Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Before
AfterLocksmith in Kensington, CA
Locksmith work in Kensington, CA is shaped by the hills. Most homes here were built between the 1930s and 1960s, and many still carry their original mortise locksets, a heavier, older style of hardware that takes more skill to service than the modern cylindrical locks found in newer developments. That, plus the narrow winding streets and the fog that rolls in off the bay, changes how we schedule jobs, what parts we carry, and how we price the work. If you need a rekey, a deadbolt replacement, or help with commercial hardware in Kensington, call (956) 275-7388 and a live person will answer.
Why Kensington Homes Are Different
Kensington sits on the east slope of the Berkeley Hills, which means two things for lock work: elevation and exposure. The marine layer keeps morning air damp, and that moisture makes its way into exterior locksets over time. We regularly pull hardware in Kensington that has corroded from the inside, especially on doors facing west toward the bay. That is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to use hardware rated for coastal conditions, and to keep exterior cylinders lubricated with a dry graphite rather than oil-based products that attract grit.
The housing stock matters too. Kensington is almost entirely single-family homes, many of them built mid-century with solid wood doors and mortise locks that are no longer manufactured the way they once were. A worn mortise body, the rectangular lock case inside the door, often cannot be swapped for a cheap big-box replacement without modifying the door itself. We carry the rebuild kits and replacement cylinders for Schlage and Kwikset mortise hardware, and we can tell you honestly whether a repair or a retrofit makes more sense. On the steeper streets like Windsor Drive and Berkeley Park Road, parking is tight and driveways are narrow, so our technicians arrive in standard service vans without trailers.
Our Main Kensington Services
Most calls we take in Kensington fall into three categories: rekeying after a move or a lost key, residential hardware repair and replacement, and commercial work for the small businesses and offices along Arlington Avenue and Colusa Circle. Each has its own page on this site with detail on what the job involves and what it costs.
Rekey Locks in Kensington
A rekey is one of the quickest and most affordable security upgrades you can make after buying a home, ending a lease, or losing track of a spare key. We change the pins inside each existing lock so the old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware itself. That keeps the original finish and fit of your Kensington doors while giving you a new set of keys and full control over who holds them. Rekeying also makes sense if you have several keys on one ring and want a single key to work every lock in the house. Most Kensington homes can be rekeyed in a single visit. See Rekey Locks in Kensington for pricing and what to expect.
Residential Locksmith in Kensington
Residential work in Kensington runs from deadbolt installation and lock repair to high-security cylinder upgrades on homes that have been targeted or whose owners simply want better key control. Many Kensington front doors still swing on their original hinges with original hardware, and aligning a mortise lock so the key turns smoothly takes patience and a light hand. We also see a steady run of garage-side door locks that have been painted over or forced. Every residential job gets a written price before work starts, and every repair is covered by a one-year written guarantee. Details are on the Residential Locksmith in Kensington page.
Commercial Locksmith in Kensington
Kensington businesses are concentrated in a few small clusters, and they tend to share parking lots, back doors, and waste enclosures, which means key control can get loose quickly. A commercial rekey or master key system is usually the fix, and on this work we quote a per-lock price after a survey of the site, not a dispatch-time ballpark that shifts later. We work on commercial and high-security lines including Medeco and Abloy, and we schedule these jobs at a time that works for your staff. Read the Commercial Locksmith in Kensington page for a full rundown.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service in Kensington
We service and install Schlage, Kwikset, and Medeco hardware in Kensington, along with other standard and high-security lines. Common parts for these brands are stocked in our service vehicles, which keeps most repair jobs to a single visit. For less common finishes or high-security Medeco cylinders, we order from our Bay Area supply chain and return to install. Our full brand list is on our brands page.
Pricing for Locksmith in Kensington, CA
Our Kensington pricing is built on the same rate card wherever you are in town. You will see the full written price before any work begins, and that is the price on the invoice.
| Service | Typical range in Kensington |
|---|---|
| Rekey a single lock | $75 – $130 per lock |
| Rekey all locks after moving in | $150 – $300 |
| Deadbolt installation (standard) | $95 – $180 per lock |
| Deadbolt replacement (high-security) | $180 – $350 per lock |
| Lock repair (mortise or cylindrical) | $90 – $220 per lock |
| Lock replacement (basic hardware) | $110 – $240 per lock |
| Door lockout service | $75 – $160 |
| Master key system setup (commercial) | $25 – $50 per cylinder plus system design |
| High-security cylinder upgrade | $150 – $400 per cylinder |
What pushes a Kensington job above the midpoint is usually age: an original 1950s mortise lock with a worn body costs more to repair than a modern Kwikset cylinder that swaps out in fifteen minutes. High-security hardware like Medeco also commands a higher range because the cylinders and keying are controlled at the factory. Whatever the job, the price you are quoted before dispatch is the price you pay, with no surcharge added at the door.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Kensington
Kensington is small, but the streets are tight and the blocks rise fast. We serve the whole community, including:
- Arlington Avenue corridor
- Colusa Circle
- Berkeley Park Road area
- Windsor Drive
- Upper Kensington near the park
We are typically able to reach most Kensington homes within 30 to 45 minutes for non-scheduled work like lockouts, and we schedule rekeys and hardware jobs at a specific time that works for you.
Service Area – Cities Near Kensington
While this page covers Kensington, we also answer calls from nearby communities across the Bay Area and beyond. For reference on locksmith work in other parts of California, you can read about services in San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and San Diego, CA. Scheduling and dispatch for Kensington are coordinated from our San Francisco Bay Area office, with crews serving Kensington locally.
Serving Kensington, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Kensington area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Locksmith in Kensington
For lockouts and urgent repair calls in Kensington, we are usually on site within 30 to 45 minutes. For scheduled work like rekeys or hardware upgrades, we book a specific arrival window that fits your day. Call (956) 275-7388 to confirm current Kensington response times.
Replacing or rekeying existing locks does not require a permit in Kensington. If a job involves installing new hardware that requires drilling or modifying a door on a rental property, we will flag any landlord or HOA coordination before the work starts. Most residential lock work is done the same day.
Yes. Every Kensington job gets a written price before we begin, and that is the price on the invoice. There is no dispatch fee added at the door, no charge to come out, and no hourly rate ticking in the background. If the repair fails inside one full year, we return and make it right at no charge under our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local locksmith pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Kensington Customers Say
"Deadbolt was loose and the strike plate was off. Fixed both and the door locks smoothly again."
- Pam S."Rekey on a small office building, five doors. Done in under an hour and the keys are labeled."
- Hugo M."Replaced a broken handle set and matched the finish. No upsell."
- Leon W.