Frequently Asked Questions

Rekeying is almost always the more affordable option because it changes the internal pins of the lock rather than replacing the whole hardware. If your existing locks are in good shape and your goal is simply to make old keys stop working, rekeying is the smart move. Replacing makes sense when the hardware is worn or damaged, or when you want to upgrade to a higher security system. Mike will always tell you which option actually fits your situation rather than pushing the more expensive choice.

Change them before your first night. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the old key are out there with former owners, tenants, contractors, or neighbors. Most Rockville homeowners rekey every exterior door during the move, which makes every old key useless in a single visit. If the hardware is dated, it is also the cheapest moment to upgrade it.

Yes. Mike installs smart locks and keypad deadbolts across Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia, and he will tell you honestly whether a smart lock fits your door and your hardware. A smart lock is only as good as its installation, so the deadbolt, strike, and door alignment all get checked as part of the job. If a traditional high security deadbolt is the better call for your door, he will say that instead.

High security locks from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Schlage Primus are engineered to resist picking, drilling, and unauthorized key duplication. Their keys can only be copied with your authorization, which means no one makes a copy of your house key without you knowing. Mike is an authorized dealer and trained technician for all three systems, and for many Rockville homes a high security deadbolt on the main entry is the single best security upgrade available.

Labor is based on the complexity of the job, the type of lock involved, and the time required. A straightforward rekey on a standard lock takes less time than programming a smart lock or installing a high security Medeco system. What you will never get from Mike's Locksmith is a surprise: you receive a clear explanation of what the job involves and exactly what it costs before any work begins, with no dispatch fee added at your door.

Yes. In Maryland, locksmiths are required to hold a license through the Maryland Department of Labor, and Mike's Locksmith holds MD DLLR License 229 and carries full insurance on every job. Every job is also backed by a guarantee on both labor and materials, so if something is not right, it gets made right.

Yes. A campus master key program lets administration carry one key that opens what it should, while teachers and staff carry keys limited to their own rooms and areas. Mike builds master key programs for schools and campuses across Maryland, DC, and Virginia, with the system documented so it stays manageable as staff and spaces change.

On a restricted keyway system, keys cannot be copied at a hardware store or kiosk. Duplication only happens through an authorized dealer with the school's approval, and every key is accounted for. That means a lost or unreturned key is a known, limited problem instead of an unknown number of copies in circulation.

Not necessarily, and this is where system design matters. On a well built master key program, the affected doors can be re-pinned in a targeted visit rather than rekeying the campus. Mike will assess what the lost key actually opened and give you an honest scope and price before any work begins.

Yes. Mike installs and services lock hardware for classrooms, offices, and main entries, including high security cylinders from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Schlage Primus. He is an authorized dealer and trained technician for all three, and he will recommend the hardware that fits your doors and your existing key system rather than a wholesale replacement you may not need.

In most cases, yes. Campus work is commonly scheduled for after hours, weekends, and school breaks so classrooms are never disrupted and doors are never left unsecured overnight. Tell Mike your calendar constraints when you call and the work gets planned around them.

Yes. The same restricted keyway systems and master key programs serve universities, churches, synagogues, and other places of worship across Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. Any building where many people need different levels of access, and where key control actually matters, is a fit for this work.

Stay calm and call a licensed locksmith at 240-506-7500. Do not try to force entry yourself, because forcing a door commonly damages the lock, the door, or the frame and creates a more expensive problem than the lockout. Mike's Locksmith provides emergency lockout service across Maryland and DC, and Mike will respond promptly and give you an honest estimate when you call.

Most standard residential lockouts take between 10 and 30 minutes depending on the lock type and the situation. High security locks take longer by design, and commercial lockouts involving access control or complex hardware may require additional time. Either way, you will know the price before the work starts, not after.

Yes, in most cases. A trained, licensed locksmith can open the vast majority of residential and commercial locks using professional non-destructive techniques, and Mike carries the tools and training to handle lockouts quickly and without unnecessary damage. In rare cases involving a severely damaged lock, drilling may be the only option, but that is always a last resort and will be discussed with you before any destructive method is used.

In most cases, yes. Once Mike has you back inside, he can rekey the lock or cut a new key on site so you are not left with a door that any found key can open. For Rockville homeowners, the common move after a lost key is a same-visit rekey, which makes the lost key useless and hands you a fresh set.

Yes. Broken key extraction is a routine call. The important part is to stop turning and pushing the key before the fragment gets wedged deeper, and do not try glue or improvised tools, which usually make the extraction harder. Mike can remove the broken piece, check the lock for damage, and cut a replacement key during the same visit.

Mike's Locksmith is based in Rockville and serves Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Howard County, Frederick County, and Anne Arundel County, plus Washington DC and parts of Northern Virginia, including Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Germantown, Kensington, Wheaton, and Takoma Park. Service availability can vary by location and job type, so call 240-506-7500 to confirm coverage where you are.