Rekeying & Lock Changes
When a new tenant moves into a home off Buford Highway, a relationship ends, a roommate situation changes, or a break-in leaves a Duluth family shaken, one question comes up fast: who still has a key to my front door? Rekeying and changing home locks is one of the most practical security decisions a homeowner or renter can make, and it costs far less disruption than most people expect. Our mobile team at Duluth GA Locksmiths arrives at your door — anywhere in the Duluth area — with the tools and parts to handle the job on the spot, without hauling your hardware to a shop.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
“We handle everything from standard door knob locks and deadbolts to heavy-duty mortise lock systems found in older Duluth homes and mixed-use properties along Pleasant Hill Road. Whether you want a single cylinder rekeyed or every lock in the house brought onto one matching key, our trained, insured technicians assess your setup, explain your options clearly, and confirm an exact price before touching a single pin. No guesswork, no surprise invoice at the end.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Duluth, we reach the Duluth area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
What Rekeying & Lock Changes Actually Mean for Your Home Security
Rekeying and changing locks are two different services that solve the same core problem — unauthorized key access — in different ways. Rekeying means a technician removes the lock cylinder, rearranges or replaces the internal pin stacks, and cuts new keys to match the new configuration. The lock hardware stays on your door; only the internal code changes. This works well when the hardware itself is in good shape and you simply need to invalidate old keys — ideal after a move-in, a contractor project, or a lost keyring. Lock replacement, on the other hand, swaps out the entire lock unit, which makes sense when the hardware is worn, damaged, or you want to upgrade to a more secure grade.
Mortise lock rekeying deserves its own mention because mortise locks are more complex than standard cylindrical locks. Common in craftsman-style homes and multi-family buildings throughout older pockets of Duluth, a mortise lock sits inside a pocket (or mortise) cut into the door edge and combines the latch and deadbolt into one unit. Rekeying a mortise lock requires removing the cylinder plug carefully, replacing the driver pins and key pins to a new cut pattern, and reassembling everything so the multipoint mechanism operates correctly. Our technicians are experienced with mortise lock systems from brands like Schlage and Kwikset, as well as legacy hardware with non-standard keyways — the type of work that often stumps a general handyman.
Rekeying & Lock Changes: Choosing the Right Option for Your Situation
The decision between rekeying and a full lock change depends on four things: the condition of your existing hardware, the security rating you need, your keying goals, and your budget timeline. If you own a home near Sugarloaf Parkway and just closed on the property, rekeying every exterior lock to a single master key is typically the fastest, most cost-effective path to knowing you hold the only working keys. If your door knob lock shows signs of wear — a sticky latch, a cylinder that wobbles, or visible scoring around the keyway — replacement is the smarter long-term move because a compromised cylinder can be manipulated even after rekeying. Our technicians will tell you honestly which option your specific hardware warrants, not simply recommend the higher-cost service.
For households that want to step up security across the board, we can also install high-security cylinders, rekey multiple locks to one key (keyed-alike service), or set up a master key system for a small rental property or multi-unit home. All work is done on-site, damage-free where the existing door prep allows, and we carry a wide inventory of cylinders, pins, and replacement lock sets so most jobs are completed in a single visit. If you want to discuss your options before scheduling, call (770) 749-7281 — our team answers 24/7 and can give you a clear overview of what your situation likely requires.
Emergency Locksmith Response and Locksmith Near Me: When You Need Us Now
Security emergencies in Duluth do not wait for business hours. A kicked-in door frame on Chattahoochee Court at midnight, a discovered break-in at a Pleasant Hill Road duplex on a Sunday morning, a domestic situation that means the locks must change tonight — these are exactly the calls our 24/7 mobile team is built for. As an emergency locksmith serving Duluth and the surrounding Gwinnett County communities, we dispatch a trained technician directly to your address, no matter the hour. You are not routed to an answering service or asked to wait until Monday.
We also serve customers searching for a locksmith near me who want same-day, non-emergency rekeying — perhaps after a move, a lease renewal, or simply the realization that too many copies of a house key are floating around. Mobile service means we come to your home, your apartment complex, or the rental property you manage, confirm ownership or authorization, then complete the work on-site. There is no need to remove your door hardware and drive it somewhere. For situations where a commercial locksmith is needed — a small Duluth business, a storefront, or a mixed-use property — we handle those calls as well, including mortise lock service on commercial-grade doors.
Related Cost Information, Service Details, and What to Know Before You Call
When customers ask about cost, the honest answer is that every job has its own variables. The factors that shape your final quote include the type and brand of lock (a standard door knob lock and a heavy-duty mortise lock have different labor and parts requirements), the number of locks being rekeyed or replaced, the time of day (after-hours and holiday calls involve different logistics), your location within the service area and the associated travel, and whether any parts — cylinders, pins, new lock sets — need to be sourced from our truck stock. We confirm an exact, up-front price before any work begins, so you can make an informed decision with zero obligation. There are no hidden call-out charges added after the fact.
A note on what some providers call a 'call-out fee' or dispatch fee: this is a charge some locksmiths apply just to show up, separate from the actual service cost. We believe transparency matters, so we discuss all charges — travel, labor, and parts — together in one clear quote before work starts. You will not receive a low dispatch number followed by a surprise total. For homeowners weighing a rekey versus a full lock change, we can often walk you through the decision on the phone before you commit to a visit, helping you arrive at the appointment already knowing your options. You might also find it useful to know that if you are rekeying multiple locks, doing them all in one visit is significantly more efficient than scheduling separate appointments — our technician brings a full pin kit and can match cylinders across your entire home in one session.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to have a license to be a locksmith in Georgia?
Georgia does not currently impose a statewide licensing requirement specifically for locksmiths, which means the barrier to entry in the industry is lower than in states with strict credentialing laws. This makes it especially important to choose a locksmith whose technicians are trained and insured, and who can verify their identity and your authorization before beginning any work. At Duluth GA Locksmiths, every technician is experienced, carries identification, and follows a professional verification process on every call. We are insured, and we stand behind our workmanship. When evaluating any locksmith — including us — ask whether they are insured, how they verify authorization, and whether they provide an up-front written quote before starting.
How long does it usually take for a locksmith to come?
Response time depends on your location within the service area, traffic conditions, and how many calls are active at the moment you reach out. In and around Duluth, GA — including neighborhoods near Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Johns Creek Road, and the Old Peachtree corridor — our mobile technicians are typically on their way within minutes of your call. We will give you an honest estimated arrival window when you phone us rather than a vague promise. For non-emergency rekeying appointments, we offer scheduled windows so you are not stuck waiting all day. For emergency locksmith calls, we prioritize dispatch and keep you updated if anything affects our ETA. Call (770) 749-7281 any time — we answer 24/7.
What is the crime rate in Duluth, GA, and should it affect my lock decisions?
Duluth is generally considered one of the safer cities in Gwinnett County, and the community around Town Green and the downtown corridor reflects a neighborhood that takes pride in upkeep and security. That said, no area is immune to property crime, and Gwinnett County law enforcement data has historically shown that residential burglaries in the broader region tend to target homes with older, lower-grade lock hardware — particularly worn door knob locks and basic single-pin deadbolts. Rekeying alone raises the bar meaningfully if your hardware is in good shape. Upgrading to a higher-security cylinder or a quality mortise lock raises it further. We are happy to assess your existing setup and recommend realistic improvements based on your door type and how your home is configured.
What is a locksmith call-out fee?
A call-out fee — sometimes called a dispatch or service call fee — is a charge that some locksmith companies apply simply for sending a technician to your location, separate from the cost of any labor or parts. The practice exists across the trades, but it can lead to confusion when customers receive a low initial number on the phone and a much higher total at the door. At Duluth GA Locksmiths, we build travel into a single transparent quote that also covers labor and any parts required. We confirm that complete price with you before any work begins, so there are no components hidden behind a separate line item you did not know about. If you are ever comparing quotes from any service provider, always ask whether the number you are hearing includes travel, labor, and parts — or whether those are added separately.
Can you rekey a mortise lock the same day I call?
Yes. Mortise lock rekeying is a core part of what we do, and our mobile units carry the pin kits, cylinder tools, and replacement components needed to service most mortise lock configurations on the spot. Mortise locks are common in older Duluth homes built before the 1980s, in multi-family buildings, and in commercial storefronts — and rekeying them requires more steps than a standard cylindrical lock, but it is absolutely a same-day service in most cases. When you call, let our team know the brand or style of your mortise lock if you can (Schlage, Kwikset, or an older unmarked unit), and we can confirm parts availability and give you a realistic time estimate before dispatching.
I just moved into a Duluth home — should I rekey or fully replace the locks?
For most move-in situations, rekeying is the right starting point, especially if the existing hardware is less than five to seven years old, operates smoothly, and does not show signs of damage or tampering. Rekeying completely invalidates any previously cut keys, so former owners, real estate agents, contractors, and anyone else who held a key during the sale process can no longer enter. If, however, you find that the door knob lock is loose, the deadbolt cylinder wobbles, or you want to upgrade to a higher-security grade, replacement makes more sense and can be done in the same visit. Our technician will assess your specific hardware during the appointment, give you an honest recommendation, and walk you through the options before any work begins — there is no pressure to choose the more involved service if it is not warranted.