The Difference between Rekeying and Changing Locks

Sometimes something will happen and you may find it necessary to change locks on your home or car door. This may seem like an incredibly tedious process which involves removing door handles and then barrels and cylinders, losing screws and not being able to put the lock back together. Worse you then have to contact a locksmith and not only do you have to pay for them to fix the lock but they may even find that it cannot be fixed and then you have to replace it anyway. However, instead of worrying about how to change a lock you may be lucky enough to get away with simply rekeying it.

So what is the difference between rekeying and changing door locks? We asked locksmiths Cape Town how they’d describe it and they replied that when re-keying a lock they will make a new set of keys and reset the mechanism inside the lock so that it works with your new keys. This is an especially good idea when you move into a new home as the cost of changing locks often works out more expensive. Sometimes asked can a landlord or tenant change the locks the answer is that you must check your lease agreement, but the landlord may have to change the lock to ensure that previous tenants don’t try to return.

Another example where you don’t need to worry about changing locks on doors is when you lose a key. Simply get a replacement key cut according to the shape and mechanism of the lock and you will be good to go.

However, one instance where you will need to replace the lock is when the mechanism is damaged or in poor condition. If you are wondering how much for a locksmith to change locks, locksmiths Johannesburg say that this will depend on the type of lock, as well as how easy it is to remove and replace.

So now you know the difference between rekeying and changing a lock and when these applications are used. Changing locks is a great way to improve security and give you better peace of mind; just choose whether you want to rekey or replace your lock.