Rekey or Replace? How to Decide When You Move Into a Vancouver Home

When a locksmith rekeyes a lock, they open the lock cylinder and rearrange the internal pin stacks so that your old keys no longer work — only the new keys cut to the new pin combination will operate the lock. The hardware itself stays in place. The process is fast, and because you're not buying new hardware, the factors that drive your final quote are mainly labor and the number of locks being serviced rather than parts. Rekeying is the most common reason new homeowners call us, and for good reason: it solves the 'who has a copy?' problem immediately without touching the rest of your door setup.

Replacing a lock means removing the existing hardware entirely and installing a brand-new deadbolt, knob set, mortise lock assembly, or smart lock in its place. This makes sense when the existing hardware is worn, damaged, a different grade than you want, or when you're upgrading to a keypad or smart lock system. The factors that affect your quote here include the lock brand and grade (a Schlage B-series deadbolt versus a commercial-grade mortise lock are very different jobs), door preparation needed, and whether new strike plates or reinforcement are required.

Understanding how to rekey a lock helps you have a better conversation with your locksmith, even if you're not doing it yourself. Rekeying requires a plug follower tool, a new set of driver and key pins matched to a new key blank, and the ability to disassemble the cylinder without losing the spring-loaded pins — which are tiny, easy to lose, and brand-specific. For a straightforward Kwikset or Schlage knob cylinder, a confident DIYer can follow along with a rekey kit. But here's where it gets complicated for new Vancouver homeowners: many homes in established neighborhoods like Rose Village or Lincoln have older mortise lock hardware — the large, rectangular lock body that sits inside the door edge rather than through it. Mortise lock rekeying involves a different cylinder format entirely, and incorrect reassembly can leave your door completely non-functional.

Even on standard hardware, a professional locksmith will also check your door alignment, strike plate depth, and deadbolt throw length while they're there — things a rekey kit can't flag. If you want all your exterior locks keyed alike (one key for the front door, back door, and garage entry), a trained locksmith can accomplish that in a single visit. That's a level of coordination the kiosk-style key-copying machines you'll find inside some grocery stores simply can't offer. Those kiosks are useful for cutting a spare of an already-working key, but they cannot rekey your cylinders, assess your hardware condition, or address a mortise lock.

There are clear situations where rekeying isn't enough. If your door knob lock is visibly loose, the deadbolt doesn't throw fully, or the keyway is worn enough that keys sometimes slip, replacement is the right call — rekeying a compromised cylinder just delays the inevitable. The same applies if the previous owner installed a basic builder-grade knob lock with no deadbolt: rekeying it keeps old keys from working, but doesn't upgrade your actual security posture. In that scenario, pairing a proper Grade 1 deadbolt with a rekey of the existing knob lock is often the practical middle path.

Homeowners who want to upgrade to keypad entry will need a replacement rather than a rekey. If you're wondering how to change the code on a keypad door lock after moving in, the answer depends entirely on the model already installed. Many Schlage and Kwikset smart locks allow you to change the door lock code through a programming sequence on the keypad itself — typically holding a button, entering a master code, and setting a new one. But if the previous owner has the master code and you don't, or if the lock is older and doesn't support code reset without the original credentials, replacement is often the cleaner solution. Knowing how to change a door lock code on an inherited smart lock is one thing; knowing whether the lock itself is worth keeping is another, and that's where a professional evaluation pays off. If you'd like a same-day assessment before you decide, call us at (704) 850-6756 — we're available around the clock and can walk you through your options before any work begins.

Vancouver, WA has a wide mix of housing stock. Newer construction in areas like Felida or the Salmon Creek corridor tends to have standard cylindrical deadbolts and knob sets — the kind most people picture when they think of a front door lock. Older homes, especially those built before the 1970s in neighborhoods like Hough or Shumway, frequently have mortise lock hardware. A mortise lock is a full-body mechanism — it includes the latch, deadbolt, and sometimes a chain or turn knob, all in one large cast metal case that sits recessed into the door. Mortise lock service is a specialty, and not every mobile locksmith carries the right cylinders or tools for every brand.

Our team works on mortise locks regularly across Vancouver and handles everything from rekeying a century-old mortise cylinder to full mortise lock replacement when the original mechanism has reached the end of its service life. We also service commercial-grade mortise hardware for home offices, accessory dwelling units, and small businesses — which is worth noting because commercial locksmith work on a residential property isn't unusual here. Whether you've inherited a Kwikset knob lock on a hollow-core door or a heavy mortise lock on a solid wood entry, we'll tell you honestly what it's worth keeping and what should be replaced.

Here's a practical decision framework. Rekey if: the existing hardware is in good condition, is an appropriate security grade for the door, and your main concern is simply that unknown copies of the old key exist. Replace if: the hardware is damaged, worn, or a grade below what you want; if you're switching to keypad or smart lock; or if you're inheriting a mortise lock system that doesn't match a cylinder you can source. Do both if: you want to standardize multiple doors to one key while also upgrading one or two entry points.

One thing to keep in mind regardless of which route you choose — factors like the number of locks being serviced, the type of hardware involved (standard cylindrical, mortise, electronic), travel distance for a mobile call, and time of service all affect what your job will cost. We confirm an exact up-front price before any work starts, so there are no surprises once the job is done. Whether you're in a rush on move-in day or planning ahead the weekend before closing, Top Vancouver Locksmiths is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call (704) 850-6756 and our team will help you figure out exactly what your new home needs.

We provide a wide range of residential, commercial, and automotive locksmith services throughout Vancouver, WA and the surrounding area. Our services include: residential lock rekeying, residential deadbolt installation, mortise lock service and replacement, door knob lock replacement, keypad door lock installation and programming, smart lock installation and troubleshooting, door lock code reprogramming, master key system setup, high-security lock upgrades, lock repair for damaged or worn cylinders, sliding door lock service, garage side door lock replacement, commercial locksmith services for offices and retail spaces, commercial mortise lock installation, access control system installation, electronic keypad entry for commercial properties, emergency locksmith response for residential lockouts, emergency locksmith response for commercial lockouts, car lockout service, vehicle key cutting, transponder key programming, key fob replacement and programming, ignition lock cylinder service, broken key extraction from locks and ignitions, window lock and sash lock installation, mailbox lock replacement, lock hardware consultation for new construction, safebox lock service, and master rekey services for property managers and landlords.