Home Lock Rekeying
Moving into a new home off Hwy 90 in Castroville is exciting — but if you don't know how many copies of the old keys are floating around, that excitement can come with a quiet security risk. Home lock rekeying is the fastest, most cost-effective way to regain full control of who can open your doors, without replacing every lock fixture on the property. Whether you just closed on a house near the Landmark Inn or you've misplaced a key and can't account for it, rekeying resets your security from the inside out.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
John Locksmiths is a 24/7 mobile locksmith serving Castroville and the surrounding Medina County area. Our trained, insured technicians come directly to your door — no towing, no driving across town, no waiting at a shop. We work on everything from standard door knob locks to heavy-duty mortise locks, and we confirm an exact up-front price before a single pin is touched. If you need same-day service or you're dealing with an unexpected home lockout, call (830) 335-5188 right now — we answer every hour of every day.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Castroville, we reach the Castroville area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
What Home Lock Rekeying Actually Does (and Why It Beats a Full Lock Change)
When a locksmith rekeys a lock, they disassemble the cylinder and replace the internal pin tumblers with a new set that matches a freshly cut key — rendering every previously existing key permanently useless. The lock hardware itself, including the deadbolt body, strike plate, and any mortise lock cartridge, stays exactly where it is. That distinction matters: a mortise lock is a precision-machined component set into the door edge, and pulling it out unnecessarily adds labor and door preparation costs that simply aren't required when the existing hardware is in good condition. Rekeying accomplishes the same security goal at a fraction of the disruption.
A full home lock change makes sense when hardware is visibly worn, damaged, or you want to upgrade to a higher-security grade — for example, swapping a basic door knob lock for a Grade 1 Schlage deadbolt with a reinforced strike. But if your locks are mechanically sound and you simply need to invalidate old keys after a move, a tenant departure, or a lost key incident, rekeying is the smarter call. Our technicians assess each door individually and give you an honest recommendation — we're not here to upsell hardware you don't need.
When to Schedule Home Lock Rekeying in Castroville
Several situations make rekeying urgent rather than optional. Moving into any previously owned home — whether it's a historic property near Alsatian Street or a newer build in the subdivisions east of town — means you have zero visibility into how many key copies the previous owners made over the years. Real estate agents, contractors, housekeepers, and family members may all have had access. A rekey closes that chapter completely. Similarly, if a key goes missing and you're unsure whether it was lost or taken, waiting is a gamble. The same applies after a home lockout situation is resolved using a spare or emergency entry — it's the right moment to evaluate whether the existing keying still makes sense for your household.
Other common triggers include a roommate or relationship change, the end of a rental arrangement, or a recent break-in attempt even if entry wasn't gained. Castroville is a close-knit community, but no neighborhood is entirely immune to opportunistic crime. Rekeying all exterior doors — front entry, back door, side garage entry, and any mortise lock on a French or double door — as a single job means every lock is keyed identically to one master key, eliminating the fumbling-for-the-right-key problem entirely. Call (830) 335-5188 to schedule a same-day appointment or to get answers before you book.
Our Home Lock Rekeying Process: Mortise Lock, Deadbolt, and Door Knob Lock Service
Every job starts with a walk-around of your exterior doors. Our technician identifies each lock type — whether that's a standard Kwikset deadbolt, a Schlage B-series, a mortise lock (common on older Castroville homes with their thick historic door frames), or a multi-point locking system — and confirms what's needed before any work begins. You'll receive a clear, itemized quote covering labor, any replacement pins or parts, and any after-hours or travel considerations specific to your address. Only after you approve do we begin.
The rekeying itself is clean and non-destructive. For a mortise lock, the cylinder is extracted from the lock body, repinned on-site using a professional pinning kit, and reinstalled with precise tolerances so the mechanism operates smoothly. For standard cylindrical deadbolts and door knob locks, the process is quicker but equally thorough. We test every rekeyed lock multiple times — both from inside and outside — before handing you the new keys. If you need multiple copies cut on the spot, we carry key blanks for most common residential profiles in our mobile unit.
Pricing Factors, 24/7 Availability, and What to Expect on a Service Call
A question we hear often is: how much does a locksmith cost in Texas, or what is a locksmith call-out fee? The honest answer is that no reputable locksmith can give a meaningful number without knowing the specifics. The factors that shape your final quote include the type and number of locks being serviced (a mortise lock involves more labor than a simple knob lock), the time of day (24 hour lock rekeying availability means our team is dispatched at 2 a.m. just as readily as at 2 p.m., and after-hours calls carry a different cost structure), your distance from our base, and whether any parts — pins, springs, new cylinders — need to be sourced from our van stock. What we commit to is transparency: the price we quote before we start is the price you pay, with no additions at the end of the job.
As for whether locksmiths need a license in Texas — the state does regulate the locksmith industry, and our technicians operate in full compliance with applicable Texas Department of Public Safety requirements. We are insured, and every technician is trained and experienced across residential, emergency locksmith, and commercial locksmith work. That means if your service call starts as a home lockout and you also want to discuss rekeying your detached garage or a commercial property nearby, we can handle it all in one visit. John Locksmiths serves Castroville homeowners, renters, landlords, and small business owners — call (830) 335-5188 any time, day or night.
Full List of Residential and Emergency Locksmith Services We Provide
Beyond home lock rekeying, our mobile team handles a wide range of lock and security needs across Castroville and Medina County. Here is a detailed breakdown of what we offer: (1) Rekeying all exterior residential doors to a single master key; (2) Mortise lock installation, repair, and cylinder replacement; (3) Deadbolt installation — single and double cylinder; (4) Door knob lock replacement and repair; (5) Smart lock and keypad lock installation and programming; (6) High-security lock upgrades (Schlage, Kwikset, and compatible brands); (7) Home lockout service — non-destructive entry using professional tools; (8) Emergency locksmith response for after-hours home lockouts; (9) Spare and duplicate key cutting on-site; (10) Master key system design for multi-door properties; (11) Lock hardware assessment after a break-in or attempted forced entry; (12) Sliding glass door lock repair and reinforcement; (13) French door and double-door multi-point lock service; (14) Garage door lock and side-entry lock rekeying; (15) Mailbox and storage lock replacement; (16) Padlock and hasp installation for outbuildings; (17) Window lock and sash lock installation; (18) Lock lubrication and preventive maintenance; (19) Misaligned door strike plate adjustment and reinforcement; (20) Commercial locksmith service — office, retail, and small business; (21) Commercial mortise lock and cylindrical lock installation; (22) Access control consultation for small businesses; (23) Eviction lock change service (with appropriate documentation); (24) Safe lock service — combination changes and lockout assistance; (25) Automotive lockout assistance and car key cutting; (26) Transponder key and key fob programming; (27) 24/7 mobile dispatch — no shop visit required, we come to your location.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a local locksmith charge for rekeying in Castroville, TX?
There's no single flat rate because the final cost depends on several variables: how many locks are being rekeyed, what type of hardware is involved (a mortise lock takes longer than a standard door knob lock), what time of day you call, how far our technician needs to travel, and whether any replacement parts are required. What John Locksmiths guarantees is a clear, all-inclusive price confirmed before any work begins — no surprise additions when the job is done. Call (830) 335-5188 for a straightforward quote based on your specific situation.
What is a locksmith call-out fee, and does John Locksmiths charge one?
A call-out fee (sometimes called a dispatch or service fee) covers the cost of sending a technician to your location — it's separate from the labor and parts involved in the actual job. Whether and how that fee is structured depends on factors like distance and time of day. We walk you through the full breakdown when you call so you understand exactly what you're agreeing to before our technician heads out. There are no hidden charges added after the fact.
Is rekeying better than a full home lock change after moving into a new house?
In most cases, yes — if the existing hardware is in good working condition. Rekeying voids every previously cut key by changing the internal pin configuration, giving you the same security outcome as a full replacement at lower cost and without disturbing the door or frame. A full home lock change is worth considering when the hardware itself is worn, outdated, or you want to upgrade the security grade. Our technicians evaluate each lock on-site and give you an honest recommendation for your specific doors.
What should I do if I'm locked out of my home before calling a locksmith?
First, check safely: try other exterior doors or windows you may have left unlocked, look for a spare key with a trusted neighbor or family member, or check whether your garage has a manual release you can access. Do not attempt to force or manipulate any lock yourself — this can cause damage that complicates entry and adds to repair costs. Once you've confirmed you're genuinely locked out, call (830) 335-5188. Our home lockout service is available 24/7, and a trained technician will reach you in Castroville as quickly as possible to get you in without unnecessary damage.
Do locksmiths need a license in Texas, and how do I know your technicians are qualified?
Yes, Texas regulates the locksmith industry through the Department of Public Safety. Our technicians operate in full compliance with state requirements. Beyond regulatory compliance, every John Locksmiths technician is trained and experienced across residential, emergency locksmith, and commercial locksmith work, and our company is insured. When our technician arrives, they will identify themselves and can explain the work they plan to do before starting anything.
Can you rekey just one door, or do all exterior doors need to be done at the same time?
You can absolutely rekey a single door — for example, just your front deadbolt after a key goes missing. However, rekeying all exterior doors in one visit is usually the smarter approach for a few reasons: it ensures every entry point is secured to the same new key (so you're not carrying multiple keys), it's more efficient since the technician is already on-site, and it eliminates the risk of forgetting an overlooked entry like a back door or garage side entry. We'll lay out your options clearly and let you decide what makes sense for your home.