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
AfterFast, Reliable Rekey Locks Across Richmond
Rekeying a lock in Richmond typically costs $95 to $160 for the first lock and $30 to $55 for each additional lock keyed alike. Most jobs in Richmond are done within 24 to 48 hours, and urgent call-outs usually land same day. Call (956) 275-7388 for a straight answer on your specific situation.
We work in Richmond every week: Point Richmond, the Iron Triangle, Richmond Annex, Hilltop, Marina Bay. We know the difference between a pre-war mortise lock on a Bissell Avenue bungalow and a builder-grade Kwikset on a newer Hilltop tract home. That matters when you need a lock rekeyed without replacing hardware that still has decades of life in it.
Why Ridley Locksmith & Security Is Richmond’s Preferred Rekey Locks Company
Ridley Locksmith & Security is a Garrison Partners company. That means something specific: every tech runs on The Garrison Standard, a written code covering how we quote, how we dress, how we identify ourselves at the door, and what happens if work fails. Since 2007, the Garrison Partners family has held technicians to that standard. Richmond customers deal with the same accountability structure on every call.
We are not a call center that dispatches whoever is closest. We are not an independent shop where quality depends on which tech you happen to draw. Every Ridley technician arrives in uniform, background-checked, carrying a written price agreed before any work starts. You know who is walking up your driveway before they knock.
Response time to Richmond neighborhoods is usually 60 to 90 minutes for urgent calls during normal hours. We carry parts for Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Yale in our service vehicles, so we are not making a second trip to a supply house while you wait.
Rekey Service in Richmond
A rekey service in Richmond means changing the pins inside your existing lock cylinder so the old keys stop working and new keys operate the same hardware. We do not replace the lock unless it is actually failing. On Richmond’s older housing stock, particularly pre-war homes in Point Richmond and the Iron Triangle, the original mortise locks and builder-grade knob sets are often in better shape than people assume. The cylinder might be sticky from paint overspray or decades of grime, but the internal pins are simple to replace once the cylinder is cleaned and freed.
Typical cost for a single rekey in Richmond runs $95 to $160, depending on lock type and condition. A standard Schlage or Kwikset deadbolt is on the lower end. An older mortise cylinder that needs freeing and lubrication before re-pinning lands on the upper end. Every quote is a written price, agreed before we touch a screwdriver. The number we give you on the phone is the number on your invoice.
Single-Lock Rekey
One lock, new pins, new keys. Most Richmond homeowners rekey one or two exterior doors after moving in, after a tenant turnover, or after losing a key. The process takes 20 to 35 minutes per lock once the tech is on site.
Whole-House Rekey
All exterior doors rekeyed to a single new key. We see this most often after a roommate leaves, after a divorce, or after a contractor has held keys during a remodel. Pricing for a whole-house job in Richmond usually falls between $150 and $350, depending on the number of locks and whether they are all keyed to the same keyway.
Keyed Alike in Richmond
Keyed alike in Richmond means re-pinning multiple locks so one key operates all of them. A homeowner who has three different keys for three different doors can walk out of the house with one key. A landlord with a duplex in the Iron Triangle can rekey both units to separate keys while keeping a single master key for access. A small business on Macdonald Avenue can key the front door, back door, and office door the same for staff.
Cost is $95 to $160 for the first lock and $30 to $55 per additional lock keyed alike. A four-lock house in Richmond Annex typically lands around $200 to $320 total. That price is written before we start, covering parts, labor, and the new keys.
Rental Units and Master Keying
For a Richmond landlord with two or more units, a master key system means the tenant key opens only their unit, while the landlord key opens all of them. We use standard Schlage and Kwikset cylinders for basic systems and can cut to a restricted keyway if you need better control over key duplication in Richmond.
Lost Key Recovery
If a key is lost and you do not know who might have found it, rekeying is the only way to remove the risk. Replacing the hardware is not necessary. We re-pin the existing cylinder so the lost key no longer operates anything on the property.
Trusted Brands We Service in Richmond
We see a lot of Schlage and Kwikset on Richmond doors, which are straightforward to rekey and key alike. We also carry Medeco cylinders for homeowners and property managers who want high-security options that resist picking and unauthorized duplication. Whether the lock is a 30-year-old Schlage deadbolt on a Richmond Annex bungalow or a Medeco deadbolt on a Marina Bay condo, we rekey the hardware you already have rather than upselling you to a replacement you don’t need. Parts for these brands are stocked in our service vehicles so there’s no delay waiting on a supplier.
Common Rekey Locks Problems We See in Richmond Homes
- Painted-over cylinders on pre-war doors. Point Richmond and Iron Triangle homes have been repainted again and again around the lock hardware. Paint and overspray inside the cylinder makes the key stick or refuse to turn. We free and lubricate the cylinder before re-pinning, rather than declaring the lock dead.
- Seized mortise locks on original hardware. Older mortise locks in Richmond’s pre-war housing are solid brass and built to last, but decades of grime and old lubricant turn them stiff. A tech who does not work with mortise hardware will recommend replacement. We clean and re-pin them.
- Tenant turnover with unaccounted keys. Landlords in Richmond’s rental-heavy neighborhoods often face a move-out where you cannot be certain how many keys are floating around. Rekeying every exterior door is the quickest way to restore control, usually under an hour on site.
- Builder-grade cylinders with worn pins. Keys that jiggle, stick, or need to be pulled back slightly to turn are signs of worn pins in a budget Kwikset or Schlage cylinder. Re-pinning to factory spec corrects the slop, and we can rekey to a more secure keyway at the same time if you want it.
Pricing for Rekey Locks in Richmond, CA
Here is what you should expect to pay in Richmond for a rekey job, as of 2025:
| Service | Typical Richmond Price |
|---|---|
| Single-lock rekey (standard Schlage/Kwikset cylinder) | $95 – $160 |
| Each additional lock keyed alike | $30 – $55 |
| Whole-house rekey (3 – 4 exterior doors) | $200 – $350 |
| High-security cylinder (Medeco) rekey | $150 – $250 per cylinder |
| Mortise cylinder rekey, including freeing a seized cylinder | $120 – $180 |
What changes the price: the lock type, whether the cylinder is seized or painted over, and how many locks you want on one key. None of that is an add-on we invent at the doorstep. The written price you approve before dispatch is the price on your invoice. Call (956) 275-7388 for a free estimate on your exact locks. We will give you a range over the phone and a firm written price before any work begins.
We Also Serve Cities Near Richmond
While this page focuses on Rekey Locks in Richmond, our techs regularly handle rekey jobs in San Pablo, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, and Albany. If you live just outside Richmond city limits, call us and we’ll tell you straight whether we cover your block. In most of these areas, we are 30 to 45 minutes out. Our Rekey Locks team works the east shore corridor daily.
Serving Richmond, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Richmond 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 Rekey Locks in Richmond
Because the lock itself may be in worse condition than a phone call can reveal. A painted-over or seized cylinder on a pre-war Richmond door needs freeing and lubrication before the tech can re-pin it, and that labor takes time. Some companies quote a bare rekey price and then pile on surcharges for the seized cylinder when the tech is already standing in your doorway. We do not do that. We quote an honest range before dispatch and send a written price before work starts, covering what we can see and what we know is common on Richmond’s older locks. Call (956) 275-7388 to get a straight range for your specific door.
Yes. That is one of the most common rekey situations in Richmond’s rental neighborhoods like the Iron Triangle and Richmond Annex. Years of paint overspray clogs the cylinder and seizes the pins. We remove the cylinder, clean and lubricate it, replace the pins for a new key, and reinstall it. The lock body stays in the door. If the paint is thick enough that the cylinder will not free, we advise you before doing anything and confirm a written price for the extra step.
Keyed alike means one key operates multiple locks. For a Richmond duplex or small commercial building, it usually means a single key opens all the doors the owner or manager should have access to, while each unit keeps its own separate tenant key. A master key system takes that a step further, letting your key open every unit while the tenant key opens only one. A simple two-unit duplex on Bissell Avenue or Carlson Boulevard can be set up keyed alike or master keyed in a single visit.
Check for three things: a Ridley uniform with a company logo, a vehicle marked with Ridley Locksmith & Security identification, and a written price quote that matches the approval you gave before dispatch. Every Ridley tech is background-checked and carries identification. If someone arrives without a uniform and says they are from our company, do not let them in. Call (956) 275-7388 immediately and we will confirm whether a tech was dispatched to your address. Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our San Francisco Bay Area office, and every Richmond call has a work order we can verify.
A rekey works on almost every Schlage and Kwikset deadbolt and knob set without replacing the hardware. We replace only the pins and springs inside the cylinder, which is a $10 to $20 parts job inside a $95 to $160 service. New hardware is only necessary if the lock is physically broken, the cylinder has been drilled, or you want to upgrade to a high-security option like Medeco. If your Schlage or Kwikset deadbolt still turns properly with a key, it can be rekeyed.
Written by Drew Kowalski, Owner at Ridley Locksmith & Security, serving Richmond and the East Bay. Part of the Garrison Partners family, operating to The Garrison Standard since 2007.