Should you rekey or replace when you change locks?
Most people who call us about changing locks are really asking one question: do I need new hardware, or just new keys? The answer is not the same for every door, and anyone who gives you the same answer for every door is selling a product, not solving your problem.
Rekeying means we take the existing lock, change the internal parts so the old keys no longer work, and cut you a new key that does. The lockset on your door stays the same. Replacing means we remove the lock and install a different one. Both leave you with a door that only your new keys can open. The difference is what happens to the hardware.
Rekeying is usually the more economical route when the lock itself is in good shape. If the finish is solid, the deadbolt throws smoothly, and the handle sets are not loose or corroded, there is rarely a reason to throw perfectly good hardware away. Replacing makes more sense when the lock is worn out, damaged, mismatched across the house, or when you want something the old lock cannot do, like a stronger deadbolt or keyless entry.
We look at each door in person and tell you which way we would go and why. If you want to read about each option on its own, our pages on lock rekeying and lock replacement go deeper. This page is for the bigger question of getting the whole property under a set of keys that only you control.
Why change locks after buying a house or moving in?
When you buy a house or move into a new place, you have no way of knowing how many keys exist for it. Previous owners and tenants hand out copies to relatives, neighbors, cleaners, contractors, dog walkers, and real estate agents. Some of those keys come back and many do not. Nobody is necessarily acting in bad faith; people simply lose track. But the result is that someone you have never met may still be able to open your front door.
That is why changing the locks is one of the first things we suggest after closing on a house or signing a lease, ahead of most cosmetic projects. It is a modest job compared with almost anything else you will do to the property, and it resets the question of who has access.
Typical reasons people call us for a lock change include:
- You bought a house and do not know who holds keys from the prior owner.
- You moved into a rental and the landlord or property manager is fine with the lock being changed or rekeyed.
- You lost a set of keys, or they were stolen with a bag or wallet.
- A roommate, partner, or former employee moved out and still has a key.
- The locks on the house are a mix of different brands and keyways, and you want one key for everything.
- The hardware is worn, corroded, or hard to turn, and you would rather fix it properly than keep fighting with it.
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Call (213) 577-1366How a lock change works, step by step
Here is what to expect when you call us for a lock change at a home or apartment in Hermosa Beach. The details shift a little from door to door, but the order stays the same.
- You call (213) 577-1366. We answer around the clock, so a late evening or a weekend is no obstacle. Tell us what happened: new house, lost keys, a move-out, or a door that has been giving you trouble.
- We ask a few questions about the doors involved: how many, what kind of locks are on them now, and whether any are damaged or sticking. If you can describe or text a photo of the hardware, that helps us bring the right parts.
- A technician comes to your address in one of our mobile vans. We are a single company, not a dispatch service passing your call to a stranger.
- We inspect each lock before touching it. We check the cylinder, the deadbolt, the strike plate, and how the door sits in its frame. This is where we decide, door by door, whether rekeying or replacing is the better call, and we explain our reasoning before we start.
- You approve the plan and the cost for the work as we have described it. You should know what you are paying for before any tools come out.
- We do the work. Rekeyed locks are taken apart, reset to a new key pattern, and put back. Replaced locks are removed and the new hardware is fitted and aligned so the bolt throws cleanly into the strike.
- We test every lock with the new keys, from both sides of the door, and make sure the old keys no longer work.
- We hand you the new keys and, if you want matching keys for the whole house, we set that up on the spot. Extra copies can be cut right then; see our note on key duplication if you need a larger set for family or tenants.
What affects the cost of changing locks in Hermosa Beach?
We do not quote prices on a web page because the job really does vary, and a number printed here would be wrong for half the people reading it. What we can do is tell you honestly what moves the cost up or down, so nothing surprises you when we give you a figure.
The biggest factor is rekey versus replace. Rekeying existing hardware is usually the lighter-cost option, because you are paying for labor and a small amount of parts rather than for new locksets. Replacing costs more because you are buying hardware, and the range of hardware is wide, from basic functional locks to heavy-duty deadbolts and electronic models.
- Number of doors. Changing one front door lock is a different job from doing every exterior door, a garage entry, and a side gate.
- Condition of the existing locks. A clean, working lock rekeys easily. A corroded or damaged one may take more time or may need replacing outright.
- Type of hardware. Standard cylinders, high-security cylinders, and keyless or smart locks all come at different costs.
- Matching keys. Putting every door on one key takes a bit more planning than rekeying each door separately.
- Door and frame condition. A swollen, misaligned, or damp-warped door can need adjustment so the new lock actually works well.
- Timing. Evening, overnight, and holiday calls can be priced differently from a scheduled daytime appointment.
- Location. We are based in Westwood and Hermosa Beach is about 19 miles from our storefront, so travel is part of the picture.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Changing locks in Hermosa Beach: salt air, small lots and wear
Hermosa Beach is under 1.5 square miles, and every part of it sits within a few blocks of the ocean. That matters more for locks than most people realize. Salt air eats exterior hardware: finishes pit, springs stiffen, cylinders get gritty, and hinges and gate latches corrode. If your house has been near the water for years, there is a good chance the locks on it are in worse shape than they look from the outside.
The marine layer adds another problem. Older wood-frame beach cottages tend to soak up damp, and doors swell. A deadbolt that sticks on foggy mornings is often a door-fit issue as much as a lock issue. When we change locks on a house like that, we check the door and strike alignment as well, because a brand-new lock on a swollen door will feel just as bad as the old one.
This affects the rekey-or-replace decision directly. A salt-worn lock that has started to bind is often a candidate for replacement, even if rekeying would technically work, because a freshly rekeyed corroded lock is still a corroded lock. On the other hand, interior locks and sheltered doors in the same house may be in fine condition and are usually the more economical route to simply rekey. We would rather split a house between the two than push you toward one answer for everything.
The housing here also shapes the work. Hermosa has small-lot beach cottages dating back to the 1920s, many of them converted or rebuilt into multi-story townhomes, plus duplexes, triplexes and small apartment buildings. A single address can have a front door, a back or alley door, a side gate, and a garage entry, all on different locks. When a property changes hands, those extra entry points are the ones people forget about.
Which Hermosa Beach neighborhoods and situations call for a lock change?
Lock changes come up all over town, but a few patterns repeat. In the Sand Section, duplexes and triplexes are common, and renters often move in and out. A rental turnover is a classic reason to change locks: the previous tenant's keys should not still work. For those buildings we usually lean toward rekeying every unit's entry to a fresh key, because it is quick and keeps the hardware consistent. If you are a property owner managing several units, our page for landlords covers how we handle turnover across multiple doors.
Near the beach, along the walk streets and alleys, many homes have salt-exposed front and back doors. Beachfront units in particular often need exterior locksets replaced because of corrosion, not just rekeyed. If you are buying a place near the water, expect to look closely at the exterior hardware.
In East Hermosa and Hermosa Valley, newly purchased homes often come with several locks from different eras. The Hermosa Valley Greenbelt has garages and side gates that tend to be overlooked during a lock change, even though they are exactly the sort of entry point a former owner could still have a key to. We can bring those gate and garage locks onto the same key as the house when the hardware allows it.
Whichever part of 90254 you are in, we work the same way: look at each door, say plainly what it needs, and do not sell you more than that. If you also get locked out while sorting this out, we handle that too; see our page on house lockouts.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a lock change?
We have been in business since 1987, which means we have changed locks on every type of home and door you can think of. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and Hermosa Beach is one of them. We are not a call center that sells your job to the nearest available stranger. You are calling our company, and our own technicians come to you.
We operate from a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and send out mobile service vans, so most lock changes are done at your door without you having to bring anything anywhere. Our mobile locksmith service is the same company and the same people, just on wheels.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That does not mean he personally touches every job, but it does mean there is a person whose name is on the business and who cares how the work turns out.
What we try to do differently is give you straight advice. If your locks are fine and only need rekeying, we say so. If one of them is so corroded it should be replaced, we say that too and show you why. If you want upgrades like a stronger deadbolt or a smart lock, we can talk through the pros and cons, including the downsides, such as batteries and dependence on a phone or app.
What should you ask any locksmith before they change your locks?
Changing the locks on your home is a security job, and you should be a little picky about who you let do it. California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), known as an LCO license. It is reasonable to ask any locksmith, including us, for that license information before they start work.
A few other sensible questions: Will you be working for a company or a dispatch service? Will you explain what you plan to do on each door before you start? Will you tell me the cost for the work before you begin? Anyone legitimate will answer these without fuss. Be wary of anyone who is vague, who will not tell you the company name, or who changes the story once they arrive at your door.
What should you have ready when you call?
You do not need to prepare much, but a little information speeds things up and lets us bring the right parts the first time.
- The address and which doors you want changed: front, back, garage entry, side gate, or all of them.
- Whether you own the property or rent. If you rent, please check with your landlord first, since many leases require permission to change locks.
- What kind of locks are on the doors now, if you know. A quick photo of the hardware is helpful.
- Whether any doors are sticking, rubbing, or hard to lock. This tells us whether the door or frame may need attention too.
- How many keys you want and whether you want every lock on the same key.
- Any preferences about upgrades, such as a new deadbolt or keyless entry.
Frequently asked questions
Can you change locks the same day I buy a house in Hermosa Beach?
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can call as soon as you have the keys. Scheduling depends on what else is going on and where our vans are, so we will give you a realistic arrival time when you call. Many new owners ask us to come on closing day or just after, and we are glad to do that.
Is it better to rekey or replace locks after moving into a new home?
If the existing locks are in good condition, rekeying is usually the more economical route and still makes the old keys useless. If locks are corroded, worn, damaged, or you want a stronger or keyless model, replacing is better. In Hermosa Beach, salt air makes replacement more common on exterior doors, so we check each one before recommending.
Will the old keys still work after you change the locks?
No. Whether we rekey or replace, the lock is set to a new key pattern, and the old keys will not operate it. We test with the new key and also confirm the old key no longer turns the lock before we leave.
Can all my doors be put on one key?
In most cases, yes. We can rekey compatible locks to the same key or install new locks keyed alike, so one key opens the front door, back door, garage entry, and more. Some specialty or high-security locks have their own key systems and may not combine with others, and we will tell you if that is the case.
I rent in a Sand Section duplex. Can I change the locks myself?
Check your lease and talk to your landlord first. Many leases limit tenant lock changes, and in California landlords have obligations around keys and access. If your landlord approves, we can do the work. If you manage the property, we can handle turnover rekeys across units.
Do salt air and damp really affect how often locks need to be changed?
They affect how long exterior hardware lasts. Salt corrosion can stiffen cylinders, pit finishes, and wear out latches, and damp can swell wood doors so deadbolts stick. A worn lock may need replacing rather than rekeying, and sometimes the door itself needs adjusting for the new lock to work well.
How much will it cost to change my locks?
It depends on the number of doors, whether we rekey or replace, the hardware you choose, the condition of your doors, and the time of day you call. We explain the cost for the work before we start, so you can approve it or decide on a different approach.
Can you also change the lock on my garage entry or side gate?
Yes, as long as the hardware allows. Garage entry doors and side gates are often forgotten when people change locks, even though they can be easy ways in. Gates near the ocean are often corroded, so a replacement may make more sense than a rekey.
How do I know your locksmith company is legitimate?
Ask for our BSIS LCO license information, as you should with any locksmith in California. You can also check that the company has a real storefront. We have been at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and in business since 1987, and you can call (213) 577-1366 any time to talk to us directly.
More locksmith help in Hermosa Beach
Change Locks near Hermosa Beach
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.