Often, when people lose their
keys, move into a new house, or fall out with their housemates, they ask a
local locksmith to fit new locks.
Whilst most locksmiths will be
more than happy to replace your existing door locks, it’s a sensible idea to
weigh up all the options available first. Why? Because having your locks
rekeyed may be a more viable alternative – saving you a little bit of money in
the process.
Here Newcastle locksmiths, NLS Security Ltd
,
explain the pros and cons of rekeying and replacing locks to help you decide
which is best for you.
Rekeying
a lock
‘Rekeying’ is the process of
changing the keys on the lock to new ones without having to physically change
the lock.
The lock has components –
known as tumblers or key pins – that correspond with a certain key. When
changes are made to these components, existing keys are rendered useless.
Pros
of rekeying locks:
· Increased security
– if
your keys are lost or stolen or you want to restrict access for someone who has
their own set of keys, having your locks rekeyed can provide a greater sense of
security.
· Convenience
– want
to be able to open different locks using a single key, also known as a master key
?
Rekeying is the perfect solution.
· Cost-effectiveness
–
instead of replacing the entire lockset, rekeying involves the replacement of
the key pins inside the lock only. As a result of these pins being inexpensive,
you can enhance security without breaking the bank.
· Quick and easy
–
though it might sound complicated, it’s a relatively simple procedure for our
experienced locksmiths in Newcastle. No additional labour or tools are
necessary.
Cons
of rekeying locks:
· No security upgrades are involved
–
when locks are rekeyed, you use the same locks. No physical changes are made to
the security features. Therefore, if you have low-quality locks installed,
having them rekeyed will restrict access but won’t change their quality or
level of security.
Replacing
a lock
Are your locks broken, damaged
beyond repair, or malfunctioning? If so, you’ll be better off replacing your
locks as opposed to rekeying them.
To replace a lock, the
existing one needs to be removed so a new one can be fitted in its place. The
new lock can be the same as the previous one or an entirely different type,
brand, or level of security.
Pros
of replacing locks:
· Customisation
–
whether you want to improve the look, feel, and/or security, replacing your
existing locks with new ones is a great idea. You have a choice of materials,
colours, and sizes to choose from – so pick the ones that suit your needs best,
both security-wise and aesthetically.
· Upgrades
– if
you’re looking to ramp up security, having new door locks fitted is a sure-fire
way to do just that! Try switching to smart or digital locks to improve your
current security measures.
Cons of
replacing locks:
· More expensive
– swapping
your existing locks for new ones is the pricier option of the two as you’ll be
paying for not just the labour costs but the cost of new locks, too. And the
more advanced features and technology the lock incorporates, the higher it’ll
cost.
As we’ve established, there
are perks to rekeying and replacing locks. However, the best option for you
often comes down to your budget and how much you can afford to pay a locksmith.
Is it
cheaper to rekey or replace locks?
Rekeying tends to be the most
budget-friendly. With this, our locksmiths in Newcastle will use the current
key to make slight adjustments to the lock before supplying new keys.
However, if you don’t have the
matching key for the lock (e.g. if you’ve misplaced it), the process becomes a
little trickier and costly.
Therefore, our best advice
would be to ask our Newcastle locksmiths for a quote to have your locks rekeyed
and replaced. This way, you can make an informed decision whilst you factor in
your budget.
For expert advice or to
discuss your requirements in more detail, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Either call us on 0191 238 6000
or
email info@nlssecurity.co.uk
, and
we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
