Home Rekey & Deadbolt Installation

Rekeying is the process of disassembling the cylinder inside your existing lock and replacing the internal pin tumblers so that only your new key operates it. Every key cut before that moment becomes useless — permanently. It is faster than a full lock swap and, in many cases, just as secure when the existing hardware is in good condition. A trained locksmith can rekey a standard door knob lock and deadbolt in minutes per cylinder, which means an entire home can be secured in a single visit. Frank Locksmith technicians carry a full complement of replacement pins for Schlage, Kwikset, Baldwin, and other common residential brands, so there is no need to schedule a return trip.

Where rekeying is not enough — corroded cylinders, misaligned strikes, hollow-core doors with inadequate reinforcement — we recommend upgrading to an ANSI Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt during the same appointment. Grade 1 is the highest residential security rating: a bolt with a minimum one-inch throw, hardened steel construction, and resistance to both kick-in and picking attempts. Adding a jimmy proof deadbolt installation on a door that swings outward, or on a rental unit where the door frame is exposed, provides an interlocking rim lock design that resists prying in a way a standard cylinder deadbolt cannot. We assess the door, frame, and hinge condition before recommending any hardware so you receive the right upgrade, not simply the most expensive one.

Older homes throughout Staten Island — especially the Victorian-era and post-war stock you find in areas like Livingston, Westerleigh, and New Dorp — frequently feature mortise lock assemblies recessed into the door edge rather than the surface-mounted cylindrical locks common in newer construction. A mortise lock combines a deadbolt, latch, and sometimes a nightlatch into one unit housed inside a pocket routed into the door stile. These are durable, repairable, and highly secure, but they require a locksmith with hands-on mortise experience to service correctly. Our technicians work on mortise hardware regularly, sourcing compatible cylinders and face plates for both antique units and modern replacements from brands like Schlage and Emtek.

For doors that currently have only a doorknob and no secondary lock, a dedicated deadbolt installation adds a second independent bolt that does not retract unless deliberately turned — unlike a spring latch, which can be slipped. We bore the correct diameter hole, install a reinforced strike plate with three-inch screws anchored into the door frame stud (not just the jamb casing), and test the alignment before we leave. If you have heard about master lock deadbolt installation options or seen specific hardware at a big-box store, bring the model number — we can often source or match it and provide the professional fitting that a DIY install cannot guarantee. Call (347) 284-0806 any time, day or night, and we will dispatch a mobile technician to your address.

Pricing for locksmith deadbolt installation and rekeying is not one-size-fits-all, and we would rather explain that clearly than bury it in fine print. Several factors come into play: the type and brand of lock hardware involved (a mortise lock cylinder costs more to source and fit than a standard pin-tumbler deadbolt), whether you need new hardware supplied or are simply rekeying existing cylinders, the number of doors and cylinders on the property, the time of day the call comes in, and travel distance within Staten Island. After-hours and weekend calls — the 2 a.m. call from someone who just moved into a Grasmere apartment — may carry a different rate than a scheduled daytime appointment. None of that is hidden. Before any work begins, your technician confirms the exact price on-site and does not proceed until you agree. There is no vague call-out fee that balloons into something else once we arrive.

People often ask how locksmith costs work in a market like New York City, where overhead and demand are both high. The honest answer is that the right question is not who is cheapest but what you are actually getting: verified ownership checks before any lock is opened or changed, proper ANSI-rated hardware installed with correct strike reinforcement, and a warranty on the work. Bargain installations done without those steps can leave you with a deadbolt that fails its first real test. Frank Locksmith provides an up-front quote that reflects the real scope of the job — materials, labor, and the expertise to do it correctly on the first visit.

Frank Locksmith is not a scheduling app that routes your call to an unknown contractor. When you call (347) 284-0806, you reach our team directly, and a trained, insured technician is dispatched from within Staten Island. Our mobile service covers: residential rekey after a move or after a break-in, ANSI Grade 1 and Grade 2 deadbolt installation, jimmy proof deadbolt installation for outward-swinging and apartment doors, mortise lock repair and replacement, door knob lock installation and rekey, emergency locksmith response for lockouts, lock change after a lost key or domestic situation, high-security cylinder upgrades, master key system setup for landlords and multi-family properties, commercial locksmith services for storefronts and office suites, panic bar and push-bar installation, access control consultation, sliding door lock reinforcement, garage side-door deadbolts, window sash locks, mailbox lock replacement, padlock rekeying for sheds and storage units, car lockout service, transponder key programming, key duplication for house and commercial keys, broken key extraction from any lock type, lock repair after a forced entry, peephole installation and upgrade, door reinforcement plate fitting, strike plate replacement and upgrade, and smart lock installation and programming including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled deadbolts. Whatever brought you to this page — a new move, a security concern, or a lock that simply stopped working — we have the service and the hardware to resolve it in a single visit.

One note on access and verification: any reputable emergency locksmith will ask you to confirm that you are the owner or authorized tenant before opening or changing a lock. This is standard practice, not a bureaucratic hurdle. We may ask for a photo ID and proof of address such as a lease, utility bill, or closing document. This protects you as much as it protects the property. If you have ever wondered what proof you need for a locksmith, the short answer is anything that ties your identity to the address — and having it ready speeds up the call significantly.

If you have ever searched for deadbolt installation near me and landed on a page that gave you an error — something like 'You are unable to access this site' or 'Why have I been blocked?' — you already know how fragmented the search for local services can be. Directory listings, aggregator sites, and gated review platforms sometimes block users based on location data, VPN use, or automated traffic filters, leaving you with no useful information despite real intent to find help. This is the digital equivalent of a locksmith call-out fee that goes nowhere: time spent, nothing gained.

The simplest path, especially in an emergency, is a direct call to a locksmith you can verify is actually local. Frank Locksmith is based in and serves Staten Island exclusively in this market. Our technicians know the difference between the older frame construction in Port Richmond and the newer development in Eltingville, which matters when sizing a mortise pocket or selecting a strike plate depth. The 'reset password' loop of endlessly clicking through directory pages to find a real phone number is its own kind of lockout — one you can skip entirely by calling (347) 284-0806 directly and speaking with someone who will give you a straight answer.

A security assessment during a locksmith deadbolt installation appointment frequently surfaces other vulnerabilities worth addressing in the same visit. Sliding glass doors on the ground floor, a common feature in Staten Island's semi-attached and detached homes, are often secured with only the factory latch — adding a secondary pin lock or a bar lock in the track dramatically improves resistance to forced entry. Garage side doors are another frequent gap: they often have a single knob lock and nothing else, making them easier to breach than the front door. Exterior doors with inadequate hinges or visible hinge pins on the outside can be addressed with hinge bolts or stud reinforcement. Smart lock installation — a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth deadbolt that integrates with your phone — is increasingly popular for homeowners who want keyless entry without sacrificing bolt strength; we program these on-site and walk you through the setup before we leave. All of these can be quoted and completed during the same appointment as your rekey, making it efficient and keeping your schedule intact.