Commercial Rekey NYC — All Old Keys Dead
Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing cylinders so every old key stops working — same hardware, new keys, fraction of the cost of a full lock change. Businesses call us after terminations, lease turnovers, and lost master keys. In April we replaced an interchangeable core for a client who needed an instant security reset — photographed on our recent jobs page. Sunny Locksmith rekeys offices, retail, and multi-tenant buildings across NYC under License #2096389-DCA. Call (917) 495-1990.
When Rekey Beats Replacement
If the hardware is healthy and the problem is who holds keys, rekey. A fired employee, a departed tenant, a contractor who never returned the spare — rekeying stops their keys working without buying new lock bodies. When a rekey is enough, we say so, even though it is the smaller ticket.
The April IC Core Job
Interchangeable cores take rekeying further: swap the core with a control key, no hardware comes off the door. The IC core replacement we documented in April is the pattern for businesses with regular turnover — property managers keep control keys and a stack of fresh cores.
Master Keys and Partial Rekeys
When a sub-master walks off, you rekey the doors that key opened — not necessarily the whole building — if we have the keying chart. That is why we keep records on systems we build; see master key systems. No chart from a previous installer? We can reverse-engineer the system, but it costs more — another reason to document from day one.
Commercial Rekey vs. Lock Change
Rekey when cylinders are sound. Change locks when hardware is worn, broken, or below Grade 1 for the traffic it sees — like the failed Adams Rite at 116th St & Broadway in Morningside Heights this June. Upgrading to high-security cylinders during a rekey is the natural moment to fix key control long-term.
What We Rekey
Office mortise locks, storefront deadlatches, leversets, padlock hasps with interchangeable cores, and mailbox banks in lobbies. We key multiple doors alike so one key runs your suite, or build a hierarchy so the owner carries one key and staff keys open exactly what they should. Urgent post-termination rekeys get priority — tell dispatch if a master key is missing and we prioritize the affected doors.
After a Break-In or Lockout
If someone entered with an old key, rekey every cylinder they could have touched — not just the one door they used. Pair rekeying with hardware upgrades on doors that were forced: new strike plates, latch guards, heavier leversets. The East Village business lock change at St. Marks Place & 2nd Ave in April was a full reset; rekey would not have been enough on that hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can you rekey our office after firing someone?
Urgent rekeys get priority dispatch, including IC-core systems. Tell us if a master key is involved so we rekey every door that key opened, not just the front entry.
Can you rekey without replacing the locks?
Yes — that is the definition of rekey. We change the internal pins so old keys fail and cut new keys to match. Hardware stays on the door.
What are interchangeable cores?
IC cores let you swap the cylinder with a control key — no disassembly. Ideal for high turnover. We installed one in April; ask for IC if employee churn is your pattern.
Should we rekey or upgrade to high-security?
Rekey solves lost keys today. If copies can be made at any hardware store, pair the rekey with Medeco or Mul-T-Lock cylinders so the problem does not repeat next month. We quote both options.