Residential locks
Rekeys after a move, stiff deadbolts, new keyed or keypad hardware, mailbox locks and patio doors that no longer latch.
Residential workBerkeley, CA · lock & key work
A locksmith line for Berkeley, catalogued by the door
Homes, cars, shops and the odd stubborn safe, from the flats by the bay to the streets under Grizzly Peak. Call, describe the lock, hear the price first.
- Price quoted before work starts
- Ask for ID and a written estimate
- Cards accepted
01 Services
Four shelves of lock work
Most calls fall on one of four shelves. Pick the one that matches your problem; each page explains what the job usually involves and how the price is worked out.
Automotive keys
Car lockouts, cut and programmed keys, chip keys and fobs, broken keys pulled from doors and ignitions that stopped turning.
Automotive work
Commercial locks
Shop and office doors, master key plans, panic bars, closers, cabinet locks and rekeys when an employee hands back keys.
Commercial work
Emergency lockouts
Locked out, key snapped, lock forced or tampered with. Call, say where you are, and ask about current availability.
Emergency help02 Procedure
How a call is handled
Describe the lock
Door, car or safe; brand if you can see one; the cross street. Photos help when you text.
Hear the estimate
The dispatcher reads you the minimum from the price list and explains what can push it up.
Check the contractor
When the locksmith arrives, ask for ID and a written estimate before any drilling or cutting.
Pay the contractor
You are invoiced by, and pay, the independent contractor who did the work. Cards are accepted.
03 Coupons
Six coupons on the circulation desk
Mention a coupon when you call and show it to the locksmith when they arrive. One coupon per job unless the contractor says otherwise.
10% DISCOUNT
ON ANY LOCKSMITH SERVICE
Coupon Must be Presented to the Technician
Mention this coupon when you call 510-964-3239.
15% DISCOUNT
MOVE-IN SPECIAL
Moved into a new house?
Changing your locks is a priority
Coupon Must be Presented to the Technician
Mention this coupon when you call 510-964-3239.
10% DISCOUNT
FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS
On any Locksmith Services
Coupon Must be Presented to the Technician
Mention this coupon when you call 510-964-3239.
15% DISCOUNT
SENIOR CITIZEN
For all services by displaying senior citizen certificate
Coupon Must be Presented to the Technician
Mention this coupon when you call 510-964-3239.
20% DISCOUNT
KEY EXTRACTION
On any car Locksmith Services
Coupon Must be Presented to the Technician
Mention this coupon when you call 510-964-3239.
15% DISCOUNT
SPECIAL OFFER
On any purchased locks, deadbolts, etc...
Coupon Must be Presented to the Technician
Mention this coupon when you call 510-964-3239.
04 Service areas
Neighborhood shelves
Ten pages cover the ZIP codes this line answers for, each written about the streets and buildings in it, not pasted from a template.
05 Housing stock
Berkeley doors are older than their locks
A lot of the city was built between the 1890s and the 1930s. Brown-shingle houses, stucco bungalows, Mission-revival fourplexes and Victorians cut into flats all carry doors that have been drilled, filled and re-drilled for a century of hardware.
That history matters on a service call. A new deadbolt may need a backset the old door cannot give. A mortise lock from 1915 may be worth repairing rather than replacing. Ask before anyone reaches for the drill.
06 Questions
Questions people ask first
Is this a shop I can walk into?
No. The dispatch area is Berkeley, CA 94707 and the work is mobile. A contractor comes to the door, car or office.
How is the price set?
The price list gives minimum amounts, plus a $29.00 service call fee. The locksmith confirms the total on site before starting, and you can decline.
Do you open locks without proof I live there?
Expect to be asked for ID or something that ties you to the address or vehicle. That question protects you as much as anyone.
What hours does the line keep?
The listed hours are Monday through Sunday, All day. Whether a contractor is free right now depends on the night, so call and ask.
07 Callback
Leave a slip for a call back
08 Reading room
From the reading room
Why rekey the locks when you move?
Old keys stay out in the world long after the people holding them move on. A rekey makes them useless without replacing the hardware.
Read the article
Lock emergencies, and what to do first
Forced locks, dead smart locks, lost keys and locked safes, in the order people tend to panic about them.
Read the article
Reading locksmith ads without being fooled
Slogans are free to print. Prices, ID and written estimates are what separate a sensible job from a bad one.
Read the article