Lake St Locksmith Service Team
Local locksmith team
Aug 1, 2026 10 min read
Picking up the keys to a new home on the corner of Quick Street and Division in River Forest is one of the best feelings in the world — right up until you remember that the previous owners, their real estate agent, their contractor, and maybe a neighbor or two could still have copies of those exact same keys. Before you unpack a single box, the smartest move you can make is deciding what to do about your locks. The good news: you almost certainly do not need to replace every lock in the house. The better news: understanding the difference between rekeying and replacing can save you real time and real money.
This guide walks you through exactly when each option makes sense, what factors go into the cost of either service, and how to think about the hardware you already have — including mortise locks, door knob locks, and deadbolts — so you can make a confident, informed decision without overspending on hardware you do not actually need.
## What Does It Mean to Rekey a Lock — And How Does It Work?
Rekeying a lock means changing the internal pin configuration inside the lock cylinder so that the old key no longer works and a new key does. The lock hardware itself stays exactly where it is — the door frame, the strike plate, the knob or handle, all of it stays put. A trained locksmith removes the lock cylinder, replaces the driver pins and key pins with a new combination, and reassembles everything. The result is a fully functional lock that responds only to the new key. This is what most homeowners actually need when they move into a previously occupied home.
The process applies to virtually every common residential lock type: standard deadbolts, door knob locks, and even the more complex mortise lock — a heavy-duty lock assembly common in older River Forest homes and in commercial properties along Chicago Avenue. A mortise lock sits inside a pocket (mortise) cut into the door edge rather than through-bolted like a standard cylindrical lock, which makes it more robust and more involved to service. If your new home has mortise locks, a skilled locksmith will handle the cylinder extraction carefully to avoid damaging the case, then rekey the cylinder and reinstall it. The hardware itself can last decades; rekeying simply resets who has access.
## How to Rekey a Lock vs. Replace It: The Core Decision
The decision comes down to two questions: Is the existing hardware in good working condition, and does it meet the security level you want? If the answer to both is yes, rekeying is almost always the right call. If the lock is damaged, worn, low-quality, or simply not the right type for the door — for example, a builder-grade door knob lock on an exterior door that really should have a deadbolt — replacement makes more sense. Think of it this way: rekeying resets access, while replacement resets both access and hardware quality at the same time.
A few specific scenarios where replacement wins: the previous owner told you the lock is old and sticky; the keyway is visibly damaged from forced entry or weather; you want to upgrade from a basic knob lock to a Schlage or Kwikset deadbolt with a higher security rating; or you want all your locks to operate on a single key (keying alike). That last scenario — how to rekey a lock to match an existing key — is actually something a professional locksmith handles during a rekey service, not just during full replacement. A locksmith can rekey multiple cylinders across your home so one key opens every door, which is a tremendous everyday convenience and a service many new homeowners do not realize is available.
## How Long Does It Take to Rekey a Lock, and What Affects the Price?
How long does it take to rekey a lock? For a standard deadbolt or door knob lock, a trained locksmith typically completes the job in about 15 to 30 minutes per lock once on-site. A mortise lock cylinder takes a little longer due to the additional disassembly steps, but it is still a same-visit service in most cases. If you have four or five locks across your home, plan for a service call of one to two hours total — efficient enough that most homeowners schedule it the same day they get their keys.
Pricing depends on several factors, and we always confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins. The variables include: the type of lock (a standard deadbolt differs from a mortise lock cylinder in complexity), whether replacement parts or new cylinders are needed, the time of day the service is requested, and your location relative to our team. River Forest is well within our regular service area — we run calls throughout the village daily — but travel distance is always part of the honest conversation about what a job costs. There are no surprise charges after the fact; what we quote is what you pay. If you want to get a clear picture before committing, call us at (708) 294-2643 and we will walk through the specifics with you.
## Door Knob Locks, Mortise Locks, and When to Think Like a Commercial Locksmith
Most River Forest homes built before the 1960s were originally fitted with mortise locks — the kind you find in the graceful two-flats and brick bungalows that line Lathrop Avenue and the streets running north toward the Des Plaines River. These are genuinely excellent locks when properly maintained, and rekeying rather than replacing them is almost always the right call because quality replacement mortise hardware is significantly more involved to source and install than simply rekeying what is already there. If you are unsure whether your exterior door has a mortise lock or a cylindrical lock, look at the edge of the door: a mortise lock will show a large rectangular faceplate embedded into the door edge, while a cylindrical lock shows a small round or oval latch plate.
It is also worth thinking about your exterior doors the way a commercial locksmith thinks about a business entrance: every door that swings to the outside is a potential point of entry, and the hardware on each one should be deliberate. That means deadbolts on all exterior doors, functioning door knob locks as a secondary layer, and ideally a keyed-alike system so you are never fumbling through a ring of keys at night. If your new home has a detached garage or a side entrance that was previously used by a housekeeper or contractor, those doors deserve the same attention as the front door. Our team regularly handles multi-point rekey and lock upgrade projects for homeowners who want a thorough security reset after a purchase.
## Making the Call: A Practical Checklist Before You Phone an Emergency Locksmith
You do not need to be in an emergency situation to call a locksmith, but it helps to know what information to have ready so the visit goes smoothly. Walk your new home before calling and note: how many exterior door locks you have, whether any are visibly damaged or difficult to turn, whether the locks are mortise or cylindrical, and whether you want all doors rekeyed to a single key or to different keys. Also note any sliding doors, deadbolts, or padlocks on detached structures like a garden shed or garage side door — these are easy to overlook and easy to include in the same service call.
If you do find yourself in a genuine emergency — locked out on moving day, a key that breaks in the lock, or a door that will not latch because of a damaged mortise lock case — our team is available around the clock. We cover River Forest and the surrounding communities 24 hours a day, every day, which means a late-night lockout after a long move does not have to turn into an overnight crisis. For non-emergency rekey services, scheduling ahead means we can plan the right parts for your specific hardware. Either way, the call to (708) 294-2643 is the fastest path to a professional assessment and a confirmed price before anything is touched.
## Our Full Range of Residential and Commercial Lock Services
Whether you need a single door rekeyed or a comprehensive security review of a newly purchased property, Lake St Locksmith offers a complete range of services for River Forest homeowners, renters, landlords, and businesses. Our services include: residential rekey (single lock), residential rekey (whole home, keyed alike), mortise lock cylinder rekey, mortise lock repair and maintenance, mortise lock full replacement, deadbolt installation, deadbolt rekey, door knob lock installation and rekey, high-security lock cylinder upgrade, master key system setup, keyed-alike system setup across multiple doors, lock-out response for homes, lock-out response for businesses, lock-out response for vehicles, car key duplication, transponder key programming, key fob replacement, ignition lock cylinder repair, smart lock installation and setup, sliding door lock installation, garage side door lock installation, padlock rekey and replacement, commercial deadbolt installation, commercial mortise lock service, commercial master key system, access control consultation, door hardware alignment and strike plate repair, broken key extraction, safe lock assessment, and after-hours emergency locksmith response. Every service begins with a confirmed up-front quote so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to rekey a lock, and is it really secure?+
Rekeying a lock means reconfiguring the internal pin tumblers inside the lock cylinder so that only a new key will operate it. The old key — and any copies made from it — becomes completely useless. It is genuinely secure because the physical mechanism of the lock changes, not just the key. As long as the lock hardware itself is in good condition, a rekeyed lock provides the same level of security as a brand-new lock of the same model. For most new homeowners, rekeying is the most practical and thorough way to ensure no unknown key copies are floating around.
How long does it take to rekey a lock, and can it be done the same day I get my keys?+
For a standard deadbolt or door knob lock, an experienced locksmith typically completes a rekey in about 15 to 30 minutes per cylinder once on-site. A mortise lock cylinder takes a bit longer due to the more involved disassembly, but it is still a same-visit service. Most whole-home rekey jobs covering four to six locks are completed in one to two hours. Same-day service is available throughout River Forest — just call (708) 294-2643 and we will confirm availability and a firm price before scheduling.
Can a locksmith rekey my locks so they all work on one key?+
Yes, and it is one of the most popular requests we get from new homeowners. The process is called keying alike, and it means a locksmith rekeys each of your lock cylinders — whether they are deadbolts, door knob locks, or mortise locks — so that a single key operates all of them. There is no need to replace any hardware to accomplish this. The locksmith matches the pin configuration in each cylinder to the same key cut. It is a great upgrade for everyday convenience and costs no more than a standard rekey service in most cases.
When should I replace a lock entirely instead of just rekeying it?+
Replacement makes more sense than rekeying in a few specific situations: the lock is visibly damaged or difficult to operate, it was previously involved in a break-in attempt, it is a low-security grade that does not meet your needs (such as a builder-grade door knob lock on an exterior door with no deadbolt), or you want to upgrade to a higher-security option like a Schlage deadbolt or a quality mortise lock. If you are unsure which situation applies to your door, a trained locksmith can assess the hardware on-site and give you an honest recommendation before any work begins — with a confirmed price either way.