Kwikset and Schlage rekey and lock replacement

Rekey versus replace

Rekeying changes the pins inside the cylinder so old keys stop working and a new key does. The handle and deadbolt stay on the door. Replacing swaps the whole lock.

Rekey when the hardware works and you like how it looks. Replace when it is worn, sticky, damaged, or you want a new style or a smart lock. Either way, the old keys stop working.

Kwikset SmartKey

Many Kwikset locks have SmartKey, marked by a small slot beside the keyway. With a working key and the SmartKey tool, the lock is set to a new key in a minute without taking it apart. If the current key is lost, the cylinder is removed and reset another way. Kwikset’s site at kwikset.com lists SmartKey models.

Standard Kwikset and Schlage pinned cylinders

Non-SmartKey Kwikset locks and most Schlage locks use pin tumbler cylinders. Rekeying means removing the cylinder, taking out the plug, and swapping the pins to match the new key using a pinning kit. Schlage locks use their own keyway, so Kwikset and Schlage do not share a key unless one cylinder is swapped to match the other. Schlage’s site is schlage.com.

One key for the whole house

Front door, back door, side gate and garage entry can all run on one key, as long as they share a keyway. If you have a mix of Kwikset and Schlage, the options are: rekey each brand separately and carry two keys, replace one set to match the other. We lay out the choice before we start.

Rentals and tenant turnover

Changing keys between tenants is good practice. SmartKey locks make it fast, which is one reason property managers like them. We rekey every lock a unit needs, hand you the new keys, and note which key goes with which unit. See repairs for landlords.

Locks that stick or will not latch

A key that is hard to turn may just need dry graphite or a lock lubricant, not oil, which attracts dirt. A deadbolt that drags usually means the bolt does not line up with the strike hole; adjusting the strike plate fixes it. A latch that will not catch is often a door alignment issue. See door won’t latch.

Replacement hardware

New Kwikset or Schlage hardware fits most existing door holes. We match the backset, the distance from the door edge to the center of the hole, and the door thickness. Smart locks need a door that closes cleanly and a deadbolt that throws without dragging. See lock and doorknob replacement.

A typical visit

You text that you just bought a house with Kwikset on the front and Schlage on the back. We ask how many doors there are and if you want a single key for all of them.

On site we check which locks have SmartKey, rekey those with the tool, repin the Schlage cylinders or swap them, and test every key in every lock. You end with a set of new keys and old keys that no longer work.

Garage doors and gates

Side gate locks and the door between the garage and house can be included. Garage door openers and their remotes are separate; reprogramming those follows the opener maker’s manual.

Not a locksmith shop

We rekey and replace residential door hardware as handymen. Safes, car keys, master key systems for big buildings and high-security cylinders are outside our scope. We are independent of Kwikset and Schlage.

Handlesets and levers

Front doors often have a handleset, a grip handle with a thumb latch paired with a deadbolt. Interior doors use knobs or levers. Levers are easier for older hands and kids, and many swap onto existing holes. We can change knobs to levers through the house in one visit while rekeying the exterior locks.

Who needs a key

Think about who needs one: each adult in the house, a trusted neighbor, a cleaner, a dog walker. When the rekey is done, we hand you the new keys, and you can share them out from there. Keep track of who holds keys, since rekeying is the fix if one goes missing.

Keyless entry with a keyed backup

Many keypad and smart locks from both brands still have a key cylinder as a backup. That cylinder can be rekeyed to match the rest of the house, so one key opens every door even when the batteries die.

Door strikes and reinforcement

A lock is only as strong as the strike plate and the frame. Longer screws through the strike into the framing behind the jamb make a door harder to kick in. We swap short strike screws for longer ones on request during a rekey or lock swap.

What to send

Photos of the face of each lock, a count of the doors, and a note saying which doors still have a working key.