Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Trusted Lock Installation & Rekey for New York Homeowners
Our Lock Installation & Rekey cost guide shows New York service typically runs $45-$85 per cylinder for rekeying and $120-$380 per door for new lock installation, with most residential jobs completed in one visit. Novak Lock & Security has installed or serviced over 60,000 locks since 2002, and we quote every price in writing before any work begins - Haven Standard Clause 1 prohibits our technicians from changing that price at your door. We stock cylinders and hardware for same-day service across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, with calls answered by a live person 24 hours a day at (551) 214-0800.
New York’s housing stock presents specific challenges: pre-war buildings in the West Village with mortise locks that no longer meet fire code, new construction in Long Island City with builder-grade Kwikset deadbolts that fail within three years, and brownstones in Bedford-Stuyvesant where owners need one key to operate four separate entry points. Daniel Novak built this operation to address exactly these conditions with documented procedures, not promises. Every visit produces a photo record, every quote is binding, and every installation carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
What Our Lock Installation & Rekey Service Includes
Smart Lock Installation
Smart locks connect to your phone or home network, allowing keyless entry through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Z-Wave protocols. You need this when you’re managing access for house cleaners, dog walkers, or Airbnb guests in a New York rental, or when you want to eliminate the risk of lost keys entirely. Novak Lock & Security installs and configures August, Yale Assure, and Schlage Encode units, tests signal strength through your building’s concrete and steel infrastructure, and documents the master code and backup access methods in your written job record before we leave.
Keyless Entry
Keyless entry systems replace mechanical key operation with fobs, cards, or proximity sensors, common in co-op buildings from the Upper East Side to Forest Hills. You need this when your building’s original 1980s entry system fails and the manufacturer no longer exists, or when you’re upgrading from a buzzer system to controlled access. We survey your existing door prep, specify compatible hardware from Schlage, HID, or Kantech, and program all credentials on-site with a written registry of every fob issued.
Keypad Lock
Keypad locks use a numerical code instead of a physical key, popular for side entrances, basement apartments, and home offices in row houses throughout Bushwick and Canarsie. You need this when you’re tired of hiding keys under planters or when a tenant turnover requires immediate access revocation without rekeying. Novak installs mechanical keypad deadbolts from Schlage and electronic models from Yale, programs your codes, and demonstrates the override procedure - all documented in your photo record and written scope.
Biometric Lock
Biometric locks authenticate through fingerprint, iris scan, or facial recognition, representing the highest tier of residential access control. You need this when you’re securing a home office with sensitive documents, a wine cellar, or a gun safe in a Brooklyn Heights brownstone where multiple family members need differentiated access levels. We source and install Ultraloq and Lockly units with liveness detection to prevent spoofing, enroll up to 100 unique biometric profiles, and provide a written backup access protocol in case of sensor failure.
Electronic Lock
Electronic locks encompass any battery or hardwired locking device with motorized bolt operation, including maglocks, electric strikes, and automated deadbolts. You need this for commercial spaces in the Financial District, common areas in Astoria co-ops, or anywhere you require audit trails of who entered and when. Novak’s technicians are factory-authorized on Bedford-Stuyvesant and New York commercial projects; we run low-voltage cable where needed, integrate with your existing access control panel, and test fail-safe versus fail-secure operation under power-loss conditions.
Key Duplication
Key duplication creates working copies from an original key using precision cutting machines calibrated to manufacturer specifications. You need this when you’ve purchased a home with only two keys, when a new roommate or partner moves in, or when you want spares stored off-site with a trusted contact. We duplicate standard Kwikset and Schlage keys, high-security Medeco and Mul-T-Lock blanks with restricted keyways, and automotive transponder keys - every copy tested in your lock before you pay, with the quantity and key codes noted in your written record.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Lock Installation & Rekey
We’ve serviced hundreds of Kwikset SmartKey and traditional pin-tumbler installations across New York’s rental market. The SmartKey system allows rapid rekeying without disassembling the cylinder, which landlords in Maspeth and Long Island City value between tenants - but the mechanism requires precise handling to avoid jamming. Our technicians stock Kwikset replacement cores and carry the specific reset tool that prevents the common failure mode where the key turns freely without retracting the bolt.
Medeco high-security cylinders use rotating pin tumblers and sidebar mechanisms that resist picking, drilling, and unauthorized key duplication. We’ve installed Medeco BiLevel and Maxum deadbolts in Midtown Manhattan commercial spaces and Astoria residential buildings where key control is critical - every Medeco key we cut is registered to your signature and cannot be duplicated without authorization. Whether you have Medeco, Kwikset, Yale, Baldwin, or any other make, we can source OEM parts, quote the repair or replacement in writing, and complete the work under our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Signs You Need Lock Installation & Rekey Right Now
- Your key requires jiggling or excessive force to turn. This indicates worn pin tumblers, a bent key, or internal corrosion - all conditions that progress to complete failure, often at the worst moment. We diagnose the cause in minutes and rekey or replace before you’re locked out.
- You’ve lost track of who has copies of your keys. Previous owners, contractors, dog walkers, and ex-partners may still possess working keys. Rekeying invalidates every existing key at a fraction of replacement cost.
- Your lock was installed before 2010 and has never been serviced. Springs fatigue, lubricant hardens, and internal components develop micro-fractures. In New York’s humidity cycles, we’ve found mortise locks in pre-war buildings with original mechanisms that no longer meet current security grades.
- Your building experienced a break-in or attempted entry. Even if the lock appears functional, picking attempts damage pin chambers and impression marks compromise keyway security. We inspect for forensic evidence of attack and specify replacement if the cylinder integrity is compromised.
- You’re replacing a door or frame. New door prep rarely matches old hardware spacing, and builder-grade locks included with new doors are typically Grade 3 residential units that fail ANSI testing for durability. We specify Grade 1 or Grade 2 hardware appropriate to your usage and warranty requirements.
Our Lock Installation & Rekey Process - Step by Step
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Phone diagnosis and written quote. When you call (551) 214-0800, a live dispatcher asks about your lock brand, symptoms, door material, and location. We quote a firm price range based on common scenarios - rekeying a standard deadbolt runs $45-$85 per cylinder in New York, full replacement with Grade 2 hardware runs ol80-$340 per door. Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice.
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Scheduled arrival with documented technician. Your technician arrives in a marked van, in uniform, with a background-check documentation card. We photograph the existing lock condition before touching anything - this becomes part of your permanent job record.
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On-site inspection and final scope confirmation. We test your lock’s operation, identify the manufacturer and model, and check for hidden damage (stripped set screws, cracked housings, misaligned strikes). If conditions differ from the phone description, we explain the finding and confirm the scope before proceeding - no surprises, no pressure.
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Precision execution with trade-specific tools. Rekeying requires a pinning kit with springs and drivers in .003-inch increments, a key gauge, and a follower to prevent cylinder drop. Installation requires door prep tools, mortising jigs for New York’s common steel-door applications, and torque-calibrated drivers to prevent fastener stripping. We use what the job demands.
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Testing, documentation, and written warranty. Every key is tested in every lock position. Every smart lock is tested for connectivity and backup access. We photograph the completed work, record all key codes and serial numbers, and leave you with a written scope, a written warranty under our 365-Day Done Right Promise, and a documented photo record - standard, not an upgrade.
How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in New York?
| Service | Typical Range | What Affects Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rekey (per cylinder) | $45 - $85 | Lock brand, cylinder type, quantity of keys cut |
| High-security rekey (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) | $85 - $150 | Restricted keyway registration, sidebar components |
| Deadbolt installation (Grade 2) | $180 - $340 | Door material, existing prep condition, hardware grade |
| Smart lock installation | $220 - $450 | Connectivity protocol, integration complexity, Wi-Fi extender needed |
| Commercial electric strike | $380 - $720 | Voltage requirements, frame modification, access control integration |
| Key duplication (standard) | $4 - $12 | Key blank type, quantity, security key authorization |
These ranges reflect our actual 2024-2025 pricing across New York’s five boroughs and adjacent markets. Three factors move any job within its range: the condition of existing hardware (rust, stripped screws, or door frame rot add labor), the security grade you select (Grade 1 commercial hardware costs more than Grade 3 residential), and accessibility (freight elevators, doorman buildings, and parking constraints affect scheduling, not your quoted price).
The most common overpayment we correct is the customer who received a “$19 service call” quote that ballooned to $400 at the door. Novak does not operate this way. Our dispatcher quotes the full price before anyone is dispatched, and that price appears on your invoice unchanged. If you have a competitor’s written estimate, we provide a free second opinion - no obligation, no pressure.
Every estimate includes: travel to your location, diagnostic time, the specified labor, standard hardware or rekeying components, key cutting, testing, cleanup, and documentation. There is no separate “trip charge” or “service fee” added on arrival.
Lock Installation & Rekey Near New York - Our Service Area
We maintain same-day availability across Manhattan below 125th Street, western Brooklyn including Bushwick and Brooklyn Heights, northern Queens through Long Island City and Astoria, and Hoboken for scheduled commercial work. Typical response times run 45-90 minutes for emergency lockouts in the Financial District, Midtown Manhattan, and Forest Hills; scheduled installations are booked in two-hour windows with 30-minute call-ahead confirmation. For properties in Canarsie, Maspeth, or outer Queens, we schedule morning appointments to optimize routing and guarantee arrival within the promised window.
Serving New York, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Lock Installation & Rekey in New York area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Lock Installation & Rekey in New York
Lock installation replaces existing hardware with new deadbolts, knobs, or electronic locking devices; rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of your existing lock so old keys no longer operate it. Novak Lock & Security performs both services in New York and our Lock Installation & Rekey in Hoboken coverage area, quotes each in writing before starting, and provides new keys tested in your lock before we leave. Call (551) 214-0800 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A standard residential rekey takes 20-40 minutes per lock; full deadbolt installation takes 45-90 minutes depending on door prep condition. Smart lock installations in New York’s older buildings with thick plaster and lath walls may require additional time for signal testing and Wi-Fi troubleshooting. We quote time estimates with every price and call 30 minutes before arrival to confirm your window.
Most New York homeowners pay $45-$85 per cylinder for rekeying and $180-$340 per door for Grade 2 deadbolt installation, including hardware, labor, and key cutting. The exact price depends on your lock brand, door material, and whether existing hardware is salvageable. Our dispatcher quotes your specific price on the phone - Haven Standard Clause 1 prohibits any change at your door. Call (551) 214-0800 for your written estimate.
Yes. We are factory-authorized on Yale Assure and next touchscreen deadbolts, and we regularly service Baldwin estate hardware in pre-war Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights buildings. Our technicians carry Yale modules and Baldwin replacement cylinders, and we can source discontinued parts through our wholesale network when manufacturer stock is exhausted.
Yes. Calls are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - no voicemail, no callback queue. Emergency response prioritizes lockouts, break-in damage, and security compromises where keys are unaccounted for. For non-urgent installations, we offer next-day and weekend scheduling with the same written pricing guarantee.
Every job is backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the lock fails to operate as specified, the key sticks, or any component proves defective, we return and correct it at no charge. This applies to our labor and to hardware we supply; manufacturer warranties on customer-supplied locks are handled per that manufacturer’s policy. Your written scope specifies which coverage applies to each component.
Have all existing keys available, including any copies you want tested. For smart lock installations, ensure your Wi-Fi network name and password are accessible, and confirm your router’s 2.4 GHz band is active (most smart locks do not operate on 5 GHz alone). For rekeying multiple properties, prepare a list of which locks should operate on the same key and which require separate keying. We handle everything else on arrival.
Schedule Your Lock Installation & Rekey Service in New York Today
Call (551) 214-0800 now for a free, written estimate with no obligation. A live dispatcher will answer, ask the questions that determine your exact price, and schedule your appointment in a confirmed window. Every Novak Lock & Security visit includes a background-checked, uniformed technician, a documented photo record, and our 365-Day Done Right Promise - the same standards we’ve applied to over 60,000 jobs since 2002.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner at Novak Lock & Security, serving New York since 2002.