Rekey locksOakland, California.

Rekeying changes the key that operates a suitable lock cylinder. The old key should no longer work in that rekeyed cylinder. The existing handle and other sound hardware may be able to stay.

It doesn't repair a bent door, a failing closer or a latch that misses the strike. A key-control request and a mechanical fault can exist at the same time. Mention both so one doesn't get lost in the estimate.

If the door behaves badly, read about lock and door-operation faults before deciding that a new set of keys is the full answer. There's no benefit in keeping troublesome hardware simply because a rekey is possible.

A door can have more than one keyed fitting. A separate gate may need its own arrangement. Walk through the entrances you want included and identify the locks, rather than describing the job as a whole house.

For an Oakland apartment, keep the unit door separate from the common entrance. The manager may have a building-wide arrangement that needs to be preserved. A shared key is not something to alter without the appropriate permission.

If you'd like several locks to share one key, that depends on their compatibility. A useful result may be one key for some doors and a separate key for another. Decide what serves the household rather than forcing a single-key plan.

Agree on the locks included, the number of new keys and any parts that need replacing. If one cylinder is worn or unsupported, that should be explained before the scope changes. Our pricing guide sets out what to ask about in the estimate.

Try each new key in each included lock. Where appropriate, check that the old key no longer operates the rekeyed cylinder. A common entrance or another lock that wasn't part of the job may still use its existing key.

Then decide who gets the copies. Writing down a short key list for a household or shop is more useful than collecting a handful of unlabelled spares in a drawer. You can add a copy later if needed; the immediate aim is to understand the keys you already have.