"Just moved into a house in St. Augustine and had all the locks rekeyed the same day. Tech explained clearly what the previous locks were, which ones were worth keeping and rekeying versus replacing, and why. Left with one key for every door and complete confidence about who has access. Exactly what you want when you move in."
Michael R., St. Augustine
Lock Rekeying & Lock Change Services in North Florida
Two of the most frequently confused locksmith services — and the difference matters. We'll tell you exactly which one your situation calls for, and we won't recommend the more expensive option when the affordable one does the job.
Call Now — (904) 668-0776Rekeying & Lock Change Service Available 24/7
Rekeying vs. Lock Replacement — What's Actually Different
This is the question we get more than almost any other, and it deserves a clear, honest answer because the distinction directly affects what you spend.
What Rekeying Actually Does
A lock cylinder is a tube of stacked pins. Each pin stack consists of a bottom pin (the key pin) and a top pin (the driver pin), separated by a spring. When the right key is inserted, the serrations on the blade push each key pin to a precise height, aligning all the gaps between key pins and driver pins exactly at the shear line — the boundary between the rotating cylinder plug and the stationary housing. When all gaps align, the plug rotates and the lock opens. Any other key produces a different set of heights, the driver pins cross the shear line unevenly, and the cylinder won't turn.
Rekeying means removing the cylinder plug, taking out the existing pin stacks, and replacing the key pins with a set of different heights that correspond to a new key. The lock hardware — the cylinder housing, the bolt mechanism, the strike plate, the entire external assembly — stays exactly as it was. Only the internal pin configuration changes, and with it, the only key that works.
The result: every old key is permanently useless. Your new key is the only one that opens that lock. If the hardware is in good condition, rekeying is typically the smarter and more cost-effective choice by a significant margin.
What a Full Lock Change Does
A lock replacement removes the entire lock assembly from the door — cylinder, bolt, housing, and all — and installs a new unit. This makes sense when the existing hardware is worn, damaged, functionally compromised, or when you're moving to a different security grade or lock type that requires different door prep.
Lock replacement is also the right call when you want to add features the existing hardware doesn't support — a smart lock, a high-security cylinder with anti-drill components, or a multi-point locking system that the current door hardware wasn't designed for.
The Honest Decision Guide
Choose rekeying when:
- Your lock hardware is in good physical condition — the cylinder turns smoothly, the bolt extends and retracts cleanly, and the door and strike plate are properly aligned
- You've just moved into a new home and want to invalidate all existing keys
- A key has been lost, stolen, or given to someone who no longer needs access
- A tenant, contractor, or service worker had a key and you want to revoke it
- You want all the locks in your home to work on a single key (a keyed-alike package)
Choose lock replacement when:
- The hardware is stiff, sticky, corroded, worn, or physically damaged
- The lock was damaged in a break-in attempt or forced entry
- You want to move to a higher security grade — from a Grade 3 builder lock to a Grade 1 deadbolt
- You want to add smart lock functionality that requires different door prep
- The hardware is simply old enough that rekeying it is putting new security into a failing vessel
When we assess your locks, we tell you honestly which path makes sense. If rekeying is sufficient, we say so. If the hardware genuinely warrants replacement, we explain why and show you what we mean.
Professional Rekeying Services
The Rekeying Process — What We Actually Do
Rekeying is precise work. Done correctly, it takes 10 to 15 minutes per cylinder and produces a lock that functions exactly as reliably as it did before. Done sloppily — incorrectly sized replacement pins, a plug not fully seated, a retainer clip not properly secured — it can create a lock that feels fine at first and fails unexpectedly weeks later.
Here's what a proper rekey involves:
- Lock removal and assessment — We remove the cylinder from the door and inspect it for wear before proceeding. If we find damage or wear that makes rekeying inadvisable, we tell you before we've committed to the service. A worn cylinder with corroded pin stacks isn't worth rekeying; it's worth replacing.
- Plug removal — Using a follower tool, we push the plug out of the cylinder housing while keeping the driver pins and springs captured in the housing. This requires care — if the housing is turned upside down without a follower in place, the driver pins and springs scatter and the job gets complicated quickly.
- Key pin replacement — We remove the existing key pins from the plug's pin chambers and replace them with a new set of pins corresponding to the new key's bitting code. Key pins come in graduated sizes — typically nine depths in a standard five or six-pin cylinder — and each chamber gets the pin height that corresponds to the new key's cut at that position.
- Reassembly and testing — The plug goes back into the housing, the cylinder goes back into the door, and we test the new key through multiple full lock/unlock cycles before cutting any duplicates. We also test the old key to confirm it no longer operates the lock.
Keyed-Alike Packages for Whole-Home Convenience
If your home has multiple exterior doors — front, back, side, garage entry — each may currently operate on a different key, meaning you're carrying several keys for your own house. We can rekey all of your locks to work with a single key in a single visit. This is one of the most practical services we offer, particularly for new homeowners or anyone inheriting a property where the key situation is unclear.
How Many Keys Do You Get?
Standard rekeying service includes two new keys per keying system. If you need additional copies, we cut them on-site during the same visit. For standard residential keyways, extras are inexpensive. For restricted or high-security keyways — locks whose keys require account authorization to duplicate — additional keys are cut on the same visit but can only be made by us or another authorized dealer, which is part of the point of those systems.
Complete Lock Change & Upgrade Services
Lock Grades — What You're Actually Comparing
Not all deadbolts are the same, and the difference between a Grade 3 builder lock and a Grade 1 high-security deadbolt is not just a price difference. It's a performance difference that affects how long the hardware lasts and how it responds to forced entry attempts.
ANSI Grade 3 — Minimum residential code standard. Rated for 100,000 operational cycles. Typically found as builder-installed hardware in new construction. The bolt and internal components are lighter gauge steel. These locks are functional but offer the least resistance of any rated lock hardware.
ANSI Grade 2 — Mid-range residential. Rated for 150,000 cycles. Better internal components and a stronger bolt than Grade 3. Most hardware store deadbolts fall here. Adequate for most residential applications.
ANSI Grade 1 — Residential and light commercial standard. Rated for 250,000 cycles. Hardened steel bolt, heavier internal components, better resistance to both picking and physical force. This is where we typically land for homeowners who want meaningful security hardware without moving into high-security lock territory.
High-Security Lock Upgrades
For homeowners who want the highest level of mechanical security, high-security cylinders from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and ASSA Abloy add features that Grade 1 standard hardware doesn't offer:
Anti-pick technology — High-security cylinders use angled, serrated, or rotating driver pins specifically designed to defeat standard picking techniques. A skilled locksmith can pick most standard residential cylinders in under two minutes with basic tools. High-security cylinders change that calculus significantly.
Anti-drill hardened inserts — A case-hardened steel insert in the cylinder body stops a drill bit from cutting through the cylinder to access the cam. Standard cylinders offer no meaningful drill resistance.
Anti-bump design — Bump keys exploit the basic physics of pin tumbler locks. High-security cylinders use secondary locking elements — sidebar pins, rotating elements, or spool pins — that make bump attacks ineffective.
Patented key control — High-security keys are patented designs that cannot be duplicated at hardware stores or locksmith key kiosks. Copies require an account holder's written authorization and can only be made by an authorized dealer. For homeowners managing rental properties, contractor access, or simply wanting genuine key control, this is a meaningful security feature rather than a marketing claim.
Hurricane-Rated and Coastal Hardware
For North Florida properties — particularly those in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and the Amelia Island communities — hardware selection for exterior doors involves two considerations that don't apply in drier inland environments: corrosion resistance and impact rating.
Salt air attacks lock hardware from the outside in and from the inside out simultaneously. External corrosion affects finish and appearance; internal corrosion — on the pin stacks, springs, and internal steel components — affects function. Hardware with solid brass or stainless steel construction and marine-grade finishes lasts significantly longer in coastal environments than standard zinc alloy or plated steel.
Impact-rated hardware — built to meet Florida's wind-load requirements for coastal construction — is specified for homes in high-velocity hurricane zones. If your home was built or renovated under Florida's post-2002 building codes in a coastal zone, your exterior doors may already have specific hardware requirements. We're familiar with these specifications and install hardware that meets them.
Smart Lock Installation
Smart lock replacement is one of the more commonly requested lock change services, and the process is straightforward when the right model is selected for your door's prep. Key considerations before buying:
Door prep compatibility — Most smart deadbolts require a standard 2-1/8" door bore with a 1" backset or 2-3/8" backset. Most residential exterior doors accommodate this, but we verify before recommending a specific model.
Connectivity — Bluetooth-only smart locks require your phone to be nearby to connect. Wi-Fi-enabled locks can be controlled remotely from anywhere. Z-Wave or Zigbee locks integrate with smart home hubs like Samsung SmartThings or Amazon Echo. The right choice depends on your specific use case.
Battery backup — All electronic smart locks should have a physical key backup cylinder for when batteries die. We verify this feature is present before recommending any model.
Brands we install and program — Schlage Encode, Schlage Encode Plus (Apple Home Key), Kwikset Halo, Kwikset SmartCode, Yale Assure series, August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen), Ultraloq series. We walk you through the app setup and access code configuration before we leave.
Master Key Systems for Residential Properties
A residential master key system — less common than commercial applications but genuinely useful in certain situations — allows multiple locks on the same property to be operated by individual keys for specific access points while a single master key opens everything.
When It Makes Sense for Homeowners
- Vacation rental properties — A vacation rental owner in St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, or Ponte Vedra Beach dealing with frequent guest turnover can use a master key system combined with individual cylinder rekeying between stays, while maintaining a master key that provides access to all spaces including utility and maintenance areas that guests shouldn't enter.
- Multi-unit properties — A homeowner with a main house plus a detached in-law suite, guest cottage, or rental unit on the same property can give tenants a key that opens only their unit while retaining a master that opens everything.
- Properties with restricted areas — A home office, storage building, or secure room can be keyed separately from the main home entry, with a master that opens both.
How We Design a Residential Master Key System
We start with your property layout and your access requirements — who needs access to what, and where overlap is and isn't acceptable. We then design a keying hierarchy, select compatible cylinders throughout the property, and create a written key cut record that documents every key cut and which locks it operates. That documentation matters when a key is lost or needs to be duplicated — you know exactly what the exposure is.
Emergency Rekeying & Lock Change
A lock security emergency — a break-in attempt, a lost key in uncertain circumstances, a recently departed tenant who may have copied their key — warrants a same-day response. We respond to emergency rekeying and lock change calls across all of North Florida around the clock.
After a Break-In Attempt
If your lock hardware was physically attacked — a damaged cylinder, a bent strike plate, a frame that's been kicked in — don't rely on rekeying the existing cylinder. A damaged cylinder may not hold a rekey correctly, and a strike plate that's been stressed by a kick may not secure the bolt reliably even with new hardware. We assess the full entry point, not just the cylinder, and recommend what actually needs to be replaced versus what's still serviceable.
After a Key Goes Missing
A missing key triggers a judgment call about risk level. If the key was lost in a clearly traceable location — dropped in your own home, left at a trusted family member's house — rekeying may be a precaution rather than a necessity. If the key was lost in a public place, stolen, or is missing under unexplained circumstances, rekeying the affected locks the same day is the appropriate response.
After Tenant or Contractor Access
Any situation where a key was in someone else's possession — a contractor who completed a job, a tenant who moved out, a houseguest who departed unexpectedly — is a reasonable trigger for rekeying. The hardware doesn't need to be damaged for the access change to be warranted.
Rekeying & Lock Change Services Across North Florida
Jacksonville
We cover all of Jacksonville's residential neighborhoods — Riverside and Avondale's historic homes, the newer construction in Bartram Park and Nocatee-adjacent areas of Duval County, the mix of mid-century and modern homes across Mandarin and Southside, the beach communities. Whole-home rekey packages and deadbolt upgrades are the most common residential requests we handle in this market.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine's housing stock presents the full range of rekeying and replacement scenarios — from 19th century homes in the historic district with original mortise lock hardware to modern construction in the county's suburban growth areas. For historic properties, we work with period-appropriate hardware and understand the door prep constraints that come with doors that weren't designed for modern cylindrical lock sets.
Orange Park & Clay County
Orange Park, Fleming Island, and Middleburg have a significant concentration of 1970s through 1990s construction where the original builder-grade hardware is now aging out. Rekeying old cylinders that are already showing wear isn't a service we'd recommend in those cases — replacement with current Grade 1 hardware is the better long-term decision and we'll explain why when we see it.
Ponte Vedra Beach & Nocatee
The newer construction in Nocatee and the luxury residential properties in Ponte Vedra Beach generate consistent demand for smart lock installation, high-security cylinder upgrades, and new homeowner rekeying packages. Coastal hardware considerations apply throughout this area.
Fernandina Beach & Amelia Island
The vacation rental density on Amelia Island creates ongoing demand for rekeying between tenants, smart lock installation for remote guest management, and master key systems for property management operations managing multiple units. The island's historic housing stock in downtown Fernandina Beach has the same period-hardware considerations as St. Augustine.
Yulee
Yulee's new construction market means builder-grade lock upgrades before or shortly after move-in are a regular request. New homeowner rekeying packages combined with Grade 1 deadbolt upgrades are the most common service combination we perform in this area.
Rekeying & Lock Change Pricing in North Florida
Here are honest ranges for the most common services in this category:
ServicePrice RangeNotes
Single lock rekey$25–$45 per cylinder (lower per-lock rate on whole-home packages)
Whole-home rekey (3–4 doors)$85–$150depending on lock types
Additional key cutting (per key)$5–$15 for standard keywayshigher for restricted/high-security keyways
Standard deadbolt replacement (Grade 1)$75–$150including hardware and labor
High-security cylinder upgrade (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock)$200–$350 per door including cylinder and installation
Smart lock installation (labor only)$85–$125including cylinder and installation
Smart lock installation (labor only)$85–$125hardware cost additional depending on model selected
Master key system design and installationQuoted per project based on number of cylinders and hierarchy
complexity
We quote every job in full before starting. If you'd like a phone estimate for a specific situation, call us with the details and we'll give you a realistic number.
What North Florida Homeowners Are Saying
"After a break-in attempt at our Orange Park house, the tech replaced the damaged deadbolt, installed a reinforced strike plate with three-inch screws, and checked the other entry points. Did not try to upsell us on things we didn't need. Just fixed what was wrong and explained what they found."
Jennifer T., Orange Park
"Managing our Fernandina Beach rental became much less stressful once we had a proper system in place. Tech rekeyed the unit, set up a keypad smart lock, and explained the guest code management so we can handle turnovers remotely. Night-and-day difference."
Robert K., Fernandina Beach
Frequently Asked Questions — Rekeying & Lock Changes
What's the price difference between rekeying and changing locks?
Rekeying a lock in good condition typically costs $25–$45 per cylinder. A standard Grade 1 deadbolt replacement runs $75–$150 including hardware and labor. For most homeowners who've just moved in or had a key access issue, rekeying is the right call at a fraction of the replacement cost.
How long does it take to rekey a home?
For a typical home with three to four exterior doors, plan on 45 to 60 minutes total. That includes removing each cylinder, rekeying it, reassembling, testing the new keys, and cutting any additional copies you need.
Can you rekey all my locks to work on one key?
Yes. This is called a keyed-alike package and it's one of the most practical things we do for homeowners. As long as all the locks are from compatible keyway families — which is the case for most standard residential hardware — we can rekey them to a single key in one visit.
Can you rekey antique or historic locks in St. Augustine or Fernandina Beach homes?
It depends on the lock type and its condition. Many antique mortise locks can be rekeyed if their internals are serviceable. Some very old or unusual mechanisms require sourcing compatible replacement parts, which we can often do. For locks that genuinely can't be rekeyed, we can recommend period-appropriate hardware replacements or auxiliary security additions that don't require altering the original lock.
What lock hardware do you recommend for coastal North Florida homes?
For exterior hardware on properties in salt air environments — Ponte Vedra Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and similar locations — we recommend solid brass or stainless steel construction with marine-grade finishes. The key is the internal components, not just the exterior appearance; brass or stainless pin stacks and springs hold up significantly better than zinc alloy in high-humidity salt air conditions.
How do I know if my locks need to be replaced rather than rekeyed?
If the key sticks, the cylinder is stiff, the bolt doesn't extend and retract cleanly, or there's visible corrosion on the hardware, replacement is the better call. We assess this when we arrive and give you our honest read before any work starts.
Contact Our Rekeying & Lock Change Team
Scheduled appointments: Monday–Friday 8am–6pm |
Saturday 9am–3pm
Emergency rekeying: Available at any hour,
including holidays
Service areas: Jacksonville and all Duval County neighborhoods · St. Augustine and St. Johns County · Orange Park, Fleming Island, and Clay County · Ponte Vedra Beach and Nocatee · Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island · Yulee and Nassau County
Call Now — (904) 668-0776Rekeying & Lock Changes Across North Florida