Washington, DC locksmith line
Residential locksmith work for District homes
Rowhouse front doors with century-old mortise locks, condo doors on a shared corridor, a detached house with a side door nobody uses: home lock work in the District comes in many shapes.
- Price quoted before work starts
- Written estimate on request
- Ask the locksmith for ID at the door
01 Coverage
What this line covers
- Lockouts from houses, apartments and English-basement units
- Rekeying so old keys stop working after a move or a breakup
- Deadbolt installation, including doors that have never had one
- Lock repair for sticking, loose or worn cylinders
- Mailbox lock replacement for houses and small buildings
- Keyless and keypad locks fitted to an existing door
- Broken key extraction from a house lock
- Window, gate and garage locks
02 Field notes
Rowhouses, condos and the odd mortise lock
Many rowhouses still carry a mortise lock set into the door edge, sometimes with a separate rim deadbolt added decades later. A locksmith may rekey the cylinder rather than replace the whole body, which keeps the original hardware and costs less.
Condo and co-op buildings bring a different question: who owns the lock? Unit doors are usually yours to change, but corridor doors, mailroom locks and garage gates often belong to the association. Check before you book.
English basements, the separate apartments under many rowhouse stoops, often have their own door, their own lock and their own tenant. Owners renting one out should give it its own key and keep a record of who holds copies.
03 Sequence
How the job usually runs
Describe the door
Front, back or basement door; wood, metal or glass; the brand on the lock if you can see it.
Agree on the figure
The trip charge is fixed. Ask the locksmith for the labor and hardware figure before work starts.
Choose rekey or replace
If the hardware is sound, rekeying changes the key for less. Worn or flimsy locks are better replaced.
Test every key
Before the locksmith leaves, try each new key in each lock, from both sides where that applies.
04 Questions
Common questions
Should I rekey or replace after moving in?
If the locks turn smoothly and you like them, rekeying is enough: the old keys stop working and you keep the hardware. Replace when the lock is loose, worn or a low-grade model. The moving-in article walks through the choice.
Can a locksmith open my door without damaging it?
Often, yes, but not always. Some high-security cylinders and some deadbolts cannot be opened without drilling. Ask the locksmith to explain the method and the cost of any parts before starting.
I rent. Can I change the lock myself?
Check your lease first. Many leases require the landlord's permission and a copy of the new key. A rekey with a key handed to the landlord is usually the easiest route.
Do you replace mailbox locks?
Yes, for house mailboxes and many small-building mailboxes. Cluster boxes owned by the Postal Service are a different matter; the post office handles those.
Describe the lock, hear the starting price
Call 202-753-3643. The trip charge and the starting row on the price list are read out before a locksmith is sent.