Markham Locksmiths Service Team
Local locksmith team
Aug 31, 2026 10 min read
If you've just moved into a home on Bullock Drive, handed back keys to a tenant in Cornell, or had a roommate situation change unexpectedly, rekeying your locks is one of the smartest security moves you can make — and one of the most misunderstood when it comes to cost. Most Markham homeowners either assume it's expensive and put it off, or assume it's trivial and don't ask the right questions before booking. This guide is here to fix both problems.
What does it mean to rekey a lock, exactly? Instead of swapping out the entire lock hardware, a trained locksmith disassembles the lock cylinder and replaces the tiny internal pins so that your old key no longer works and a fresh key operates the lock. The existing hardware stays in place. Understanding that distinction — rekey versus full replacement — is the first step to knowing what you'll actually pay, and why the quote you receive can vary from one job to the next.
## What Goes Into a Rekeying Quote: The Real Factors
No two rekeying jobs in Markham are identical, which is why any honest locksmith will tell you the final price depends on several specific variables rather than a flat posted rate. The type of lock on your door is the biggest driver. A standard door knob lock or a basic deadbolt takes less time and fewer parts than a mortise lock — the rectangular, multi-component lock body set into the edge of the door that is common in older Markham homes, commercial storefronts along Main Street Unionville, and mid-rise condos near Highway 7. Rekeying a mortise lock requires more disassembly, a careful inspection of the cylinder, and occasionally replacement of worn components discovered during the process. That added complexity is reflected in the quote.
Other factors include how many locks you need rekeyed in a single visit (rekeying several doors in one trip is more efficient than returning multiple times), the time of day you call, and how far our mobile unit needs to travel to reach your address. If you need keys cut to match an existing key — for example, rekeying a lock to match an existing key so all your doors work off one key — there may be a small materials cost for key blanks. We confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins, so there are no surprises when the job is done.
## Rekeying vs. Full Lock Replacement: Which One Do You Actually Need?
This is the question that most directly shapes your bill. Rekeying a door lock is the right call when the lock hardware itself is in good condition — the cylinder turns smoothly, the bolt extends and retracts cleanly, and the strike plate is properly aligned. In that scenario, the only problem is that too many people have copies of the current key, or you simply want a fresh start after a move or a change in who has access to your home. Rekeying solves that cleanly and quickly.
Full lock replacement makes more sense when the hardware is damaged, outdated, or simply not up to the security level you want. If a door knob lock has a worn-out latch, a mortise lock has a cracked faceplate, or you're upgrading from a builder-grade deadbolt to a higher-grade Schlage or Kwikset cylinder, replacement is the better investment. A skilled locksmith will assess your existing hardware honestly and tell you which option fits your situation — and your budget — rather than defaulting to the more expensive route. If you're unsure, call us at (289) 276-8431 and describe what you have; we can often give you useful guidance before we even arrive.
## How Long Does It Take to Rekey a Lock — and What Happens During the Visit
One of the most common questions we get is how long does it take to rekey a lock. For a single standard deadbolt or door knob lock, an experienced locksmith typically completes the job in 15 to 30 minutes on-site. A mortise lock, because of its more involved cylinder design, can take somewhat longer, especially if the lock hasn't been serviced in years and requires lubrication or minor adjustments. Rekeying an entire home — front door, back door, garage entry door, and possibly a basement suite — usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour and a half depending on the number of locks and their condition.
Here's what the visit actually looks like: our mobile locksmith arrives, verifies your identity and ownership of the property (a standard step we take on every residential job), inspects each lock, and walks you through what needs to be done. The cylinder is removed, the existing driver pins and key pins are swapped out for a new configuration, and the lock is reassembled and tested with your new key. If you want all your doors rekeyed to match a single key — what's sometimes called a master key setup for a home — that's organized during the same visit. You're handed working keys before we leave, and the old keys are dead from that moment on.
## Emergency Locksmith and After-Hours Rekeying in Markham
Security concerns don't follow a 9-to-5 schedule. If you've just discovered a break-in attempt on your Thornhill Woods property, realized a key is missing after a late-night event at Markham Civic Centre, or locked yourself out and need the lock changed rather than just opened, you need an emergency locksmith who can respond at any hour. After-hours and emergency calls are a real factor in pricing — a midnight dispatch involves different operational costs than a Tuesday afternoon appointment — and we will always confirm the exact amount before touching your lock, no matter when you call.
Our 24/7 mobile service covers all of Markham and the surrounding area, including Cornell, Cathedraltown, Milliken, Unionville, and Boxgrove. For emergency rekeying, the process is exactly the same as a scheduled visit; the only difference is urgency. We prioritize getting you secured quickly, and if a full mortise lock replacement is needed because damage occurred during a break-in attempt, we carry common hardware on the vehicle so the job can be completed in a single visit without a return trip. Call (289) 276-8431 any time — we answer 24/7.
## Commercial Locksmith Rekeying: Offices, Retail, and Multi-Unit Properties
Rekeying isn't just a residential service. As a commercial locksmith serving Markham businesses, we regularly rekey office suites, retail units, warehouses, and multi-unit residential buildings — particularly when staff turnover happens, a lease ends, or a master key system needs to be restructured. Commercial properties in Markham often use higher-security cylinders, mortise lock bodies, or interconnected keyway systems that require a locksmith with hands-on experience in commercial hardware, not just residential pin-tumbler locks.
The factors that shape commercial rekeying costs mirror those on the residential side — number of locks, lock type, time of day, and whether new keys need to be cut — but the scale is often larger and the hardware more varied. A single office suite with four doors is a straightforward job; a 20-unit apartment building where you want all suites on a master key system is a planned project that we'll quote thoroughly before starting. Whether you manage a single storefront on Enterprise Boulevard or a mixed-use building near Markham's Downtown district, our experienced team can assess your current setup and tell you exactly what rekeying or re-pinning will involve before any work begins.
## 25 Rekeying and Lock Services We Provide in Markham
Our mobile locksmith team handles a wide range of lock and key needs across Markham. Here is a specific look at what we offer: residential lock rekeying (single cylinder deadbolts), residential lock rekeying (double cylinder deadbolts), door knob lock rekeying, mortise lock rekeying and cylinder servicing, mortise lock full replacement, master key system setup for homes, master key system design for commercial properties, lock rekeying after tenant move-out, lock rekeying after roommate change, lock rekeying after a lost or stolen key, lock rekeying after a breakup or domestic change, new lock installation (Schlage, Kwikset, and other hardware), deadbolt upgrade and installation, commercial mortise lock installation, office and retail suite rekeying, warehouse and industrial lock rekeying, multi-unit residential rekeying programs, high-security cylinder upgrades, key duplication and key cutting, rekeying a lock to match an existing key (keying alike), emergency lock change after break-in attempt, lockout service (residential front door), lockout service (commercial property), garage side-door lock rekeying, and after-hours emergency rekeying available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to rekey a lock, and is it as secure as getting a new lock?+
Rekeying means a locksmith changes the internal pin configuration inside your existing lock cylinder so that only a new key will operate it. Every previous copy of the old key becomes useless. When done correctly on a lock that is in good physical condition, rekeying is just as secure as installing a brand-new lock of the same grade — because security comes from the pins and the keyway, not the exterior hardware. If your current lock is a quality deadbolt or a well-maintained mortise lock, rekeying it is a fully sound security measure.
How long does it take to rekey a lock, and do I need to be home the whole time?+
A single standard deadbolt or door knob lock typically takes 15 to 30 minutes to rekey. A mortise lock or a job involving multiple doors can take 45 minutes to an hour and a half. You do need to be present at the start of the appointment so we can verify ownership — a step we take on every job — but once we have confirmed that and started work, you don't need to stand over us. We'll find you when it's time to test the new keys and hand them over.
Can you rekey all my door locks to work on the same key in one visit?+
Yes, absolutely. Rekeying a lock to match an existing key — sometimes called keying alike — is one of the most common requests we get from Markham homeowners who are tired of carrying a separate key for the front door, back door, and garage entry. As long as the locks use compatible keyways (and in many homes they already do), we can repin all of them during a single visit so one key works the whole house. If the keyways are incompatible, we'll let you know before starting and explain your options, which sometimes include replacing one or two cylinders to bring everything onto a matching keyway.
Do you rekey locks after hours or on weekends? What affects the cost for an emergency call?+
We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays, so yes — emergency rekeying is available whenever you need it. The factors that affect the cost of an after-hours call include the time of dispatch, the travel distance to your location, the type of lock being serviced, and whether any replacement parts are needed. We confirm the exact amount up front before any work begins, so you know precisely what you're agreeing to before we touch anything. To get a quote for your specific situation, call us at (289) 276-8431 — we pick up any time of day or night.
