Change Locks in Burbank, CA

Should you rekey or replace your locks in Burbank?

Most people who call us about changing locks are not sure what they are really asking for. 'Change the locks' can mean three different jobs: rekeying the locks you already have, replacing the hardware with new locksets, or upgrading to something stronger or smarter. Which one is right depends on the doors, the condition of what is in them, and the reason you want the change.

Rekeying means we alter the inside of the cylinder so the old keys stop working and a new key works instead. The lockset itself stays on the door. Replacement means the old hardware comes off and new hardware goes on. When the existing hardware is sound, rekeying is usually the more economical route. When the hardware is worn, damaged, mismatched, or simply not good enough for the door, replacement makes more sense.

This page walks through how we make that call. If a rekey will do the job, we will tell you so, even when a full replacement would be a bigger invoice. If your hardware really should come off, we will show you why. You can read more about each path on our lock rekey and lock replacement pages.

Why change locks after buying a house or moving in?

When you buy a home, you do not actually know how many keys exist for it. The previous owners may have handed out copies to relatives, neighbors, house cleaners, dog walkers, and contractors. Real estate agents and inspectors have had access during the sale. A key that went missing five years ago may still fit the front door today. Changing the locks resets all of that, so the only keys that work are the ones in your hands.

That is the core reason a locksmith for new homeowners is one of the first calls worth making. It is not about assuming anything bad happened. It is about starting from a known position. The same logic applies when you move into a rental, after a roommate or partner leaves, after a set of keys is lost, or after anyone who had regular access no longer should.

A locksmith for a new house does more than swap cylinders, too. While we are at the door, we look at the things that quietly undermine a lock:

• Strike plates mounted with short screws that would not hold up to a hard push
• Deadbolts that do not fully extend because the door or frame has shifted
• Loose or wobbling handle sets and worn latches
• Side doors, garage entry doors, and patio doors that were never on the same key as the front door
• Missing deadbolts on doors that only have a basic knob lock

How we change your locks, step by step

Whether you are calling after moving in or just want your locks changed, the process is the same. We keep it simple so you know what is happening at every stage.

1. Call (213) 577-1366. Someone answers around the clock, every day of the year. Tell us how many exterior doors you have, what kind of home it is, and why you want the change.
2. We help you narrow it down over the phone. If you can describe the lock brand, how old it looks, and whether it works smoothly, we can usually tell you whether rekeying is likely or replacement is more realistic.
3. A mobile van comes to your address. We run out of a Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, and the technician arrives with cylinders, pins, and common hardware on board.
4. We inspect every lock on the property before touching anything. Some locks that looked fine from the outside turn out to be worn, and it is better to find that out before we start.
5. We explain the plan and what is driving the cost before work begins. You decide whether to rekey, replace, or do a mix of both door by door.
6. We do the work, then test every lock with the new keys, with the door open and closed, and check that the bolt throws cleanly into the frame.
7. We hand over the keys, talk through any extra copies you want, and make sure old keys no longer work on anything we changed.

Rekey, replace, or upgrade: how to choose

Here is how we think through the decision at a door. None of this is a script. Every lock gets looked at on its own merits.

• Rekey when the hardware is in good shape, the finish still looks right, and you want every door on a single new key. This is also the usual answer when the hardware is vintage and worth keeping.
• Replace when the lock sticks, the latch is worn, the handle is loose, the finish is failing, parts are no longer available, or the lock is a low grade that does not suit the door.
• Upgrade when the reason for the change is bigger than keys. A single-cylinder deadbolt added to a door that only had a knob is a real improvement, and our deadbolt installation page explains what that involves.
• Go electronic when you are tired of managing keys altogether. Our smart lock installation work covers keypad and app-based locks, and we are honest about where a mechanical lock is still the better fit.

What affects the cost of changing locks?

We do not quote numbers on a web page because the job is not the same from house to house. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so nothing on the invoice surprises you.

In general, a rekey is the lighter-cost option and a replacement costs more, because new hardware is part of the job. But there is more to it than that:

• The number of locks and cylinders. A one-door apartment and a house with four exterior doors, a garage entry, and a side gate are different jobs.
• Rekey versus replacement, and the grade of any new hardware you choose.
• Whether you want everything keyed alike so one key opens every door.
• The condition of the door itself. If a door is swollen, out of square, or has a misaligned bolt hole, the lock cannot work properly until that is addressed.
• Special key systems, such as restricted keys that cannot be copied at a hardware store counter.
• How many extra keys you want cut.
• Time of day and distance. After-hours visits and longer drives are part of the picture.
• Whether you are adding something new, such as a deadbolt or a smart lock, rather than just changing what is there.

Changing locks in Burbank: bungalows, ranch homes, and hillside houses

Burbank is not one kind of housing, and the lock work reflects that. In Magnolia Park, many homes are 1920s to 1940s bungalows. Plenty of them still carry original mid-century or older door hardware. That hardware can be worth keeping, so we often rekey it rather than rip it out, as long as the cylinders and latches are still in working order. When a vintage lock is too worn or parts cannot be found, we say so and look at replacement options that suit the door.

Across the flats, postwar ranch homes are common. These often have builder-grade hardware that has been through decades of use, and a lock change there is frequently a straightforward rekey plus a deadbolt check. For people buying in zip codes like 91501, 91504, or 91506, a lock change in the first days of ownership is a sensible first move.

Climate matters here as well. Valley heat in summer can swell wooden doors, and a swollen door makes a bolt bind against the strike plate. People often blame the lock when the door is the problem. We check how the door sits before deciding anything. Hillside homes above Glenoaks Boulevard in the Verdugo foothills get more sun and wind exposure than the flats, which is hard on exterior finishes and weatherstripping. Burbank is inland, so there is no salt-air corrosion to worry about, which is one less thing that wears hardware out early.

The Rancho District keeps equestrian-zoned single-family lots, and those properties often have more than one entry point, such as side gates and outbuildings, in addition to the house. When we change locks on a larger lot, we ask about every door and gate that should be on the new key system. We are about 16 miles from our Westwood storefront, so a Burbank visit is a drive for us, and we plan it that way.

Apartments, condos, and rentals near Downtown Burbank

Downtown Burbank and the Media District have added mid-rise condos and large controlled-access apartment complexes. Lock changes in those buildings have their own rules. In a condo you own, the unit entry door is generally yours to change, but the building's shared entry, fob system, or gate belongs to the association or management. We work on your door and do not touch their system unless management has brought us in for it.

If you rent, read your lease and talk to your landlord before you change anything. Many landlords allow a rekey or require a copy of the new key. If you manage rentals yourself, our locksmith for landlords page covers turnover rekeying between tenants.

Apartment lockouts near Downtown Burbank and the Chandler Bikeway are a common reason people call us at odd hours. Sometimes the call turns into a lock change when the lost key is the real issue. If you cannot find your keys and are worried about where they ended up, we can get you in and then change the lock so a missing key stops being a worry. Our apartment lockout page covers the entry side of that.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a lock change?

We have been in business since 1987. That is a long time of working on every kind of residential hardware, including the old mid-century sets you find in Burbank bungalows. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, so Burbank is an area we know how to plan for.

We are one company. There is a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and there are mobile service vans. When you call, you are not being passed through a dispatch middleman who sends whoever is free. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, and you are dealing with the people who actually do it.

The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. That matters for lock changes more than people expect. Many of these calls come from someone who has just realized a key is missing, a tenant has just moved out, or a break-in has just happened. You should not have to wait for business hours. If you need us to come to you, our mobile locksmith service is built around that.

How to choose a locksmith for a lock change

Whoever you hire, ask a few plain questions. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and any locksmith you call should be able to give you that number when you ask. Ask whether the person who arrives works for the company you called. Ask what drives the cost before they start, and ask whether they will rekey rather than replace if your hardware is fine.

Be cautious of anyone who insists everything must be replaced without looking at the locks first, and of anyone who cannot explain the difference between rekeying and replacing. A good tech tells you what you need and what you do not, and lets you decide.

If you want extra keys after the change, our key duplication page explains what to expect, including why restricted keys cannot be copied just anywhere.

More locksmith help in Burbank

• Deadbolt Installation in Burbank
• Gate Lock Repair in Burbank
• High Security Locks in Burbank
• Key Duplication in Burbank
• Lock Installation in Burbank
• Lock Rekey in Burbank
• All services in Burbank

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