Lock Rekeying

Professional Lock Rekeying in Bismarck, ND

At Warren’s Locks and Keys, we provide professional locksmith services to rekey door locks so you can change who has access without changing every lock on your house or business. Many homeowners, landlords, and business owners in Bismarck, Mandan, Lincoln, and nearby North Dakota communities opt for lock rekeying after a move, when keys are lost, following staff changes, or whenever they want a new key to control their current locks.

For over five decades, our family has operated Warren’s as a reputable and trusted locksmith shop, serving the Bismarck and Mandan areas. Our team rekeys door locks through a mobile service that visits local homes, rentals, and commercial sites during business hours. We support every rekey service with ongoing training and a 1-year warranty on parts and labor, so you know how we stand behind the work.

What is Lock Rekeying?

When our locksmiths rekey a lock, we use specialized tools and parts, including cylinder pins (colors indicate size), and a pinning mat that keeps everything organized when working on multiple locks.

Rekeying is an affordable way to change your locks without the hassle of replacing your current lock hardware. When we rekey your locks, we replace the pins inside the internal lock cylinder to work with a new key, so all old keys no longer work.

For most residential and commercial door locks and deadbolts, the rekeying process involves removing the lock from the door, pulling out the cylinder, and replacing the pins to match the cuts in a new key. After we reassemble and reinstall the lock, the new key turns smoothly, and the old key no longer opens the door. This provides you with fresh keys for your current locks without requiring a lock change on every door.

Rekeying works well on commonly rekeyed lock types, such as standard deadbolts and latch sets that are still in good condition. It often costs less than full lock replacement, saves money when you rekey multiple locks at once, and lets you keep existing hardware that already matches your doors and trim. On some electronic locks that include a standard key cylinder, we can rekey the mechanical part so the same key works with your other locks.

When Lock Rekeying Makes Sense

Many property owners prefer lock rekeying when they want a new key to work the same locks, but do not want to replace all the hardware. Rekeying is useful when you trust the quality of the current locks but have concerns about who might still have the old key.

• You move into a home, office, or rental, and are unsure who else has the current key
• Keys are lost, not returned, or shared widely and you want one new key that works the locks you still use

Rekeying also helps if you carry multiple keys for different doors and want a same key setup for several locks of the same brand and lock type. In many situations, we can rekey multiple locks so a single key operates all the locks with compatible cylinders. If a lock is badly worn, damaged, or from a different brand that cannot be matched, we may suggest new locks for that door and rekey the rest so the same key still works across the property.

Rekeying for Homes, Rentals, and Businesses

We rekey locks on single-family homes, new homes, townhomes, apartments, and small commercial properties. Many homeowners contact us right after closing to ensure that old keys no longer work with their property locks. Others call after a change in who lives in the home or after a key goes missing. In each case, we rekey door locks so old keys no longer work and a new key provides secure access.

Landlords and property managers use rekey services between tenants so that each new renter receives keys that only work for that specific lease period. We can rekey a single rental or several units in one visit and provide the number of keys needed for tenants and management. For businesses in and around Bismarck, we rekey office doors, storage rooms, service entries, and shared corridors to match updated access needs. We can also rekey cylinders as part of a master key system, so managers use a master key while staff carry keys that open only their assigned spaces.

Rekeying or Replacing Locks

Rekeying and lock replacement both support security, but they serve different needs. Rekeying keeps your current locks on the doors and changes which key operates them. Replacement swaps out the entire lock, including the internal parts and visible trim.

Rekeying is a good choice when locks work well, match your doors, and you mainly want to block old keys and issue a new key for your existing hardware. Replacement is a better choice when locks show heavy wear, internal damage, or outdated construction, or when you want to change the lock type, finish, or security level. On some jobs we combine both options, such as installing new locks on a main entry and then rekeying multiple locks of the same brand so one key operates all the compatible cylinders.

Shop Rekeying and On-Site Rekeying

You can decide whether to bring locks to us or have us come to you. Some handy homeowners remove locks from their doors and bring them to our Bismarck storefront for rekey service. We rekey the loose locks at the shop and send you home with new keys and rekeyed cylinders ready for installation. This can work well if you are comfortable with basic door hardware and want to manage that step yourself.

Other customers prefer on-site rekeying. In that case, we visit your home, rental, or business, remove the locks, rekey the cylinders, and reinstall the hardware during the same visit. On-site work is helpful when doors are heavy, locks are part of a larger key plan, or you want us to also check door fit, hinges, and strikes. We bring the right tools and key blanks, so the rekeying process can cover all the locks you want to use with the new key.

What We Ask Before Rekey Service

A few details from you help us plan the job and provide a clear estimate before we begin:

• How many locks and which doors you want rekeyed, such as front doors, garage entries, side doors, office doors, or storage rooms
• Which keys you still have and whether you prefer one key for several locks or different keys for selected areas

We may also ask about lock brands, doors that stick or drag, and whether you recently had a move, tenant change, or break-in. With this information, we bring suitable key pins, key blanks, and hardware and can explain whether full rekeying or a mix of rekeying and lock replacement will provide the best result for your security needs.

Schedule Lock Rekeying with Warren’s Locks and Keys

If you are ready to move away from old keys and put a new key in charge of your current locks, our team can guide you through that process. We help homeowners, renters, landlords, and business owners across the Bismarck area rekey locks so a same key plan or a new key structure matches how they use each door.

Contact Warren’s Locks and Keys today to schedule lock rekeying. We will discuss your options, review cost and service fee details, and set a time to rekey your locks so your doors work with the keys you trust now.