ChinatownCA · neighbourhood
A key problem.
A clear place to start.
Locked out, moving in or dealing with a broken key? Explore opening, rekeying and repair options, with the details to have ready when you call.
(628) 338-5171Find your service ↓
THE DETAILS MATTER.LET’S MAKE THIS SIMPLE
What’s keeping you out?
One choice gets you to the relevant service.
No long form between you and a conversation.
A PLACE TO START
Home Lockout Service
You are standing outside your own place — key lost, left inside, or turning without catching — and nothing you try moves the bolt.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
A PLACE TO START
Lock Rekeying
New home, departed flatmate, contractor with a copy — the locks are fine, but you no longer know who holds keys to them.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
A PLACE TO START
Car Key Replacement
The vehicle key is missing or no longer works. Have the make, model, year and any remaining keys ready for assessment.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
A PLACE TO START
Smart Lock Installation
You want keyless entry, codes for guests or cleaners, and a log of who came in — without the lock becoming the least reliable thing you own.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
Every lock has
a way forward.
Start with what’s happening. We’ll help you find the right kind of work, from a stubborn front door to a missing car key.
Explore all services↗7 SERVICES
Emergency & Lockouts
Locked out, key snapped, lock seized or forced — the calls that cannot wait for a calendar, opened without drama and secured before the van leaves.
↗7 SERVICES
Home Locks & Rekeying
Rekeying, deadbolts, mortise cases and smart hardware for existing home entrances.
↗7 SERVICES
Car Keys & Vehicle Locks
Replacement keys, fobs and transponders cut and programmed at the kerb, plus the ignition and vehicle lock work that dealers send out anyway.
↗7 SERVICES
Commercial & Safes
Master key systems, access control, exit hardware and safe work for shops, offices and buildings that cannot afford a lock nobody controls.
THE WORK, UP CLOSE
See the details.
Find your service.
SEE HOW IT WORKS
The moving parts.
A closer look.
Explore the illustrated system and the components behind the service.
Illustrative photographyA MORE CONSIDERED APPROACH
Keep the character.
Change the key.
An older lock isn’t automatically a bad lock. Rekeying changes who can enter without replacing working hardware. For a worn mechanism, a careful repair may be the right place to start.
Explore rekeyingFROM FIRST QUESTION TO NEXT STEP
Know what
happens next.
Tell us the lock type, your location and whether you still have a working key.
- 01
Tell us what happened
Locked out, moving in or replacing a lost key? Start there.
- 02
Agree on the work
Ask for the callout cost, proposed method and full scope before work starts.
- 03
Check it together
Try the new keys and confirm the door locks and latches correctly.
Chinatown
Start with your address.
Find the service you need, then confirm the work and availability for your property.
LOCAL RESEARCH / Chinatown
Building history
The area rebuilt on its original site after 1906, and some buildings reused original brick; its historic fabric includes many early post-earthquake structures.
Source ↗Housing context
The Chinatown Area Plan describes predominantly low, small-scale buildings, with many buildings relatively short in depth because of the lot pattern. This describes the district’s built form, not the equipment or condition of an individual property.
Source ↗Local exposure
The City identifies Chinatown as comparatively sunny and sheltered from wind, rather than treating it as a typical fog-exposed district.
Source ↗Local context
The plan records more than 250 historically or architecturally important early post-earthquake buildings, so preservation-sensitive work is a realistic consideration.
Source ↗Planning your work
San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection publishes step-by-step instructions for over-the-counter permits on exterior residential projects. Its list of work that needs plans includes residential security gates at entry doors and window security bars, grills and grates. If the conversation moves from a lock to a fixed security installation, ask whether a building permit application is involved before work is scheduled. Confirm the address and the proposed installation with the department; this reference does not decide what an individual property requires.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
CLOSE TO HOME
Chinatown.
And your corner of it.
Find the service information for your area. Confirm your address and appointment availability when you call.
Explore all areas
A LITTLE CLARITY
Good questions.
Straight answers.
Can a lock be rekeyed instead of replaced?
Often, if the existing hardware is in good condition and the keyway is suitable. Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys stop working. A damaged mechanism may need repair or replacement.
What information helps with a car key request?
Have the vehicle make, model, year and your location ready. Say whether every key is lost or you need a spare. Ownership needs to be verified before key work.
Will opening the door damage the lock?
The appropriate opening method depends on the hardware and its condition. Ask what method is proposed and whether any replacement will be needed before authorizing work.