Rekeying changes which key operates a lock by re-pinning the cylinder, without replacing the hardware. The lock stays on the door, the finish stays matched, and the old keys stop working. For most reasons people think they need new locks, rekeying is the correct and far cheaper answer.
Typical range: $35–$120 CAD per cylinder, plus service call. Ranges are typical for the GTA and depend on the door, the hardware and the time of day. We confirm the price before dispatching.
When rekeying is the right call
- Taking over a leased unit or buying a building — you have no idea how many keys exist
- An employee with keys leaves, particularly one who held a master
- A key is lost or stolen
- A contractor, cleaner or tenant held a key during a period of work
- You want several doors keyed alike so one key covers them
- You want to establish or restructure a master key hierarchy
When replacement is the better answer
Rekeying assumes the lock is mechanically sound. If the cylinder is worn to the point where keys drag, if the lockset is loose in the door, or if the hardware is residential grade on a commercial door, re-pinning a failing lock just delays the inevitable at your expense.
It is also the wrong choice where the existing keyway is the problem. If you are rekeying because keys have been copied without authorisation, re-pinning the same open keyway leaves you exactly as exposed next time. That is the case for moving to a restricted keyway, and it is usually a cylinder swap rather than a full lockset replacement.
Keyed-alike systems
Most small commercial sites do not need a full master key hierarchy — they need one key that opens the front door, the back door, the office and the storage room. That is a keyed-alike set, and it is straightforward, inexpensive and eliminates the key ring that everyone finds irritating.
It can be combined with a master: the staff key opens the doors staff need, while a single management key opens everything including the doors staff key does not.
What we do on site
We remove each cylinder, re-pin it to the new combination, test it on the door, and issue the agreed number of keys. A typical office of ten to fifteen cylinders is a single visit of a couple of hours.
We record the keying schedule and leave you a copy, so future work on the system does not require decoding it again from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rekeying cheaper than replacing locks?
Substantially, in almost every case. Rekeying re-pins the cylinder you already own; replacement buys new hardware and refits it. On a site with a dozen or more doors the difference is large. Replacement only wins when the existing hardware is worn out, wrong for the application, or on a keyway you need to move away from.
How long does it take to rekey an office?
Roughly ten to fifteen minutes per cylinder once we are on site, so a typical ten-to-fifteen-door office is a couple of hours. Larger sites are scheduled so that no area is left without access during the work.
Will rekeying stop old keys from working?
Yes — that is precisely what it does. After re-pinning, only the new key operates the lock, and every previously issued key is dead. This is why it is the correct response to staff turnover or a lost key, and why it is worth doing on possession of any premises regardless of assurances about keys being returned.
Can all my locks be rekeyed to one key?
If they share a keyway, yes, and that is a common request. If they are different brands with incompatible keyways, they cannot be keyed alike as they stand — but cylinders can usually be swapped to a common keyway at modest cost, which achieves the same result without replacing the locksets.
Lock Rekeying across the GTA
We provide commercial lock rekeying throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Pick your city for local detail, or call and we will tell you straight away whether you are in range.
Related services
Master Key Systems
Designed keying hierarchies — from a single master over a small office to multi-level grand master systems with restricted keyways and documented key control.
High-Security Locks
Pick-, drill- and bump-resistant cylinders on patented restricted keyways, for doors where a standard cylinder is not adequate.
Break-In Repair
Same-day repair and re-securing after a forced entry — doors, frames, locks and hardware, with documentation for your insurance claim.
Commercial Door Repair
Doors that bind, drag, sag, will not latch or will not close — diagnosed at the door and frame rather than blamed on the lock.