Change or rekey · Burlington
Lock Replacement & Upgrade
The house is fifteen years old and every exterior door still wears the light hardware the builder fitted: a short bolt, a thin strike held by two small screws, and a knob lock that never suited a street entrance.
Call now · open 24/7(289) 816-4986In plain words
Not every complaint about a lock ends in a new lock, and a good visit says so. A cylinder that turns stiffly may only need cleaning and fresh pins; a lost key calls for rekeying, which keeps the hardware and changes the key; a loose lever often wants a tightened spindle. Replacement earns its place when the mechanism is worn through, the housing is damaged, the grade was never adequate for the entrance, or you want a different function, finish or a keypad. The locksmith lays the three routes side by side so the choice rests on what the door needs rather than on what is in the van.
How the visit goesThree teenagers, a dog walker, a cleaner and one house key that keeps going missing. You are tired of cutting copies and would rather give each person a code you can switch off, with a proper deadbolt behind it.
Lock Replacement & Upgrade · Burlington
How the visit goes
- 1
Exposure, weather and finish
The locksmith looks at where the door lives. A side entrance beside a salted driveway, a south-facing front door in full sun and a sheltered porch each treat a finish differently, and the residential hardware label scores finish durability as its own category for exactly this reason. Existing hardware is examined for pitting, peeling and green bloom, which shows how hard the spot is on metal. That guides the choice between a PVD brass, a satin nickel, a powder-coated black or a stainless product, and whether a storm door or a small hood would help. Matching the rest of the entrance comes last, once the finish will survive the location.
- 2
Setting and reinforcing the strike
The strike side is where a replacement earns most of its value. With the door closed, the bolt is thrown and its mark checked against the pocket so the strike can be positioned to accept the full throw without rubbing. A shallow pocket is deepened until the bolt seats to its stop. Then a reinforced strike or a strike box is fitted using 75 millimetre screws that pass through the jamb and bite into the framing behind it, which is what stops a jamb splitting under a kick. Where an old forced entry has cracked the wood, it is glued and dowelled or a repair plate is fitted first.
- 3
A smart lock with its backup arranged
A keypad or smart deadbolt leaves the visit with codes set for each person, auto-lock and alerts configured, and any phone pairing confirmed while the locksmith is there to check it. You are shown the low-battery signal so you recognise it, and the type of battery the maker calls for. The mechanical override key is the piece to look after: keep it on a keyring or with a neighbour rather than inside the home it opens. A second person's code is set up before the locksmith leaves, so a flat phone or a forgotten code is never a reason to stand on the porch.
In the van
- Knob or lever entry set
- Key blanks and key cutter
- Filler plates and thick-door extension kits
- Cylinders, plug follower and pinning kit
- Adjustable latch or bolt
What affects the quote
- 1
Grade of hardware
A light Grade 3 knob set, a residential deadbolt with a strong label rating and a Grade 1 commercial-style deadbolt are different products at different levels, and the quote follows the grade you choose for each door.
- 2
Changes to the door preparation
Adjusting a strike mortise is minor; boring a new hole for a deadbolt, fitting a filler plate over an old mortise pocket or adapting a thick door with extension kits is quoted as its own item.
- 3
Strike reinforcement and jamb repair
A reinforced strike with long screws is a modest addition; repairing a jamb split from a forced entry, or fitting a strike box into a frame that has never had one, adds labour and materials.
Same fees day, night or weekend.
Lock Replacement & Upgrade: questions
I have just bought a house. What should I do about the locks?
Assume that copies of the old keys exist somewhere and act on the day you take possession. Walk every exterior door with the locksmith, keep hardware that is sound and have it rekeyed to a new key, replace hardware that is worn or too light, and add a deadbolt to any door that lacks one. Ask for everything to be keyed alike so you leave with one key and a known number of copies.
What is a reinforced strike, and is it worth adding?
A standard strike is a thin plate held by two short screws in the jamb, and the jamb is what splits when a door is forced. A reinforced strike or strike box is heavier and is fixed with long screws that pass through the jamb into the framing, spreading the load into the structure. It is one of the most effective upgrades on any exterior door and is usually fitted as part of a deadbolt replacement.
How long does a lock replacement take?
A straightforward like-for-like deadbolt or knob set on a standard door is often a matter of an hour or less including testing. Add time for a reinforced strike, for keying several locks alike and cutting keys, for a smart lock's setup and pairing, and for repairing a split jamb or adapting an older door. When several entrances are done together, the locksmith gives a realistic window before starting so you can plan the day.
Lock Replacement & Upgrade near you
Halton, Ontario
Burlington information
- Town
- Burlington, Halton, Ontario
- In business
- 16 years
- Hours
- Open 24/7 · nights, weekends and holidays, same fees
- Phone
- (289) 816-4986
- Visits
- On-site assessment preferred. Request a visit or call.
What the census means at the door
47%
Homes of every age. About 47% of homes in Burlington were built in 1980 or earlier, according to the 2021 Census.
In neighbourhoods with a mix of older and newer homes, the finishes on the doors vary widely: aged brass, satin nickel, matte black. A locksmith serving such an area keeps a range of finishes so replacement hardware suits each house.
50%
A mix of homes. Single-detached houses make up about 50% of homes in Burlington (2021 Census).
Where housing is mixed, the same street can hold a solid wood front door, a steel townhouse door and a metal-clad suite door. A locksmith fits each with hardware suited to its construction, so every neighbour ends up with a door that locks properly.
Open 24/7
Request a visit
The house is fifteen years old and every exterior door still wears the light hardware the builder fitted: a short bolt, a thin strike held by two small screws, and a knob lock that never suited a…
Call now · open 24/7(289) 816-4986- On-site assessment preferred
- Same fees day, night or weekend
- 16 years in business