Lock Change for Pasadena homes
Pasadena's housing stock leans heavily toward 1900s-1930s craftsman and Victorian homes with original brass and bronze hardware, and the dominant lock pattern in the neighborhood is preservation, not replacement. Long-term Pasadena owners want to keep the original look and only upgrade the mechanism. Baldwin Estate and Emtek both make modern deadbolts in unlacquered brass, oil-rubbed bronze, and antique nickel that fit standard 2-1/8 inch bores — same prep as Schlage or Kwikset, but with finishes that match restored craftsman doors.
A specific Pasadena complication: many original craftsman and Victorian doors were drilled for mortise locks (rectangular box-style locks set into the door edge) rather than the modern cylindrical bore. Restoring or rekeying an original mortise lock is locksmith work, not handyman work. Replacing it with a modern cylindrical deadbolt is straightforward but means losing the antique mechanism. The middle path is keeping the original mortise lock for the visible exterior look and adding a discreet secondary deadbolt above or below it for security — common on owner-occupied historic-zone homes.
About lock change
Lock change is the umbrella term for three different jobs that often get confused: rekeying an existing lock so old keys no longer work, swapping the entire lock hardware for a new mechanical deadbolt or knob, and converting a traditional lock to a smart lock with keypad or app entry. Each costs different money, takes different time, and protects you in slightly different ways. The right answer depends on whether the existing hardware is in good condition, whether you want backward compatibility with old keys, and whether the door has been kicked, drilled, or worn out from years of use across the Los Angeles rental market.
Read the full Lock Change guide →Pricing in Pasadena
$80–280 typical range for Pasadena jobs.
Rekey runs $80 to $180 in Los Angeles for the first lock and $15 to $40 per additional cylinder rekeyed in the same visit. Kwikset SmartKey rekeys sit at the lower end because the work is faster and no pinning kit is needed. Schlage and other non-SmartKey rekeys sit at the upper end because the cylinder has to be removed, the pins have to be cut, and a licensed locksmith is doing the work. If a rekey quote comes in under $60 for a single Schlage cylinder, ask what is included — service-call fees and key fees often get added on arrival.
Pasadena lock change FAQ
My Pasadena craftsman has an original mortise lock — can a handyman service it?+
No. Mortise locks (rectangular box-style locks set into the edge of the door) need specialty parts and a locksmith familiar with antique hardware. A handyman can replace it with a modern cylindrical deadbolt, but restoring or rekeying the original wants a locksmith. Many Pasadena owners keep the original mortise for looks and add a discreet secondary deadbolt for actual security.
What hardware brands match a 1920s Pasadena craftsman door?+
Baldwin Estate, Emtek, and Schlage's Custom line all offer modern deadbolts in unlacquered brass, oil-rubbed bronze, and antique nickel that fit standard 2-1/8 inch bores. Same prep as a basic Schlage, but with finishes that read period-correct on a restored craftsman or Victorian door. Plan $180 to $320 per door installed.
My Pasadena home is in a historic preservation overlay zone — does that affect lock work?+
Visible exterior hardware sometimes does, depending on the specific overlay. Check with the city or the local conservancy before swapping a visible original cylinder for a modern smart-lock keypad. Internal mechanism upgrades and rekeys are almost always allowed without review.
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