What is the difference between rekeying and changing locks

Changing a lock is a far more expensive and inconvenient solution. When you update the locks on your house, the complete locking mechanism is replaced. A locksmith will remove the entire lock from a door and replace it with a new one that uses a different set of keys.

Because you are paying for both labour and an entirely new lock, this can be rather costly, depending on the type of lock. Because the current locking mechanism remains in place, rekeying locks differs from replacing them. In this instance, the full lock is physically removed from the door. The locksmith unscrews the lock, removes the mechanism and deadbolt, and replaces them with a brand new lock. In most instances, rekeying a lock is more cost effective than replacing a lock. In some cases, the process of rekeying can identify issues with the lock that require lock replacement as well.

How do you know which option is right for you? Depending on the nature of your situation, a simple rekeying could be a great choice. In most cases, a simple rekey is a great and affordable choice to keep your home protected. There are other instances where it is more appropriate to change a lock entirely This might include:.

Changing locks is not always necessary. In fact, in most cases rekeying is a great option for home security. However, you should consult with a professional locksmith for a better understanding of which option is right for you. This is because it is an easy way of resetting your key control and nullifying all other keys that could have operated your lock. This is a common practice among new homeowners as soon as they move in. The reason why people do this is to prevent previous homeowners, or anyone who might have a copy of the key, from just walking into a home that is no longer theirs.

It effectively seals up any loose ends that might be apparent in their security, and it gives them a fresh start of sorts. As I mentioned up above, when it comes to rekeying the lock, the main components being changed are the key pins that are housed within the lock cylinder.

These key pins are extremely inexpensive, especially when they are compared to the price of new locksets. This makes rekeying an extremely cost-effective option for homeowners who would like to change some aspect of their security without breaking the bank. The most you will have to pay for is the labor cost when you call a locksmith, or the amount of time you will spend trying to get it together yourself.

The process of rekeying when handled by a professional locksmith is very quick and easy and does not require a lot of manpower, or the use of a lot of tools. Aside from a key decoder, a catch tool, spanner and the current key for the lock being rekeyed, you only need to know how to do it.

It might take much longer to do if you have never done it before, but the same can be said for anyone replacing their locks without the help of a locksmith. One limitation of the rekeying process is the fact that it gives you a limited security boost. This is not to say that it does not help at all, but you do not change out any of the other security features of your lock. Therefore, if you have a subpar lock installed and you decide to rekey the locks, you will still have a subpar lock in place.

This is the reason why I classified it as a limited security upgrade. The main difference between replacing a lock and rekeying one is that you are now going to be using an entirely different and potentially brand new lock.

Replacing a lock usually means that the entire lock body will be different. It is a much more costly process than rekeying the lock but it does have its benefits. The main reason why it is much more expensive is simply because you will have to acquire a new lockset for the door when you are replacing it. As was mentioned above, you do not need to do this when you are rekeying the lock.

In order to change a lock, you will first have to determine what lock you would like to replace it with. There are several factors that should be taken into consideration when you are trying to determine which lock you want to replace your old lock with. Some of these factors include the budget you are working with, as well as the kind of preferences and features you want in your lock. For instance, if you would like to change your lock from a Euro Cylinder lock to a mortise lockset, you will not be able to use rekeying as the solution.

Once you have decided on a lock, you can either pick it up yourself from your local hardware store , or purchase it from your locksmith. Much like anything else, there are apparent pros and cons that are meant to bring a semblance of balance.

Installing new locks gives you the ability to actually customize your security, and this is something that many homeowners often take for granted. When I say customize in this section, I am referring to the fact that you can influence the way your locks look and feel, and also influence the way they function alongside some of the other components of your home security.

If you want to install longer screws in your lock, you can. Or if you want to insert additional security pins, you can. Before we can compare the pros and cons of each, lets first take a look at the definitions behind each term.

Lock rekeying is, in essence, changing the keys that work with a specific lock to work with different keys, but all the while maintaining the same lock. Lock rekeying is often the ideal solution for homeowners and businesses who need to change their locks to work with different keys.

While there is a multitude of different reasons one might need to consider having their locks rekeyed, generally it comes down security concerns or usability issues.

A homeowner or business might be interested in having their locks rekeyed if their locks still function fine, but a copy of their key has ended up in the hands of people in which they do not trust.

The process of rekeying a lock is typically straightforward, especially if the locksmith in question is an experienced professional. Once inside the lock, the locksmith can interact with the pins, or tumblers, and change them to match a different set of operational keys.

Many homeowners have their locks rekeyed because they have multiple sets of keys for different doors and want to consolidate all of their door locks into one singular key. If a lock is no longer working correctly or malfunctioning in the process of locking or unlocking, it might be time to replace the lock entirely.

Rekeying a lock will not fix it, rekeying implies that the lock is already functioning correctly and simply needs to be switched over to different keys. What Is Lock Replacement? Lock replacement is different from lock rekeying because instead of just replacing the internal pins or tumblers inside to work with different keys, the entire lock is replaced.

This means that all of the metal is swapped out with new pieces. Generally lock rekeying is the more affordable option for those who are on a tight budget, but the trade-off for those with older locks can sometimes be worth it.

Many times individuals or businesses will call a professional locksmith service to assist with a lock rekey, only to find that the small increase in price for a replacement is worth the investment, especially if the locksmith is already on site.

Professional locksmiths will have a stock of spare locks that can be used for brand new lock replacements. Many times businesses and homeowners will opt to have their locks changed so their property conforms to the same standard of look, which can certainly provide a nice aesthetic touch to those who are looking. For example, someone with a gold deadbolt and a black doorknob might be interested in changing one or both of their locks to new ones in order to achieve a matching color scheme or style.

Performing a lock changing service is optimal for those who have multiple locks from different manufacturers, or lock brands.

For example, if a homeowner wants to have their backdoor and front door be on the same key, but both doors have different brands of locks, it might be impossible to do so without a lock change.