Home Rekey & Master Key Setup

Rekeying is not the same as replacing a lock. A trained technician disassembles the lock cylinder, swaps out the internal driver pins and key pins with a new combination, and reassembles everything — all without touching the door or the existing hardware finish. The result is a lock that operates identically to how it did before, except only your new keys work. This is why rekeying is the go-to solution after buying a home in Clifton where you simply do not know how many copies of the original key are floating around. It is also the right call after a roommate moves out or after a break-in attempt, even if the lock was not defeated.

A master key setup layers a second layer of engineering on top of the rekey process. Each lock receives a secondary set of pins — called master wafers or master pins — that create two distinct shear lines inside the cylinder. The first shear line operates when the individual key is inserted; the second activates with the master key. Done correctly, this system is seamless and does not compromise the security of any single lock. Our technicians use quality hardware including Schlage and Kwikset cylinders to build these systems, and we can incorporate a mortise lock into the master system if your home already has mortise-style hardware on the front or back door.

Mortise locks are the rectangular, deep-set lock bodies you find recessed into the edge of a door — common in Clifton's older two-family homes and brownstone-style properties, particularly along Clifton Avenue and the Botany Village neighborhood. Unlike a standard cylindrical knob lock or a deadbolt, a mortise lock houses the latch, deadbolt, and sometimes a privacy button all within a single cast-metal case fitted into a routed pocket in the door. Pulling it apart without the right technique can crack the door edge or strip the set screws, which is why this is not a DIY-friendly job. Our technicians are experienced specifically with mortise lock service — rekeying the cylinder, replacing worn cams, and lubricating the internal mechanism — and carry the specialized tools needed to do it cleanly.

When a mortise lock cylinder is worn to the point where rekeying alone will not solve the problem, we can swap in a new cylinder that fits the existing case, keeping your beautiful original hardware intact. We can also integrate that cylinder into a home master key setup so the same master key that opens your Kwikset front deadbolt also operates the mortise lock on a side entry. Call 973-425-5355 any time — our mobile team is dispatched 24/7 and carries mortise-compatible cylinders for common case sizes right on the truck.

Two situations demand immediate action on your locks: moving into a property where you did not control the previous key distribution, and losing a key in a public place or to an unknown person. In both cases, delay is the real risk — not the rekeying process itself. Clifton has seen significant turnover in its multi-family rental market, particularly in the neighborhoods near Route 3 and the Passaic River corridor, meaning prior tenants may hold copies of keys you know nothing about. Our 24/7 availability means you can call us at 11 p.m. after a long moving day and have a technician at your door within the hour, not the next morning.

We are asked regularly — and it is a fair question — about what a locksmith service costs in NJ. We do not quote dollar figures online because the honest answer is that several variables affect the final price: the type and brand of lock being rekeyed (a door knob lock differs from a mortise lock), the number of cylinders involved, the time of day the call comes in, how far the technician needs to travel within our Clifton service area, and whether any parts — new pins, cylinders, or hardware — need to be sourced from the truck stock. What we do guarantee is a confirmed, exact price before any work begins. No surprise charges after the job is done. If you have ever searched 'how much does a locksmith cost in NJ' and found vague ranges, our process is different: we give you a real number up front.

Our service at Clifton Locksmith Inc extends well beyond rekeying. As a fully mobile emergency locksmith operation, we respond to lockouts, broken key extractions, lock upgrades, and full hardware replacements across Clifton and into surrounding Bergen and Passaic County areas. If your door knob lock is worn, sticky, or was damaged during a break-in attempt, we can replace it on the spot — and if you are already having cylinders rekeyed, it makes sense to handle the hardware swap in the same visit. Combining services saves you a return trip and ensures every entry point on your home operates with the same new key combination.

We are sometimes asked whether there is a 24-hour locksmith available beyond Clifton — our mobile coverage does extend into nearby communities, and our dispatch line at 973-425-5355 operates around the clock. Questions also come up about what a locksmith call-out fee is: some providers charge a flat fee just to arrive, separate from the actual labor. Our quoting process is transparent — we walk you through every cost component before work begins so you understand exactly what you are paying for and why. There are no hidden arrival charges buried in fine print after the job is finished.

Our technicians handle: residential lock rekeying for single cylinders, rekeying matched sets across multiple doors, master key system design and installation, mortise lock cylinder rekeying, mortise lock mechanism service and lubrication, mortise lock cylinder replacement with case retention, door knob lock installation, door knob lock rekeying, deadbolt installation and rekeying, electronic keypad lock installation, smart lock integration and programming, high-security cylinder upgrades (Schlage B-series, Kwikset SmartKey), broken key extraction from cylinders, lock-out response for residential properties, key duplication for newly rekeyed cylinders, restricted keyway system setup to limit unauthorized key copying, re-pinning lock cylinders to a new key combination, lock cylinder removal and reinstallation without door damage, door hardware alignment adjustment after lock work, strike plate reinforcement and installation, door frame assessment for kick-in resistance, gate lock and padlock rekeying, mailbox lock replacement, garage entry door lock rekeying, and post-break-in lock assessment and security consultation. Every one of these services is performed on-site at your Clifton address by our insured mobile technicians.