New Locks Fitted and Old Locks Replaced in Tampa
A lock that sticks. A door that will not latch. A key that turns while nothing else moves. Any of those usually means the lock comes off the door instead of getting patched up, and we fit the new one, on 1 front door or on every door in a Tampa shop.
Call (813) 555-0100, say how many doors need work and what is fitted now, and we will tell you what the visit costs before we drive out.
When You Need a New Lock, Not a New Key
Here is what people tell us on (813) 555-0100.
- "I lost my keys 2 days ago and I do not want them opening my door."
- "The front deadbolt has been stiff for 3 weeks and I have to lean on the key."
- "Someone tried the back door 2 nights ago and now the lock is chewed up."
- "The 2 knob sets on our shop doors are loose and the latch misses the strike."
New owners call after closing. Landlords and property managers call between tenants, and outside single-family homes and duplexes a Florida landlord has to make reasonable provision for locks and keys, unless the written agreement says otherwise.
Not all of those calls end in new hardware. If the locks still work and you only want the old keys to stop turning, rekeying may be all you need, and we will say so when you call (813) 555-0100.
What a Lock Change Involves
Every job runs in the same order, from 1 front door to a whole office suite.
- We check the door, the frame and the strike plate, because a hinge that has dropped 1/8 inch will fight any new lock.
- We take 2 measurements, the backset and the bore, so the new lock can sit in the holes already cut where that is possible.
- We fit what you picked: a deadbolt, a knob set, a lever set, or a mortise lock in an older door, and we can key 2 or 3 doors alike.
- We square the strike to the bolt, hand you the keys, and spend the last 2 minutes testing from both sides with the door shut.
A like-for-like swap on a sound door is often 20 to 30 minutes. Boring a fresh hole, or cleaning up a pocket for a mortise lock, can push 1 door past an hour.
Nationally, the labor on a lock change runs $50 to $250, and the hardware and the difficulty of the fitting set where you land. What moves our figure: the door count, the hardware grade, whether the old holes match, and whether the frame needs work. For hardware built to slow down picking and drilling, see high security locks.
Damp Air, Salt Water and Outside Hardware
Tampa sits close to a lot of water, which keeps temperatures milder and puts moisture in the air. A bolt that used to throw with a fingertip starts to need a shove.
On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene came ashore at Florida's Big Bend and pushed the Tampa Bay area's worst storm surge in 100 years. Hardware that sat in salt water does not come back, so on those doors the cylinder and the bolt both get replaced, not cleaned.
The 2020 census put renters in 41% of occupied homes in Hillsborough County, and owners in the other 59%. We change locks for both, and our other work is on our home page.
Questions About Changing Locks
Should I repair or replace my lock?
We go by what the lock does now, not by its age. If the key turns smoothly and the only problem is who still holds a key, rekeying is the cheaper road at $80 to $150 nationally. A cylinder that grinds, a cracked housing, or a lock someone has been at with a tool gets replaced.
Do you change locks for homes and businesses?
Both. Houses, condos and rented units, plus shop doors, offices and storage rooms. Business doors more often take lever sets or mortise locks, and a door used all day needs heavier hardware. On a rental, a Florida landlord may take the outside locks off only for maintenance, repair or replacement.
How much does it cost to change a lock?
Nationally, labor for this work sits between $50 and $250, depending on the hardware and how awkward the fitting is. The lock you pick costs extra. Call (813) 555-0100 with the door count, and you get 1 figure for the visit, trip charge included, before we touch the door.
How long does a lock change take?
Swapping a lock for one the same size usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. New holes or a stiff mortise lock can take an hour or more. Several doors in one visit go quicker per door.
Tell us what happened
Send the form with where you are and what happened, or call now on (813) 555-0100.