What does a lock rekey actually do?
A rekey changes the internal parts of a lock cylinder so it works with a different key. Inside a standard pin-tumbler cylinder are small pins of varying lengths, and your current key lifts each one to exactly the right height. When we rekey, we take the cylinder apart, swap the pins for a new combination, and cut a new key to match. The old key may still slide into the keyway, but it will no longer turn. The lock body, the deadbolt, the handle, and the finish on your door all stay as they are.
That is the difference between rekeying and replacing. Rekeying is about who holds a working key, not about the hardware itself. If your locks are in good shape and you simply do not know how many copies are out there, rekeying is usually the more economical route. It also lets us put every exterior lock on a single key, so you stop carrying a ring of three or four keys for one house.
One honest limit: a rekey does not make a lock stronger. A weak, worn, or poorly made lock is still weak after it is rekeyed. If that is what we find when we open it up, we will tell you plainly and let you decide what to do.
When should you rekey your locks?
Almost every rekey call comes back to one question: do you know who has a key? If the answer is no, or even not sure, that is the moment to rekey. These are the situations we see most often:
- After moving in or buying a house. Previous owners, tenants, real estate agents, contractors, and relatives may all hold copies. Rekeying locks after buying a house is best done before the furniture arrives, because it resets the whole key history in one visit.
- After a tenant moves out. Landlords and property managers rekey between tenancies so a key from a past resident never works on the next resident's door. For repeat turnover work, our page for landlords and property managers covers how we handle multiple units.
- After losing keys. A key dropped at a park, left in a rental car, or simply gone from your ring is a key somebody else might find. If it has no address on it the risk is lower, but a key you cannot account for is still a key you cannot control.
- After a roommate, partner, cleaner, or contractor no longer needs access. Asking for keys back does not tell you whether copies were made.
- After an attempted break-in. We check whether the lock was damaged. If it was, rekeying alone may not be the right fix.
- When you just want fewer keys. Rekeying all house locks to one key is a common request that has nothing to do with security trouble.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How does a house rekey work, step by step?
Here is how a typical home lock rekey runs when you call us. The details shift with the number and type of locks, but the order stays the same.
- You call (213) 577-1366. Our line is answered around the clock. We ask how many exterior locks you have, whether any are sticking or loose, and the brand if you know it.
- A mobile van comes to your door. Before we touch anything, we look at each lock. Worn, damaged, or loose hardware gets flagged right then, not after the work is done.
- We confirm you are the right person to authorize the work, meaning the resident, the owner, or the property manager. We may ask for ID or proof of tenancy. That protects you as much as anyone.
- We remove each cylinder and rekey it to a new pin combination. That can include front-door deadbolts, knob or lever locks, handlesets, a side door to the garage, and a patio slider lock where the hardware allows.
- We cut new keys, then test every lock with the new key and confirm that the old key no longer turns it. We test with the door open and closed, because a bolt that only works on a door that is not under load is not a real test.
- We hand over the keys and explain which key does what. If you want extra copies, we can make them on the spot through key duplication.
Can you rekey every lock on one key?
Usually, yes. This is called keying alike, and it works best when the locks share a compatible brand and keyway. Mixed brands sometimes cannot be matched to a single key. When that is the case, we say so before we start and offer a workable alternative, such as grouping compatible locks on one key and leaving the odd one on its own.
How much does lock rekeying cost in Diamond Bar?
We will not quote a number on a web page, because the honest answer depends on your doors. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, and give you the figure for your job before any work begins.
The main factors are:
- Number of cylinders. Rekeying is done lock by lock, so a one-door apartment and a house with six entries are very different jobs.
- Type of lock. Standard residential cylinders are the simple case. Restricted-keyway and other high-security cylinders take more care and may involve factory key control.
- Condition of the hardware. A lock in good shape rekeys cleanly. A worn or damaged one may cost more to work on than it is worth, and replacement becomes the sensible option.
- Keyed-alike requests. Matching several locks to one key can add steps, depending on the brands involved.
- Number of keys you want cut. Extra copies add to the total.
- Time of day. Our line is open 24/7, but a call in the middle of the night is a different ask than a weekday visit.
- Distance. Diamond Bar is about 42 miles from our Westwood storefront, so travel is part of the picture for a mobile call out here.
- Residential or commercial scale. A shop with several doors and staff keys is a bigger job than a single front door.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Should you rekey, replace, or upgrade?
Rekeying is the right answer when the lock still works smoothly and your only problem is key control. It is not always the right answer, and we would rather say that than rekey something that should be retired.
Replace the lock when the cylinder is badly worn, the bolt does not throw cleanly, the finish is failing, or the hardware was never solid to begin with. Our lock replacement service covers that, and changing locks is the page to read if you want entirely new hardware instead of new keys.
Upgrade when you want something the old lock cannot do. A keypad or app-controlled deadbolt means you stop handing out physical keys at all, which we cover under smart lock installation. If you want more pick, drill, and bump resistance, high-security locks are the step up.
A simple test: if the lock feels fine and the only worry is who has a key, rekey it. If the lock itself is the worry, replace it. If the worry is both, we can talk through the order that makes sense for your budget.
What does lock rekeying look like around Diamond Bar?
Diamond Bar was master-planned from the 1960s onward, so much of the housing is hillside tract homes from the 1960s through the 1980s. Locks on houses that age are often original or have been swapped once or twice, which makes the walk-around before a rekey worth doing. Whether you are in Diamond Point, near Summitridge, in the South Pointe area, or off Sunset Crossing Road, the process is the same. What changes is the age of the hardware and how many doors the house has. Throughout the city, ZIP 91765 covers the homes we most often rekey for.
Condo and townhome clusters along Golden Springs Drive and Diamond Bar Boulevard are a different kind of job. HOA-managed communities are widespread here, and an HOA townhome rekey after a move-in or a tenant leaving is one of the most natural uses of this service. Before we change anything on a unit, check your association's rules. Some associations specify exterior hardware or keep a record of entry keys, and it is easier to sort that out before the work than after.
The Country Estates is guard-gated and holds large custom homes on estate lots. Those houses tend to have more entries than a tract home, and an owner who has just bought one has a lot of unknown keys to account for. Rekeying every exterior door is where the work starts, and if you want restricted keys on top of that, that is where high-security cylinders come in.
Climate matters a little too. Diamond Bar's inland hills run hot in summer, and wind funnels through Brea and Tonner Canyons. The realistic effects on hardware are heat expansion of doors, which can make a bolt bind, and dust in exterior keyways. A rekey is a good time to deal with the second one, since we have the cylinder open and can clean it out. If a door has swollen so much that the latch drags, the lock is rarely the cause, and we will tell you that.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Can you rekey commercial locks and business doors?
Yes. A business lock rekey follows the same logic as a house, with more doors and more people involved. The common triggers are an employee leaving, a change of ownership, a new lease, or a set of keys nobody can fully account for. Retail spaces in the Diamond Bar Boulevard and Grand Avenue shopping centers tend to have a front storefront door, a back door, and sometimes a storeroom or office, each of which can be rekeyed.
If your doors need to work on different levels of access, say an owner key that opens everything and staff keys that open only some, that is a master key system and worth planning rather than patching. For broader work such as hardware repair, closers, or access control, see our commercial locksmith page. Because we answer the phone 24/7, a commercial rekey can be arranged around your hours, not just ours.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a rekey?
We have been in business since 1987. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood plus mobile service vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Diamond Bar among them. When you call, you reach us, not a dispatch company that sells the job to whoever is closest. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start work. That applies to us and to everyone else who shows up at your door. Ask, and expect a straight answer.
Frequently asked questions
Can you rekey my locks after I buy a house in Diamond Bar?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people call. Previous owners, agents, and contractors may still have working keys, so rekeying every exterior lock right after closing resets that. We can also put all of them on a single key.
Will my old keys still work after a rekey?
No. The old key may still enter the keyway, but it will not turn the lock. We test each lock with the new key and confirm the old one fails before we leave.
Is rekeying cheaper than replacing the locks?
Often it is the more economical route, because you keep the hardware and only change the pins inside. That changes if a lock is worn or damaged, since replacement may make more sense. We will tell you which applies once we see the lock.
Can all my locks be rekeyed to one key?
Usually. Locks of compatible brands and keyways can be keyed alike. Mixed brands sometimes cannot be matched, and if that is the case we will say so up front and suggest a practical grouping.
I rent an apartment or condo. Can I have the locks rekeyed?
Your lease and your landlord or HOA decide that. In most rentals, the landlord or property manager arranges an apartment lock rekey, often between tenants. If you want it done yourself, get permission first and have it in writing. We can work with the manager if that helps.
Can a smart lock be rekeyed?
The physical key cylinder on many smart locks can be rekeyed. The codes and app credentials are separate and are changed through the lock's own settings. If you are unsure what you have, tell us the brand when you call and we will confirm.
Do you do commercial rekeys in Diamond Bar?
Yes. We rekey storefronts, back doors, offices, and storerooms, and we can set up a master key system if you want staff keys with different levels of access. We are reachable at (213) 577-1366 at any hour.
Do you come to Diamond Bar for a rekey, or only do work at your shop?
We come to you. Our mobile vans serve Diamond Bar, and our phone line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and the distance is something we factor into the quote.
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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.