Rekeying & Deadbolt Installation

Rekeying is the process of reconfiguring the internal pin tumblers of your existing lock cylinder so that every old key becomes permanently useless — only the new key we cut on-site will operate the lock. It's faster than a full lock replacement and extends the life of quality hardware you may already have. For most Highland Falls homeowners, we recommend combining a rekey with a fresh inspection of every entry point: front door, back door, side garage entry, and any sliding patio door with a secondary latch. The goal isn't to sell hardware you don't need — it's to make sure the hardware you do have is actually doing its job.

Where your existing locks fall short — worn cylinders, builder-grade knob locks, or doors with no deadbolt at all — we carry and install ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 deadbolts from trusted brands like Schlage and Kwikset. A Grade 1 deadbolt is the highest residential rating available and the same standard recommended for light commercial applications. Our technicians perform all deadbolt installation work with the correct chisels, hole saws, and alignment jigs to keep your door frame clean and intact. If you've ever seen a poorly fitted deadbolt that lets daylight bleed around the strike plate, you know how much technique matters.

Not every door is built for a standard cylindrical deadbolt, and that's especially true in older Hudson Valley homes where a mortise lock was the original hardware standard. A mortise lock fits into a deep rectangular pocket cut into the door edge, integrating a latch bolt, dead bolt, and sometimes a strike mechanism into one robust unit. When a mortise lock wears out — or when a new homeowner discovers a decades-old unit with a long-lost key — our trained technicians can rekey the cylinder, replace worn components, or install a fully new mortise lock body matched to your door's existing pocket dimensions. Mortise lock work demands precision that a big-box kiosk machine simply cannot offer.

For doors that face a prying attack rather than a picking attempt, a jimmy-proof deadbolt installation is worth serious consideration. Jimmy-proof deadbolts — often called rim locks or interlocking deadbolts — mount on the interior surface of the door and interlock with a strike keeper so that the bolt can't be forced outward even with a pry bar. They're a particularly popular upgrade for apartment doors, basement entries, and any door where the frame itself is too narrow or weak for a conventional mortise or cylindrical bore. Our technicians evaluate your specific door construction before recommending any hardware, because the right lock for a solid-core steel door in a modern build is not the same as the right lock for a 1920s wood-panel door. Call (845) 286-4608 any time — we answer 24/7 and can usually dispatch a technician to Highland Falls within the hour.

Iron Locksmiths isn't a residential-only operation. If you manage a rental property, a small business on Main Street, or a facility near the USMA West Point campus, our commercial locksmith services cover mortise lock installation and maintenance, master key system setup, high-security cylinder upgrades, access control hardware, and panic bar (exit device) installation. We understand that a commercial door sees hundreds of entries per day — hardware rated for residential use will fail ahead of schedule, and a failed lock on a commercial property is both a security liability and a potential code compliance issue. Our technicians spec hardware appropriate for commercial duty cycles.

For genuine emergencies — a broken key in the cylinder, a lock that seized overnight, or a door that simply won't open — our emergency locksmith response operates around the clock, every day of the year. We know the Highland Falls area well: whether you're off Route 9W heading toward the village center or tucked into one of the residential streets that climb toward the ridge above the Hudson, we route our mobile units to reach you quickly. Ownership verification is always part of our process — we confirm you have the right to access the property before any work begins, which protects you and every resident in the community.

Several factors shape the final price of any locksmith visit: the type of lock hardware involved (a standard cylindrical deadbolt differs significantly in labor from a mortise lock or a jimmy-proof rim lock), the time of day (after-hours and overnight service carries a different rate than a standard daytime call), travel distance to your location, and the cost of any parts or hardware needed. A rekey-only visit with no new hardware is typically a different scope than a full deadbolt installation with a reinforced strike plate and door frame repair. We confirm an exact, up-front price before any work begins — no surprises on the invoice.

One question we hear often: 'How much does a local locksmith charge?' or 'What is the average call out fee for a locksmith?' — sometimes phrased as 'What is a locksmith call out fee?' or 'How much should a locksmith cost per hour?' The honest answer is that there is no single universal number, because scope varies widely. What we can promise is complete transparency: when you call (845) 286-4608, our dispatcher will gather the details of your situation and provide a clear quote you can approve before the technician touches your door. We do not operate on hidden fees or vague estimates. Similarly, people sometimes ask what locks locksmiths cannot open — the short answer is that most standard residential and commercial locks can be opened by a qualified locksmith through legitimate, non-destructive methods, though some high-security or damaged locks may require drilling as a last resort, which we'll always discuss with you first.