House Rekeying & Lock Changes

Rekeying is the process of disassembling a lock cylinder and replacing the internal pin tumblers so that a new key operates it while every existing key stops working. A lock change goes one step further — the entire hardware unit is replaced, which makes sense when the existing lock is worn, damaged, or simply not the grade of security you want. Both services protect you from the same threat: unknown key holders. Landlords, previous owners, contractors, dog walkers, ex-partners — anyone who ever had a key can still use it until you rekey or change the lock. In Rochester's older housing stock, where Victorian-era and mid-century homes are common from the South Wedge to Corn Hill, original mortise locks are frequently found on interior and exterior doors. A mortise lock — the rectangular unit that sits inside a routed pocket in the door edge rather than through a bored hole — requires a trained technician with the right tools and replacement parts. Our team carries mortise lock components for common brands including Schlage and Kwikset, so we can rekey or replace your mortise lock hardware on the spot.

The most common locksmith task we perform on residential calls is actually a rekey combined with a master-key or single-key setup. Homeowners who have accumulated different keys for the front door, back door, garage entry, and basement lock often request that all locks be reconfigured to operate on one key. This is called a keyed-alike or master-key arrangement. The benefit is enormous: one key for the entire house, no guessing, no fumbling on a cold Rochester winter night. Our technicians can evaluate every lock on your property — mortise locks, cylindrical door knob locks, deadbolts, sliding door locks, and padlocks — and confirm whether each can be rekeyed to match or whether a lock change is the better path forward.

We never quote a single flat rate for every job because every property is different, and quoting a number before seeing the work would be misleading. The factors our technicians weigh when building your exact up-front price include: the number of locks on the property, the type of lock on each door (a standard door knob lock costs less in parts than a high-security mortise lock or a smart-lock cylinder), the time of day since 24/7 emergency availability involves different resource costs than a scheduled daytime appointment, travel distance from our current position within the Rochester service area, and whether any parts — pins, cylinders, keyways, or full hardware sets — need to be sourced from our mobile inventory. Before a single tool comes out, your technician will walk through the scope with you and confirm the exact price. There are no surprise line items added after the job.

We want to address a question we hear often: how much should a locksmith charge to change a lock? The honest answer is that a legitimate professional will always provide a written or verbal confirmed price before starting. If a quote sounds implausibly low on the phone, it is a red flag that additional charges will appear once the technician is already on site. We operate transparently — one confirmed price, no pressure, no upselling once we are at your door. We are also fully insured, which protects your home and your belongings throughout the service call. For Rochester homeowners comparing their options, that insured status and that pricing transparency are two of the most important things to verify before letting anyone touch your locks.

Rochester's residential housing spans more than a century of architectural styles, and the locks reflect that variety. Colonial and craftsman homes in the Browncroft and Highland Park areas frequently feature original mortise lock sets — ornate brass or iron hardware with a lever handle, escutcheon plate, and a deep rectangular lock body mortised into the door stile. These are sturdy locks, but they use a different keyway and internal mechanism than modern cylindrical locks. Our technicians are trained specifically on mortise lock service, including rekeying the cylinder insert, replacing worn latch bolts, and upgrading to a higher-security cylinder while keeping the original exterior hardware intact. This matters in historic neighborhoods where preserving the door's appearance is as important as improving security.

Beyond the mortise lock, we regularly service cylindrical deadbolts, knobset locks (the door knob lock with a keyed cylinder in the knob itself), lever-handle locks, padlocks, cam locks on mailboxes and storage units, sliding door locks, and electronic or smart-lock cylinders. We also handle vehicle locksmith needs — car lockouts, ignition service, and key fob programming — and we can answer the common question: can a locksmith program my key fob? In most cases yes, though the ability depends on the make, model, and year of the vehicle and whether the onboard computer allows aftermarket programming. Your technician will confirm compatibility before quoting. If you need a car key or fob and are considering a self-service kiosk that advertises copying any key or duplicating access cards and fobs, keep in mind that those machines work from a key's physical profile — they cannot replace a transponder chip or reprogram a fob's rolling security code. For anything beyond a basic mechanical key copy, a trained mobile locksmith is the right call.

Rochester is a genuinely good area with tight-knit neighborhoods, strong community identity, and a housing market that draws first-time buyers and long-term residents alike. That said, like any mid-size city, certain ZIP codes and streets see more property crime than others, and moving into a new home — whether it is a row house off University Avenue or a Colonial on the eastern edge near Pittsford — always carries the question of how many copies of the house key are floating around from previous occupants. The answer is almost always: more than you think. A house rekeying performed within the first 48 hours of moving in is one of the most practical security steps you can take, and it costs a fraction of what a break-in recovery involves. Our mobile technicians serve all Rochester neighborhoods and reach most addresses quickly, day or night.

We also want to clarify a question that comes up for residents new to the area: what is the non-emergency number in Rochester, NY? For non-emergency police matters in the city, residents can contact the Rochester Police Department's non-emergency line, separate from 911. A locksmith call is not a police matter in most cases, but if you suspect a break-in has occurred or believe someone may be in your home, call 911 first and then call us once the scene is cleared. For standard lockouts, rekeying requests, or lock changes — situations that are urgent but not dangerous — call us directly at (631) 380-4138 any time of day or night. We answer 24/7 and can typically dispatch a technician to your Rochester location within a short drive. As a 24/7 emergency locksmith, we handle everything from middle-of-the-night lockouts to next-morning rekeying appointments after a lease turnover, all with the same damage-free approach wherever the lock hardware allows it.

A1 Rochester Locksmith is a full-service mobile locksmith, not a single-task provider. Here is a specific breakdown of what our trained technicians handle on residential and vehicle calls: house rekeying to a single key, mortise lock rekeying, mortise lock replacement, deadbolt installation, deadbolt rekeying, door knob lock replacement, door knob lock rekeying, master-key system setup for multi-unit properties, high-security cylinder upgrades (Schlage B-series, Kwikset SmartKey), smart lock installation and programming, sliding glass door lock replacement, patio door pin-lock installation, window lock installation, gate padlock rekeying, mailbox lock replacement, storage unit padlock replacement, garage side-door lock change, interior privacy lock installation, basement door deadbolt installation, emergency lockout entry (damage-free where hardware allows), broken key extraction from cylinders, door frame and strike plate reinforcement, car door lockout service, trunk lockout service, ignition lock cylinder replacement, car key duplication (mechanical cut), transponder key programming, key fob replacement and programming, and motorcycle ignition service. Each of these services is performed on-site at your Rochester address with no need to visit a shop or a kiosk.

Whether your priority is a single rekeyed cylinder or a whole-house security overhaul, call (631) 380-4138 — we answer 24/7 and a trained, insured technician will come to you.

Automated key-copying kiosks have become common inside retail grocery locations around Rochester — you may have seen them marketed under names that promise to copy any key, including home keys, office keys, access cards, and fobs. These machines are useful for a narrow task: duplicating a mechanical house key or office key when you already have a working original and just need a spare. But they cannot rekey a lock, change a cylinder, extract a broken key, program a transponder chip, replace a smart-lock module, or perform any physical work on your door hardware. They also have no way to verify who owns the lock being copied, which is worth considering before leaving a key at an unattended machine. If you need a simple spare of a standard mechanical key and you have the original in hand, a kiosk inside a nearby store may serve that narrow purpose. But for anything involving security changes — new ownership, lost keys, compromised access, worn hardware, or vehicle key fob programming — a trained mobile locksmith provides a service that no kiosk can replicate.