if you don't feel comfortably doing this project yourself. You can call around to handyman services and how much it will cost. You don't really need a locksmith for this.
- cheese_breath
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
As far as drilling the holes for the new deadbolt I would suggest having someone who knows what he's doing handle that. Misplace a hole you may be looking at a price for replacing the door. You should be able to do the rest yourself.
The surest way to know the future is when it becomes the past.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I think the ease of DIY is being exaggerated here somewhat. You need to be aware that not all locks use the same size door hole, so you can't necessarily just buy any new lock and plop it in the same openings that the old lock used. I ran into this with multiple locks I've replaced myself. Enlarging a hole is tricky because you don't have an easy way to center the hole saw (short of removing the door and using a drill press); reducing a hole... ugh. Also, many door lock/handle sets use all sorts of different hole offsets. So now you may have a problem of filling one hole and making another. With regard to installing either deadbolts or other locks, it can be tricky to get the bolt and striker to align perfectly such that the door is held tightly but not too tightly. And for the most part when you miss, even by just 1/32nd of an inch, it's a non-trivial fix. Actually it can be easier to fix missing by an inch than by 1/32nd of an inch.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
FWIW, I just took out the lock cores and took them to the local True Value or Ace or whatever it is. They rekeyed them to a new key inexpensively - I don't remember if it was $5 or $10 a lock, but it was a lot cheaper than having a locksmith out.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
That's way too sensible a thing to do, so it doesn't belong in this thread.whomever wrote:FWIW, I just took out the lock cores and took them to the local True Value or Ace or whatever it is. They rekeyed them to a new key inexpensively - I don't remember if it was $5 or $10 a lock, but it was a lot cheaper than having a locksmith out.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
+1whomever wrote:FWIW, I just took out the lock cores and took them to the local True Value or Ace or whatever it is. They rekeyed them to a new key inexpensively - I don't remember if it was $5 or $10 a lock, but it was a lot cheaper than having a locksmith out.
Most hardware stores will do this. One trick is to get gallon size ziplock bags and to put the parts for each door in a different bag and label them so you will know which door they came from and not get the parts mixed together.
You should be able to find videos on youtub showing you how to do this. One you see how to do this it usually only requires taking two screws out of each lock.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
This lock and keying system looks interesting.renue74 wrote:I suggest you buy Kwikset Smart key locks AND install them yourself.
I own rental properties and I am slowly moving to all these smart locks. That way, when tenants leave, I can re-key them myself.
http://www.kwikset.com/smartsecurity/re ... ology.aspx
Truly....it only takes about 15 minutes to replace a lock and you can find plenty of how to videos on youtube. I just installed a new lock last month in one of my rentals.
Once you have your smart key locks installed, you can "re-key" them yourself...which only takes about 30 seconds...using their little tool.
If I can do it, anybody can.
Are the learning tools unique to a specific lock? In other words if I have my learning tool and your key can I take them to your house and change your lock? Or can I change my lock to use the same key as yours?
How do I get the new key that I want to change my lock to use? Do I go to the local hardware ask for a key saying, "I don't care what lock it fits - I'm going to take care of that!"
Bob
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
The way the quickset smart keys work:
1. Insert current key
2. Insert learning tool
3. Insert new key
4. Done
The learning tool is not unique but you need the current key for it to work. As to your other question, you can buy blanks like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Kwikset-SmartKey- ... B00115YD4W
Also, when you buy new locks at home depot (or wherever) you can buy matching sets (one key unlocks multiple doors). My strategy with these smart-key sets is to purposely buy sets that DO NOT match. That way you have a couple backup keys if you ever want to change.
1. Insert current key
2. Insert learning tool
3. Insert new key
4. Done
The learning tool is not unique but you need the current key for it to work. As to your other question, you can buy blanks like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Kwikset-SmartKey- ... B00115YD4W
Also, when you buy new locks at home depot (or wherever) you can buy matching sets (one key unlocks multiple doors). My strategy with these smart-key sets is to purposely buy sets that DO NOT match. That way you have a couple backup keys if you ever want to change.
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Those holes that have to be drilled. All you need is something called a hole saw, which is a kind of cylinder that comes in varying sizes that can be bought at any hardware store for about $5. It fits on your electric drill. I, a feeble woman who does not like electric tools, did this on numerous doors in my old house without once messing up a door. "Measure twice, cut once."
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I replaced all my exterior knobs and deadbolts with the Kwikset SmartKey system a few years back. Like BackOfTheNest, I bought sets that didn't have matching keys in order to get extra "blanks" for future rekeying. Plus my previous locks were Kwikset and those keys worked as well. In fact, I rekeyed everything back to my previous Kwikset keys so I wouldn't have to put new keys on my keyring. When my sister lost her guest keys while visiting, it was a quick trip around to all the doors to rekey to one of the "blanks" I kept in storage.
I also rekey to a "pet sitting" key before a trip, so I don't have to worry about getting the key back from the pet sitter after the trip. Once I'm back, I rekey to the "regular" keys and the pet sitting key is useless until the next trip. If you have infrequent housecleaning service (say once a month), I'd imagine you could use a similar technique there too. But it might get annoying for weekly housecleaning service.
There is a downside to the SmartKey system. While it is bump resistant, it can be brute-forced to provide entry into the house. But most of the forced entry methods for the SmartKey system leave damage to the lock, so you'd have proof of force entry for insurance purposes. There are a few "expert" level attacks that don't leave as much evidence, but it's unlikely your average thief would be using those methods when they can break the lock in 30 seconds with a screwdriver and wrench.
I also rekey to a "pet sitting" key before a trip, so I don't have to worry about getting the key back from the pet sitter after the trip. Once I'm back, I rekey to the "regular" keys and the pet sitting key is useless until the next trip. If you have infrequent housecleaning service (say once a month), I'd imagine you could use a similar technique there too. But it might get annoying for weekly housecleaning service.
There is a downside to the SmartKey system. While it is bump resistant, it can be brute-forced to provide entry into the house. But most of the forced entry methods for the SmartKey system leave damage to the lock, so you'd have proof of force entry for insurance purposes. There are a few "expert" level attacks that don't leave as much evidence, but it's unlikely your average thief would be using those methods when they can break the lock in 30 seconds with a screwdriver and wrench.
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Thank you for the replies!
I will take out the cylinders and have them re-keyed at the local hardware store, great advice.
Will look into the drill attachment for the deadbolt installation.
I will take out the cylinders and have them re-keyed at the local hardware store, great advice.
Will look into the drill attachment for the deadbolt installation.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
This is the kind of tool you are looking for. Be sure that the hole saw is long enough to go completely through the door.financial.freedom wrote:Will look into the drill attachment for the deadbolt installation.
Edit: Thanks to the posts below for correcting my above incorrect statement. The fixture in the linked kit to locate the hole should be a help with this procedure.
Last edited by CABob on Wed May 27, 2015 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
Bob
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I claim no special expertise, but my usual practice is to go halfway in from each side. I think it prevents tearout on wood doors, and ameliorates the problem of not drilling at exactly a right angle.Be sure that the hole saw is long enough to go completely through the door.
I just use the paper template that comes with locks, and drill a pilot hole from both sides. Using a small (1/8 or so) drill makes it easy to start the hole in the right place. Then I follow with the hole saw - the hole saw pilot drill follows the 1/8 hole. YMMV, of course!
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Actually, you do not want the hole saw to drill through the door. It can cause a very rough finish to the bottom side of the hole. The better method is to drill 3/4 of the way through from one side and then to finish drill from the other side - it does two things - insures a better, cleaner hole opening and also allows easier removal of the plug from the hole saw.CABob wrote:This is the kind of tool you are looking for. Be sure that the hole saw is long enough to go completely through the door.financial.freedom wrote:Will look into the drill attachment for the deadbolt installation.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Perhaps to go against the grain, I considered the SmartKey and rejected it for a couple reasons.
1. Too many stories around the web of it stopping working.
2. Too easy to bypass, compared to traditional pin-tumbler locks.
3. Tenants can rekey the lock with no tools and a $10 kit from Amazon.
Instead, I went with Schlage C keyway locksets. There are lots of choices for lock hardware (including padlocks), are easily rekeyed at any locksmith, and lets one cylinder accept multiple keys.
Here's how I do a rekey:
Tools/supplies:
zip-lock snack bags
sharpie
phillips screwdriver
locktite 242
1. At each door, remove lockset. Put small hardware in snack bag at door. Remove cylinder from lockset (typically one phillips screw), put it in a bag, and mark location on bag
2. Take cylinders to locksmith. Provide a separate sheet indicating keying plan, if you are making something more complicated than a single key.
3. Reinstall cylinders at each door. Use Locktite when reassembling.
Hints
Keep keys from previous rekeying/new locksets, as you can rotate them back in at a later rekeying and not pay for new keys.
1. Too many stories around the web of it stopping working.
2. Too easy to bypass, compared to traditional pin-tumbler locks.
3. Tenants can rekey the lock with no tools and a $10 kit from Amazon.
Instead, I went with Schlage C keyway locksets. There are lots of choices for lock hardware (including padlocks), are easily rekeyed at any locksmith, and lets one cylinder accept multiple keys.
Here's how I do a rekey:
Tools/supplies:
zip-lock snack bags
sharpie
phillips screwdriver
locktite 242
1. At each door, remove lockset. Put small hardware in snack bag at door. Remove cylinder from lockset (typically one phillips screw), put it in a bag, and mark location on bag
2. Take cylinders to locksmith. Provide a separate sheet indicating keying plan, if you are making something more complicated than a single key.
3. Reinstall cylinders at each door. Use Locktite when reassembling.
Hints
Keep keys from previous rekeying/new locksets, as you can rotate them back in at a later rekeying and not pay for new keys.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I will never buy Kwikset again.
One morning I was locking the deadbolt, and as I pulled my key out, the lock cylinder came out with it. A pin (or something) broke inside the lock. I was locked out, but by some stroke of luck, my wife was still inside the house that morning, so she could still open the deadbolt from the inside lever. I immediately replaced the house with Schlage.
When we moved into our new house, I bought a few new locking knobs and deadbolts from Lowes - luckily I found many w/ the same "code", so I now have plenty of spare keys, and they were able to re-key a couple of the existing ones of the same brand.
Even if you can't find many of the same code, buy what you need, and they'll re-key them to match on the spot before you leave the store.
One morning I was locking the deadbolt, and as I pulled my key out, the lock cylinder came out with it. A pin (or something) broke inside the lock. I was locked out, but by some stroke of luck, my wife was still inside the house that morning, so she could still open the deadbolt from the inside lever. I immediately replaced the house with Schlage.
When we moved into our new house, I bought a few new locking knobs and deadbolts from Lowes - luckily I found many w/ the same "code", so I now have plenty of spare keys, and they were able to re-key a couple of the existing ones of the same brand.
Even if you can't find many of the same code, buy what you need, and they'll re-key them to match on the spot before you leave the store.
- cheese_breath
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Be VERY careful when you do it. Follow the instructions carefully and measure, measure, and measure again. You don't want to get the holes in the wrong place.financial.freedom wrote:Will look into the drill attachment for the deadbolt installation.
The surest way to know the future is when it becomes the past.
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
If you have several doors, one of these kits from Lowes or Homedepot can be well worth it: http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-Door- ... b+templatecheese_breath wrote:Be VERY careful when you do it. Follow the instructions carefully and measure, measure, and measure again. You don't want to get the holes in the wrong place.financial.freedom wrote:Will look into the drill attachment for the deadbolt installation.
No measuring required....
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
This is what I did on day 1 after closing on my primary residence:
I had Pop-a-lock come out and perform this:
Security and peace of mind in 1 hour.
Edit: Invoice shows a cost of $15/cylinder re-key and a flat trip charge of $50.
I had Pop-a-lock come out and perform this:
- Replaced a total of 5 cylinders on 3 doors for security purposes.
Provided 4 new keys.
Security and peace of mind in 1 hour.
Edit: Invoice shows a cost of $15/cylinder re-key and a flat trip charge of $50.
Last edited by staythecourse17 on Wed May 27, 2015 8:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- FrugalInvestor
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
I don't understand the price you're quoting for a re-keying service. I recently had about 12 locks re-keyed for under $150. The guy came in his van with tools and had it all done in well under an hour.
Have a plan, stay the course and simplify. Then ignore the noise!
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Thanks for all of the suggestions! Just wanted to follow-up:
I called a few locksmiths and cheapest for drilling/installing deadbolt was $150. Lowes and a few other places only re-keyed locks specifically purchased from their store.
I removed the locks, took them to a local Ace HW store and they re-keyed them for $7 each. I bought a deadbolt for $19 and had a handyman core a hole into the door and put in a deadbolt for $60. It over-heated his drill (which was re-chargeable battery-powered) and he had to use another drill to finish the job. Since my only drill is even less powerful than his first drill I think it was money well-spent.
Thank you again.
I called a few locksmiths and cheapest for drilling/installing deadbolt was $150. Lowes and a few other places only re-keyed locks specifically purchased from their store.
I removed the locks, took them to a local Ace HW store and they re-keyed them for $7 each. I bought a deadbolt for $19 and had a handyman core a hole into the door and put in a deadbolt for $60. It over-heated his drill (which was re-chargeable battery-powered) and he had to use another drill to finish the job. Since my only drill is even less powerful than his first drill I think it was money well-spent.
Thank you again.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Always good to get the follow up so we know how it turned out. Thanks.
Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
What you're not understanding is that you either exhaustively got quotes from dozens of suppliers and eventually found someone for the price you mentioned, or you got lucky.FrugalInvestor wrote:I don't understand the price you're quoting for a re-keying service. I recently had about 12 locks re-keyed for under $150. The guy came in his van with tools and had it all done in well under an hour.
I solicited more than a half-dozen quotes once for electrical work. Every quote was over $600 except one quote that was $150. Yes, it was from a licensed electrician. That was the last quote I got; it could have been the first, and if so I could have just blindly taken that quote and gotten a good deal. A lot of people would have stopped after 3 quotes for a job that size, or after 4, or 5, but I kept going. If I hadn't, I would have concluded that the going price for that service was over $600. Similarly, I got even more quotes for hvac. Every one was over $12k except the last one for $7k. Again, I just got lucky, because there's no magic number of quotes where that's guaranteed to happen. I recently got quotes for another service and every one was between $300 and $350. Later I found out that somebody else who "knew a guy" got the same serice for about half that price. Maybe I should have kept going, but there are probably 50 or 60 providers for that service in my area, so it seemed more reasonable to quit before I'd run through all of them.
- FrugalInvestor
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
Must be due to regional pricing differences.tibbitts wrote:What you're not understanding is that you either exhaustively got quotes from dozens of suppliers and eventually found someone for the price you mentioned, or you got lucky.FrugalInvestor wrote:I don't understand the price you're quoting for a re-keying service. I recently had about 12 locks re-keyed for under $150. The guy came in his van with tools and had it all done in well under an hour.
I solicited more than a half-dozen quotes once for electrical work. Every quote was over $600 except one quote that was $150. Yes, it was from a licensed electrician. That was the last quote I got; it could have been the first, and if so I could have just blindly taken that quote and gotten a good deal. A lot of people would have stopped after 3 quotes for a job that size, or after 4, or 5, but I kept going. If I hadn't, I would have concluded that the going price for that service was over $600. Similarly, I got even more quotes for hvac. Every one was over $12k except the last one for $7k. Again, I just got lucky, because there's no magic number of quotes where that's guaranteed to happen. I recently got quotes for another service and every one was between $300 and $350. Later I found out that somebody else who "knew a guy" got the same serice for about half that price. Maybe I should have kept going, but there are probably 50 or 60 providers for that service in my area, so it seemed more reasonable to quit before I'd run through all of them.
I recently had 3 palm trees in the southwest trimmed for $40 each. When I spoke to a friend in Florida they mentioned that they are having theirs trimmed for $15 each.
Have a plan, stay the course and simplify. Then ignore the noise!
- just frank
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Re: Best way to re-key locks on new house?
+1 on the KwikSet. Now that the field-rekeyable tech is available, many stores no longer have people to rekey lock tumblrs.