These two words get used interchangeably and they are not the same job. Rekeying changes who can open a lock. Replacement changes the lock itself. Consequently choosing wrongly means paying several times more than necessary, or paying twice.
What rekeying actually changes
Inside a cylinder sits a stack of pins cut to match one key. Rekeying swaps those pins for a different combination, so the old key no longer aligns. Consequently the hardware, the finish and the strike all stay exactly as they were. Moreover the work takes minutes per door. Therefore rekeying suits any situation where the lock is fine but the key situation changed.
When rekeying is the right call
Moving in, a departing tenant, a lost key, or a contractor who never returned one. Because the mechanism is sound in all four cases, replacing it achieves nothing extra.
When replacement is genuinely warranted
Replace when the mechanism is failing rather than the key list changing. Specifically a cylinder that binds after cleaning, a latch that no longer retracts cleanly, or visible wear on the body. Additionally, replacement makes sense when upgrading security grade. However, a working deadbolt rarely needs throwing away, and anyone insisting otherwise is selling hardware.
The cost gap
Rekeying is priced per cylinder and the per-lock figure drops when several are done together. By contrast, replacement means buying hardware plus fitting it. Consequently a full house rekey often costs less than replacing two doors. Therefore the honest first question is always whether the existing locks are sound.
Keying everything to one key
Most homes accumulate different keys for front, back, garage and shed. However, if the cylinders share a keyway they can all be rekeyed alike. Consequently one key opens everything. Furthermore, doing them together costs less than separately. Naturally we check keyway compatibility first, since mismatched brands cannot always be combined.
Questions we get about this
Is rekeying as secure as a new lock?
Yes, provided the lock is sound. Because the pin combination changes entirely, old keys are useless.
How much cheaper is rekeying?
Considerably. A whole house rekey often costs less than replacing two doors.
Can all my doors share one key?
Usually, if the keyways match. Therefore we check the brands first.
When should I definitely replace?
When the cylinder binds after cleaning, or the latch no longer retracts properly.
Can you do both in one visit?
Yes. Rekey what is sound and replace what is not.
