Frequently Asked Questions

First, stay safe. If it's cold or wet, typical for a Tacoma evening, wait in your car or a neighbor's house while you call us. The first thing we do is confirm that you have a legal right to enter the property, then we'll quote the lockout price over the phone. We'll ask for the address and a description of the lock, then dispatch a local tech who will pick or bypass the lock without damaging the door if possible. Most residential lockouts in the Tacoma area are resolved without drilling. Call (855) 382-0943 and we'll get you inside.

In most cases, yes. Rekeying means changing the internal pins so the old key no longer works, and the lock hardware itself stays in place. It works well on Schlage, Kwikset, and most standard residential locks installed in Tacoma homes. The only time we recommend replacing hardware instead is when the lock is worn out, corroded from Puget Sound moisture, or damaged from an attempted break-in. If the hardware is in good shape, rekeying takes about 15 to 20 minutes per lock. It's the most cost-effective way to reset access after moving in or losing a key.

Most residential jobs in Tacoma are finished within 30 to 60 minutes. A basic lockout is often resolved in 15 to 20 minutes. Rekeying three or four locks takes 45 minutes to an hour. A deadbolt replacement is usually under an hour. Commercial work, master key systems, or high-security Medeco and Abloy installations take longer because they require more precise measuring and assembly, and those are scheduled in advance. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when you call, and we'll keep you updated if anything changes.

For most residential work, yes. We need someone over 18 to verify that you have authority to enter the property, and we need access to the locks being serviced. The only exception is when a property owner has made prior arrangements with us for a rental unit or a business location, and that requires documentation on file. For emergency lockouts, you'll need to be present with ID. For commercial work in Tacoma neighborhoods like Fife or University Place, a manager or owner can authorize the work and we'll coordinate access based on your schedule.

We serve Tacoma and the surrounding South Sound communities, including Browns Point, Fircrest, Fife, Fife Heights, Waller, University Place, Milton, Wollochet, Edgewood, Lakeland South, and Federal Way. If you're unsure whether you're in our service area, call (855) 382-0943 and tell us your cross streets. Most of our work is in Pierce County and the southern King County line. We're local to the Tacoma area and dispatch based on your location, not from a distant call center.

We work with all the major residential and commercial brands you'll find in Tacoma: Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Abloy for high-security commercial work, plus most standard builder-grade hardware. Schlage and Kwikset are the most common in single-family homes, especially in older Tacoma neighborhoods where original hardware was installed decades ago. Medeco and Abloy are typically found in commercial applications, schools, and government buildings that require restricted keyways. We can rekey, repair, or replace any of them. Bring us the make and model and we'll tell you what's possible.

Either works, but there are two things to consider. If you buy your own locks, we can install them, but we can't warranty parts we didn't supply. If we supply the hardware, we source from familiar wholesalers, typically Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, or Abloy depending on the job, and we stand behind the parts. The labor warranty is the same either way. Many Tacoma homeowners pick up a deadbolt at a local hardware store, and that's perfectly fine. Just avoid cheap off-brand cylinders from unknown sources; they wear quickly in our damp climate.

For commercial properties, medical offices, schools, and any business that restricts access to sensitive areas, yes. Medeco and Abloy cylinders resist picking and unauthorized key duplication in ways standard Schlage and Kwikset locks don't. The key control alone saves money if you've ever had an ex-employee or former tenant make copies. For a typical Tacoma home, a solid Schlage or Kwikset deadbolt with a reinforced strike plate is usually enough. High-security hardware is specialized equipment and we can walk you through the cost-benefit based on your actual building and threat level.

Yes. We can originate a key from the lock itself, a technique that works on most pin-tumbler locks including Schlage, Kwikset, and many commercial cylinders. It takes a bit longer than cutting a duplicate because the lock has to be decoded, but it's a standard service. This is useful when you've lost all keys to a shed, a rental unit, or an old desk. For high-security Medeco or Abloy cylinders, key origination is restricted and usually requires proof of ownership and authorization. Call (855) 382-0943 with the lock's brand and we'll tell you what's possible.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance that their state requires. We verify credentials before anyone is dispatched to your Tacoma property. Locksmith training covers lock mechanisms, key cutting, entry techniques, and code compliance, and we expect the people we work with to maintain those standards. Insurance protects both you and us if something unexpected happens during a job. If you ever want to verify coverage or licensing for a specific technician, call our office and we'll provide what's required.

Ask for a physical business address, ask to see their license and insurance, and be wary of anyone who won't give you a clear price before starting work. Washington State has specific licensing requirements for locksmiths, and a legitimate operation will tell you who they are and where they're based. Look for a company that's been serving the Tacoma area consistently, not just a phone number with no local presence. We've been in this business since 2012 and we answer the same questions every day. The best test is a phone call: a real locksmith quotes real numbers and answers real questions.

We require the licensing and insurance standards set by state law for every pro working under our name. That's the baseline, not a bonus. Locksmiths work inside people's homes and around their security, so we take vetting seriously. When you call (855) 382-0943, a live coordinator confirms your location and connects you with the local team, and you'll know who's coming before they arrive. If you've been burned before by a company that sent someone with no ID and no paperwork, that's exactly what we're built to avoid.

We offer same-day service during our business hours: Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. We're closed on Saturdays. If you're locked out during those hours, call (855) 382-0943 and we'll get a local tech to you as quickly as the schedule allows. We don't pretend to be a 24/7 operation because we'd rather be honest about when we can actually show up. For genuine after-hours emergencies, we recommend having a plan: a spare key with a trusted neighbor, or a keypad lock with a backup code.

A true emergency is being locked out of a running car with a child or pet inside, a break-in that left a door or lock damaged and the property unsecured, or a lock failure that prevents you from securing your home or business. A squeaky lock or a key that's hard to turn is a maintenance issue, not an emergency. If you're in an active emergency during our business hours, call (855) 382-0943 and explain the situation clearly. We prioritize calls involving safety risks. If you're outside our hours, secure the space as best you can and contact local authorities if there's an active threat.

In most cases, yes. Modern vehicles have lock mechanisms and electronic systems that require specific tools and careful technique. The Tacoma area has everything from older pickups to late-model imports, and the approach varies by make and model. A trained automotive locksmith can usually open the door without scratching paint or damaging weather stripping, but some newer vehicles with advanced security are harder than older ones. The honest answer is we'll try the least invasive method first and tell you before doing anything that might leave a mark. Call (855) 382-0943 with your vehicle's year and make.

Secure the property first. If the door won't latch or the deadbolt won't engage, you're vulnerable until it's fixed. We can replace or repair the damaged hardware, and if the break-in compromised your keys, we can rekey the remaining locks so old keys no longer work. Homeowners across Tacoma, from Fife to University Place, deal with this after attempted burglaries. We'll assess the door, the frame, and the strike plate, and we'll tell you what's actually needed. You can also file a police report for insurance purposes; we can provide documentation of the work we do.

Yes. We stand behind the parts we supply and the labor we perform. If a lock we installed or rekeyed fails due to faulty installation or a defective part, we'll make it right. Hardware we supply is covered under the manufacturer's warranty as well. If you bought your own parts, we can't warranty those, but our labor guarantee still applies. Tacoma's damp climate is hard on metal hardware, and we choose products that hold up to it. If something doesn't feel right after we leave, call us. We'd rather fix it than have you not call.

The parts we supply and the installation work we perform are covered. If a lock we installed fails under normal use because of a defect or bad installation, we'll repair or replace it. Normal wear, attempted break-ins, and modifications by others aren't covered, but we'll still give you an honest assessment and a fair price on the repair. For high-security Medeco and Abloy hardware, the manufacturer's warranty covers their cylinders and keys per their own terms. We'll explain exactly what's covered in writing when we do the job. That's the standard we've held since 2012.

For most quality-of-life repairs, like a sticking deadbolt or a loose knob, you can try a DIY fix if you're comfortable with basic tools. But anything involving the internal cylinder, key cutting, or electronic locking systems is best left to a professional. A botched rekey can leave you with a lock that only works sometimes, and a poorly installed strike plate is a break-in waiting to happen. Lockout entry techniques, especially on cars, require skill and the right tools, and forcing a door can cost far more than a service call. The smart play is calling someone who does this every day.

For rekeying, deadbolt replacement, and lock upgrades in Tacoma, a day or two of notice usually works. For larger jobs like master key systems, access control, or commercial door hardware in buildings around Fife or Lakeland South, we recommend scheduling at least a week ahead. That gives us time to order any specialty hardware and coordinate with your building's schedule. Emergency lockouts and urgent repairs are same-day during our business hours when the schedule allows. Call (855) 382-0943 and describe the job; we'll give you a realistic timeline.

Written by the team at Lodestar Locksmith, serving Tacoma and the South Sound since 2012.