A Historical House Rekeying: An Intricate Process

Your home in Denver is historic and you want to keep every detail as original and authentic as possible. When it comes to maintenance and repairs, you want the locksmith team you hire to understand the importance of keeping certain details intact. If you need rekey locks, nobody understands your priorities like Alibaba Locksmith.

In this post we will look in more detail at how we can re-introduce locks in historic houses without damaging the locks or having to upgrade them to new ones. You will of course receive a new key, but it will be in a style that matches the culture of your home. If you need a locksmith to repair or re-lock locks in your historic or modern home in the Denver area, do not hesitate to contact us.

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STEP ONE: DELETE THE LOCK

When we have to re-enter old locks at historic houses, the easiest way to ensure that the new key fits is to completely remove the lock. This is because historical locks have a variety of components that the key must be compatible to work and keep your home safe.

As locksmiths with experience in dealing with historic locks, we can safely disassemble and remove a historic lock from your home without damaging it or the door. Although you may be tempted to do this part yourself, it is safe and easy to let our team of experienced locksmiths do the work from start to finish.

STEP TWO: ASSEMBLY OF THE KEY TIP

When you mount a key on a historic lock, the tip must fit in the opening slot and be able to turn. If we have an empty key with a dot that fits perfectly in the keyhole, all we have to do is make notches in the bit so that it can process the bolt and sections in the lock.

It is important not to push the key tip into the keyhole as this can damage both the key and the lock, leading to a longer re-key process and more repairs. Alibaba Locksmiths know how to see if a key tip fits into a keyhole and how to adjust the key if not. Trust our dedicated team to ensure that your new keys match your historic locks perfectly. 

STEP THREE: PLACING THE KEY BIT ON THE KEY HOLE

If the bit is too long for the keyhole, we grind it to the perfect length so that it fits but is not too short to throw the bolt. When measuring how long the bit should be, it is important to note that the key must protrude the other end of the lock. We can measure exactly how long the bit must be to fit in the slot and we can smoothly grind the bit so that it has no serrated edges that could damage the slot.

STEP FOUR: MOUNTING THE BIT IN THE SLOTKOFFER

The length of the bit must also be adjusted to fit into the housing of the lock. If the bit is too long, it cannot turn. If it is too short, it cannot turn the bolt and may even get stuck in the lock.

We use specialized tools to adjust the length of the bit so that it fits perfectly in the lock case. Our locksmiths know how to measure keys to fit in different historic locks, so contact us today if you need locks in your historic Denver home again.

STEP FIVE: THE BOLT WORKS

The next step in re-entering a historical lock is to ensure that the new key can turn in both directions and operate the latch. When the key turns inside the lock, it must push the lever out of the way and retract the bolt. A key can get stuck here because it sticks to the bolt.

To solve this, we make a notch in the bottom of the bit. This allows the key to turn easily in both directions.

STEP SIX: CUT OUT BIT

For the key to work, it must be squeezed to fit the small bumps called departments into the lock case. These appropriate designations are made to ward off intruders and to prevent false keys from retracting the bolt. To ensure that your new key fits, notches must be placed in the key bit so that it can go over the departments.

Our locksmiths bring the key in line with the departments to see where notches should be placed on both sides of the bit. We then file those notches carefully to ensure that the key can turn smoothly in the lock and fits into the departments.

STEP SEVEN: TESTING THE KEY

After the key has been cut to fit the different parts of the lock, we test it to make sure that everything fits perfectly, the key turns smoothly, and more importantly the key can turn the bolt on and off.

We turn the key in different directions to ensure that the key works perfectly with the lock.

STEP EIGHT: MOUNT THE LOCK AGAIN

Once we have determined that your new key works with your historical lock, the final step is to reassemble and replace the lock. We ensure that the lock is dusted and lubricated so that no external factors affect your ability to lock and unlock your door. As we reassemble the lock, we test the key to ensure that everything still works seamlessly before the lock on your door is replaced.

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The process of tinkering locks in a historic home may seem annoying and meticulous, but our locksmiths at Alibaba Locksmith are passionate about creating beautiful keys for historic homes in the Denver area. We appreciate the history and culture of your older home, so contact our team if you want to re-lock your home but don't want to get rid of your original locking mechanisms.