Residential Locksmith Royal Oak, MI
Homes in Royal Oak run everything from original pre-war hardware in Vinsetta and Northwood to newer builds in Normandy Oaks. Whatever’s on your door, Locksmith Solutions handles the residential side of locksmith work: getting you back inside, changing what key opens your door, and fixing the hardware itself.
What We Handle
Lock rekeying. Changing the internal pin configuration so old keys stop working, without swapping the lock body.
Full lock or deadbolt replacement. For hardware that’s damaged, worn out, or being upgraded.
Smart lock installation. Setup for keypad and connected locks, done correctly the first time.
Spare key cutting. Quick, on the spot.
Broken key extraction. When a key snaps off inside the lock.
Home lockout entry, day or night.
Move-in and new-construction security checks. A walkthrough of exterior hardware when you’ve just bought a place or finished a build.
Rekey or Change the Lock?
The short version: if the lock itself still works, rekeying is almost always the cheaper fix, since only the internal pins change and the hardware stays on the door. If the housing is cracked, the mechanism has failed, or you’re switching to a different lock style entirely, that’s a full replacement. Kwikset, a major U.S. lock manufacturer, documents rekeying as a standard supported process for its pin-and-tumbler lines, so this isn’t a workaround, it’s how the hardware is designed to be serviced.
Should You Rekey After Moving In?
Most new Royal Oak homeowners do, and the reasoning is simple: there’s no way to know how many keys exist for a house someone else used to own. A past contractor, a house-sitter, or a previous tenant could still have a copy. Michigan law doesn’t require it, for either owners or landlords between tenants, but it’s a small one-time cost that closes a gap you can’t otherwise verify.
A Simple Door Upgrade Worth Knowing
Most forced-entry attempts don’t defeat the lock itself, they tear the strike plate out of the frame, because factory screws are often under an inch long. Swapping those for 3-inch screws that reach the wall stud behind the frame is a low-cost fix, and we can do it alongside any other residential work.
Sticking or Stubborn Locks
If a lock is hard to turn, it’s usually one of three things: it needs lubrication, the key is worn, or the internal pins are worn. Lock manufacturers recommend a dry graphite lubricant for a sticking keyway rather than an oil-based spray, since oil tends to attract grime and make the problem worse over time. If lubrication doesn’t fix it, the key or the lock itself likely needs attention.
Common Situations We See
| Situation | Typical Approach |
|---|---|
| Just bought a home, previous owner’s keys unknown | Rekey |
| Roommate or ex moved out, kept a key | Rekey |
| Deadbolt sticks or feels loose | Lubricate, then rekey or repair if that doesn’t fix it |
| Door frame or hardware damaged | Replace, with reinforced strike plate |
| Renovating or building a new exterior door | New installation, keyed to match existing doors on request |
A Note on Pricing
Residential jobs vary based on the lock brand, the number of doors, and whether it’s a rekey or full replacement. See our Home page for national reference ranges, or call for a fixed quote specific to your job.
Get Started
Call Locksmith Solutions Royal Oak with what’s going on, whether that’s a lockout, a rekey, or hardware that’s finally given out. You’ll get a fixed price before any technician is sent.
[See our Our Process page for what happens step by step, or our FAQ page for specific questions.]