Lock Rekey Service
If you've just moved into a home on Harbor Hill Road, handed over keys to a contractor, or simply lost track of who has a copy of your house key, rekeying your locks is one of the smartest security decisions you can make. A lock rekey changes the internal pin configuration so that every previously cut key becomes useless — no lock replacement required. It's a precise, damage-free process, and our mobile team at Roslyn Locksmiths brings the tools and expertise directly to your door, wherever you are in the Roslyn area.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
Roslyn Locksmiths operates 24/7, so whether you're calling on a Sunday morning or late on a weekday night, a trained and insured technician will be on the way. We handle everything from standard door knob locks and deadbolts to more complex mortise lock systems found in older Roslyn homes and multi-unit buildings. Before any work begins, we confirm an exact up-front price — so there are no surprises when the job is done.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Roslyn, we reach the Roslyn area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
More about our work
Everything you need to know about how we help — at a glance.
What Our Lock Rekey Service Actually Involves
Rekeying is not the same as replacing a lock. When one of our skilled technicians rekeyes a lock, they disassemble the cylinder, swap out the existing driver and key pins for a new set, and reassemble the lock so it operates only with the newly cut key. The hardware itself stays in place — the door frame, the bolt, and the lock body are untouched. For most standard Kwikset or Schlage deadbolts, the process is clean and efficient. For a mortise lock — the kind set deep into the door edge, common in Roslyn's older Victorian and Colonial-style homes — it takes more precision, but our technicians are experienced with the full range of mortise lock formats and carry the parts to handle them on the spot.
We can also rekey multiple locks across your home to a single key, often called a lock rekey set or master key configuration. That means one key opens your front door, back door, garage entry, and any interior locks you choose — no more juggling a cluttered key ring. This is a particularly popular request from homeowners in the Roslyn Heights and East Hills sections of town who manage properties with multiple access points.
When a House Lock Rekey Makes the Most Sense
There are more situations that call for rekeying than most homeowners realize. Moving into a new house is the most obvious — you simply don't know how many copies of the original key exist or who has them. But the need also comes up after a break-up or divorce, after ending a tenancy, after a houseguest stay that ran longer than expected, or after a contractor, dog walker, or cleaning crew finished their work. Lost or stolen keys are another clear trigger. If your keys went missing anywhere near your home address — a wallet theft near the Roslyn train station, for example — rekeying immediately is far safer than waiting to see if anything happens.
Smart lock rekey situations are increasingly common too. Many Roslyn homeowners have upgraded to smart lock hardware that still uses a physical key cylinder as a backup. Our technicians can rekey that cylinder just like a traditional lock, so your digital and mechanical access controls stay in sync. We also handle door knob lock rekeying on interior and exterior doors, padlocks, and lever-handle locks on patio and French doors.
Mortise Lock Rekeying and Our Full Lock Rekey Service Range
A mortise lock is a hallmark of quality in older construction, and Roslyn has no shortage of homes and buildings that feature them. Unlike a standard cylindrical lock that sits in a bored hole, a mortise lock is housed in a deep pocket cut into the door itself, with a case that contains the latch, deadbolt, and cylinder all in one unit. Rekeying a mortise lock requires removing the cylinder carefully without disturbing the case, sourcing the correct pin kit for that specific profile — whether it's a Yale lock rekey job or another manufacturer — and reinserting the cylinder with a new key biting. Our technicians carry cylinder follower tools, plug followers, and pinning mats for exactly this kind of work, so the process is handled professionally and without damage to your door or frame.
Our lock rekey service covers a wide range of specific situations and hardware types. Here is a detailed look at what we offer: residential deadbolt rekeying, mortise lock cylinder rekeying, door knob lock rekeying, lever handle lock rekeying, smart lock cylinder rekeying, padlock rekeying, sliding door lock rekeying, multi-point lock rekeying, Yale lock rekeying, Kwikset lock rekeying, Schlage lock rekeying, master key system setup, rekey to a single key across multiple doors, rekeying after a move-in, rekeying after key loss or theft, rekeying after contractor access, rekeying after a roommate or tenant change, rekey set for landlords and property managers, commercial lock rekey for storefronts and offices, business lock rekey for multi-suite buildings, emergency rekey after a break-in attempt, garage entry door rekeying, interior door rekeying, mailbox lock rekeying, and rekeying as part of a full security assessment. If you're unsure whether your specific lock is on this list, call us at (516) 980-4841 — we answer 24/7 and can advise you right over the phone.
How Pricing Works and What to Expect When We Arrive
We don't publish flat rates because rekeying costs depend on several real variables: the type and brand of lock, the number of locks being rekeyed, whether parts like specialty pin kits need to be ordered or are on the truck, the time of day, and your location relative to our current service area. A straightforward door knob lock rekey in the middle of the afternoon is a simpler job than an emergency mortise lock rekey at 2 a.m. on a holiday. What we always do is give you a firm, confirmed price before we touch anything — no estimates that balloon into surprises. Our technicians carry a wide inventory of pin sets, cylinders, and key blanks so that most jobs are completed in a single visit without a return trip.
When our technician arrives, they'll ask to see proof of residency or property ownership — this is standard practice for any legitimate lock rekey service and protects you as much as it protects us. A utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or government-issued ID matching the address is typically sufficient. After verifying ownership, the technician walks you through the scope of work, confirms the price, and gets started. Most residential rekey jobs are completed within 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of locks. You leave with newly cut keys and locks that respond to nothing that existed before.
Why Roslyn Homeowners Call Us First
Roslyn Locksmiths is a genuinely local operation — not a call center that patches you through to whichever contractor happens to be free. When you call (516) 980-4841, you reach our team directly, and we dispatch a trained and insured mobile technician from the Roslyn area. We know the streets, the neighborhoods, and the housing stock here: the prewar apartment buildings near Roslyn Village, the newer construction in Roslyn Estates, the converted carriage houses and multi-family homes throughout the corridor between Route 25A and the water. That familiarity means we arrive faster and come prepared for the kinds of locks that are actually common in this area, not just the most popular national defaults.
Frequently asked questions
What proof do you need before rekeying my locks?
Our technicians ask for basic proof that you have the right to authorize work on the property. A government-issued ID matching the address, a lease or rental agreement, a utility bill, or a property deed or mortgage statement all work. This step protects you as the homeowner or tenant and is standard practice for any responsible lock rekey service. If you've just closed on a home and don't yet have mail at the address, let us know when you call — we can often work with closing documents or coordinate with your realtor.
What are the most common reasons people call for a lock rekey?
The most frequent calls we get are from people who have just moved into a new home or apartment and want to ensure former owners or tenants no longer have access. Close behind that are calls about lost or stolen keys, the end of a contractor or housecleaner arrangement, a change in relationship or roommate situation, and post-break-in-attempt security upgrades. We also get regular calls from landlords setting up master key systems across rental properties, and from homeowners who want to consolidate several different keys onto one for all their exterior doors.
How long does an emergency lock rekey take?
Response time depends on where we are when you call and traffic conditions in the Roslyn area, but we aim to reach most local addresses within 20 to 45 minutes. The rekeying work itself typically takes 15 to 30 minutes per lock for standard deadbolts and door knob locks. A mortise lock or a smart lock cylinder rekey may take a bit longer given the additional disassembly involved. For a full house rekey set covering multiple doors, plan for one to two hours total. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when you call.
Can you rekey a mortise lock or a Yale lock on an older door?
Yes, this is a routine part of what we do. Mortise locks are common in Roslyn's older homes and in commercial properties throughout the village. Our technicians carry the pinning tools and cylinder follower equipment needed to remove, repin, and reinstall mortise cylinders without damaging the door or the lock case. Yale lock rekey jobs follow the same process — we identify the cylinder profile, source the correct pin kit from our truck inventory, and cut new keys on-site. If your lock is particularly old or unusual, call us at (516) 980-4841 and describe it so we can make sure we arrive fully prepared.
How much does a lock rekey cost in the Roslyn area?
The final price depends on several factors: the number and type of locks being rekeyed, the specific hardware brand and cylinder profile, whether it's a standard appointment or an emergency after-hours call, and any parts that may be needed beyond our standard truck stock. We do not quote fixed prices in advance because a single door knob lock rekey is a very different job from a commercial lock rekey covering a multi-suite office. What we guarantee is that our technician will give you a clear, confirmed price before any work starts — and that price is what you pay.
Is rekeying better than replacing my locks entirely?
In most cases, rekeying is the more practical choice when the lock hardware itself is in good condition. It achieves the same core security goal — making all previously existing keys obsolete — at a fraction of the cost of full hardware replacement, and without the need to drill or modify your door. Lock replacement makes more sense when the hardware is damaged, worn, outdated, or when you want to upgrade to a higher-security rating. Our technician will inspect your existing locks when they arrive and give you an honest recommendation. If a rekey is what you need, that's what we'll do — we won't suggest replacement just to run up the bill.