Door Knob & Deadbolt Replacement
Your entry door is the first line of defense between your home and the rest of St. Augustine — whether you're off the tourist trail in Lincolnville, steps from the Castillo de San Marcos, or tucked into a quiet neighborhood off U.S. 1. A worn door knob lock, a deadbolt that sticks, or aging hardware that no longer latches cleanly isn't just an inconvenience — it's an open invitation. Augustine Locksmith Pro installs, replaces, and upgrades door hardware on residential and commercial entry doors across the St. Augustine area, arriving fully equipped so the work gets done on-site, on your schedule.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
We operate as a true 24/7 mobile service — our trained, insured technicians come directly to your address with the hardware, tools, and experience needed to handle everything from a standard door knob with lock and key replacement to a full mortise lock installation. Before any work begins, we confirm an exact up-front price so there are never surprises on your invoice. Whether you need a same-day swap after a break-in attempt or a planned upgrade to a smart lock door knob system, one call connects you to a real person around the clock.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in St. Augustine, we reach the St. Augustine area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
Door Knob & Deadbolt Replacement: What the Job Actually Involves
Replacing a door knob lock sounds straightforward until you're staring at a door that was pre-hung in 1987 with a non-standard backset, misaligned strike plate, or reinforced steel frame. Our technicians assess the door prep first — measuring the backset distance, checking the door thickness, and confirming the bore-hole diameter — before selecting compatible hardware. For most residential entry doors, we work with keyed entry knobs paired with a separate single-cylinder deadbolt above, which remains the most common and recognizable configuration in St. Augustine's historic and newer construction alike.
On older properties — particularly the wood-framed homes found throughout the West Augustine and Fullerwood neighborhoods — we frequently encounter mortise lock assemblies recessed into a pocket cut into the door edge itself. A mortise lock combines the latch, deadbolt, and sometimes a privacy lever into a single steel cartridge, offering superior strength compared to a bored cylindrical lock. Replacing or servicing a mortise lock requires a different skill set than swapping a standard knob, which is why having a locksmith experienced with mortise lock systems matters on older St. Augustine doors.
Upgrade Options: From Keypad Lock Door Knobs to Mortise Lock Systems
Modern hardware has expanded well beyond the traditional keyed knob. Homeowners and property managers today frequently ask about a keypad lock door knob — a unit that replaces the mechanical key cylinder with a programmable PIN pad, eliminating the need to carry or duplicate physical keys. These work particularly well for short-term rental properties common throughout the St. Augustine Beach and historic district corridors, where guests change frequently. A smart lock door knob takes the concept further, adding Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity so access codes can be issued and revoked remotely through a smartphone app.
For exterior doors that see heavy use or demand higher security ratings, a double lock door knob — meaning a knob-and-deadbolt combination where both components require keyed operation from the outside — provides layered protection. We also install and replace mortise lock sets with lever handles rather than knobs, which meet ADA-accessibility requirements and are increasingly specified on commercial entry doors. Whatever configuration fits your door and your lifestyle, our technicians arrive with a curated inventory of hardware so we can complete most installations in a single visit without ordering special parts.
**Our door knob and deadbolt services include, but are not limited to:** 1. Residential door knob lock replacement (single-family homes) 2. Deadbolt installation on new or existing doors 3. Mortise lock replacement and repair 4. Mortise lock cartridge re-keying 5. Single-cylinder deadbolt installation 6. Double-cylinder deadbolt installation 7. Keypad lock door knob installation and programming 8. Smart lock door knob setup and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth pairing 9. Double lock door knob installation 10. Grade 1 commercial-grade deadbolt upgrades 11. Entry knob re-keying (without full hardware replacement) 12. Strike plate reinforcement and upgrade 13. Door frame repair after forced entry 14. Antique and vintage mortise lock servicing 15. Lever handle lock installation (ADA-compliant) 16. Keyless entry system installation for rental properties 17. Multi-point locking system installation on European-style doors 18. Door knob with lock for bedroom privacy sets 19. Commercial locksmith door hardware installation 20. Emergency locksmith lockout response (door knobs and deadbolts) 21. Master key system setup across multiple doors 22. High-security lock cylinder upgrades (restricted keyway) 23. Schlage and Kwikset hardware supply and installation 24. Door hardware consultation and security assessment 25. After-hours and weekend lock replacement service across the St. Augustine area
Locked Out, Lost Your Key, or Moving Into a New Place? Here's What to Do First
If you find yourself locked out of your home, the first step — before anything else — is to check for a spare key with a neighbor, family member, or property manager, or to see whether a back door, garage entry, or window you intentionally left unlocked provides safe access. Never attempt to pick or bypass a lock yourself: beyond the very real risk of damaging the lock cylinder, door finish, or door frame, the techniques circulated online rarely account for the damage they cause and can leave you worse off than when you started. A trained locksmith uses precision tools and reads the specific lock in front of them — it is not a generalizable skill that translates from a video tutorial.
If you're moving into a new home anywhere in St. Augustine — whether it's a condo off Anastasia Boulevard or a bungalow near the St. Augustine Amphitheatre — re-keying or fully replacing the locks before you move your belongings in is one of the highest-value security steps you can take. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the previous owner's key are floating around. Our mobile team can arrive the same day, re-key every entry door to a new common key, and replace any hardware that's worn or below current security standards. For business owners who need a commercial locksmith to address multi-door office or retail spaces, we bring the same same-day responsiveness with hardware rated for high-traffic commercial use. Call (904) 585-2997 and we'll confirm an arrival window right away.
Understanding Locksmith Pricing: What Affects Your Quote
A question we hear constantly is some variation of 'What is the average call-out fee for a locksmith?' or 'How much does a locksmith cost in Florida?' — and the honest answer is that no single number applies to every job. What is a locksmith call-out fee? It is a base charge that covers the technician's travel to your location, separate from any labor or parts. Several factors shape the total: the type and grade of lock hardware being installed or replaced (a mortise lock costs more to source and install than a basic passage knob), the time of day (our emergency locksmith response at 2 a.m. on a holiday reflects real after-hours overhead), your distance from our nearest technician, and whether new hardware is needed or we're working with existing parts.
Some callers ask, 'How much should a locksmith cost per hour?' — but most residential lock replacements are quoted as flat-rate jobs rather than hourly, because the scope is defined and predictable once we assess the door. You won't find us using vague ranges on this page or over the phone; instead, when you call, the technician will ask a few quick questions, give you a firm price before traveling to you, and that number is what you pay. There are no hidden fees added after the job is complete. The old marketing phrase 'pop a lock' refers colloquially to opening a locked vehicle or door without the original key — but real locksmith work, done correctly, is methodical and precise, not a quick trick. Protecting your door hardware from damage during a service call is something our technicians take seriously on every job.
Why Augustine Locksmith Pro for Door Knob & Deadbolt Replacement St. Augustine
We are a genuinely local, mobile operation — not a national dispatch center routing your call to an unknown contractor. Every technician on our team is trained and insured, familiar with the door construction styles common to St. Augustine's blend of historic Victorian homes, mid-century masonry construction, and modern coastal builds. That local familiarity means we're not guessing at hardware compatibility or door prep dimensions when we arrive at your address.
Whether you need a routine door knob with lock swap on a rental property, an emergency deadbolt replacement after a break-in attempt, a mortise lock overhaul on a historic home, or a full commercial locksmith door-hardware upgrade for a business on San Marco Avenue, we show up equipped to handle it in one visit. Our 24/7 availability means the call is answered at midnight just the same as at noon. Reach us anytime at (904) 585-2997 — tell us what's happening and we'll confirm your up-front price and dispatch a technician to you.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to what our customers ask most. Still unsure? Just call.
What is the difference between re-keying and full door knob & deadbolt replacement?+
Re-keying changes the internal pin configuration inside your existing lock cylinder so old keys no longer work — the hardware itself stays in place. Full replacement means removing the entire door knob lock or deadbolt assembly and installing new hardware. Re-keying is typically the right call when the hardware is in good condition and you simply want new keys (for example, after moving into a new home). Replacement makes more sense when the lock is worn, damaged, or you want to upgrade to a higher security grade, a keypad lock door knob, or a smart lock system.
What is a locksmith call-out fee, and what affects my total cost?+
A call-out fee is the base charge for a technician to travel to your location — it exists separately from labor and parts costs. For any door knob or deadbolt job in the St. Augustine area, your total quote reflects: the type of lock (standard cylindrical knob, high-security deadbolt, mortise lock, or keypad/smart lock), the time of day the work is performed, travel distance, and whether we supply new hardware or work with what's on the door. We provide a confirmed, flat price before any work begins so you know exactly what you're agreeing to.
Can you open my door without damaging the lock if I'm locked out?+
In most cases, yes. Our trained technicians prioritize non-destructive entry — reading the lock and using the appropriate method for that specific hardware — to preserve the door, frame, and lock cylinder. Damage-free entry is the goal on every lockout call. If the lock is severely damaged or the situation requires it, we'll explain the situation and your options before proceeding. We never proceed with destructive techniques without your knowledge and consent. If you're locked out right now, call (904) 585-2997 — we answer 24/7.
What does 'pop a lock' mean, and is it something I should try myself?+
'Pop a lock' is an informal phrase meaning to open a locked door or vehicle without the original key. In casual use it implies a quick, easy fix — but in practice, opening a lock without the correct key requires knowledge of that specific lock's mechanics, the right tools, and experience reading how pins or wafers have set. Attempting it without training almost always damages the lock cylinder, scratch the door finish, or — on a deadbolt — stress the door frame. The smart move if you're locked out is to verify whether a spare key or alternate entry point is available, then call a professional if not.
Do you install smart lock door knob systems, and do they work with standard door prep?+
Yes — smart lock door knob and keypad lock door knob installations are among our most requested upgrades, especially for homeowners in St. Augustine with vacation rental properties. Most smart locks are designed to fit the same 2-1/8-inch bore hole as a standard knob, which means installation on most modern doors is straightforward. Older doors with different prep dimensions or mortise lock pockets may require an adapter plate or a different product. We assess your door first, recommend compatible hardware, and handle the full installation and digital setup in one visit.
Do you handle commercial locksmith door hardware jobs, not just residential?+
Absolutely. We regularly work with businesses, landlords, property managers, and commercial tenants across the St. Augustine area on door knob and deadbolt replacement, mortise lock servicing, master key system setup, and Grade 1 commercial deadbolt upgrades. Commercial doors often have heavier frames, narrower backsets, and higher-cycle hardware requirements than residential doors — our technicians are experienced with those specifications. If you need a commercial locksmith for a single storefront door or a multi-suite office building, call (904) 585-2997 and we'll discuss the scope and confirm pricing before scheduling.
Locked out or need a lock fixed? We are on the way.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Insured, background-checked technicians · Up-front pricing
(904) 585-2997