New hardware fitted properly, not just swapped into a worn door. Most locks that “fail” are fine — it is the door, the frame or the strike plate that moved, and dropping a new lock into the same misalignment buys you a few months at best.
Why we look at the door, not just the lock
A deadbolt that needs lifting, shoving or a particular knack to throw is not a worn deadbolt. It is a door that has dropped on its hinges, or a strike plate that no longer lines up with the bolt. Fit a brand new lock into that same door and it will feel stiff within the season.
So the alignment gets checked first. Sometimes the honest answer is that you do not need a new lock at all, and we will say so.
Need this doing now?
Tell us where you are and what is locked.
You get the price before any tool comes out of the van. Open daily 5:30am to 11:30pm.
Call (314) 916-6766What we fit
- Deadbolts, including high-security cylinders
- Knob and lever handle sets
- Smart locks and keypad entry
- Mortice locks on older properties
- Strike plate and frame reinforcement
One key for the whole house
If your front, back and garage doors each take a different key, they can usually be keyed alike so one key runs the property. It is done at the time of fitting and costs far less than doing it as a separate visit later.
Security worth paying for, and security that is not
The weakest part of most residential doors is not the lock, it is the strike plate: two short screws into soft trim. Longer screws into the stud behind it cost almost nothing and do more against a kicked door than upgrading the cylinder.
A high-security cylinder is worth it where the risk is picking or key copying — a rented property, or a lock whose keys you cannot account for. It does very little against brute force, and anyone selling it to you as kick-proof is overselling.
Related services
Locked out, or need a key made in St. Louis? Call (314) 916-6766. Open daily 5:30am–11:30pm. Price agreed on site before any work starts.
Common questions
Should I change the locks or rekey them?
If the hardware is sound and you just need old keys retired, rekeying is cheaper and quicker. Change the lock when it is worn, damaged, or you want better hardware.
Can all my doors take the same key?
Usually yes. Locks can be keyed alike so one key runs the house. It is much cheaper done at the time of fitting than as a later visit.
Are smart locks worth it?
They are convenient, and good for handing access to family or contractors without cutting keys. Fit one over a reinforced strike plate – a smart lock in a weak frame is still a weak door.
My deadbolt is stiff – do I need a new one?
Often not. Stiffness is usually alignment: the door has dropped or the strike has shifted. We check that first and will tell you if the lock itself is fine.