Frequently Asked Questions

Most residential lockouts resolve in 15-30 minutes, rekeying a standard home takes 45-60 minutes, and installing new deadbolts runs about 20-30 minutes per door. Commercial jobs and safe work vary more widely. When you call, we'll give you a realistic time estimate along with the price. We'll be there when we say, and we work efficiently without rushing past details that matter.

A live coordinator answers, asks the right questions about your situation, and connects you with the nearest available technician from our local team. You'll get a flat quote, an estimated arrival window, and the technician's name before they head your way. When they arrive, they show ID and badge at the door. The person who opens your locks should be the most verifiable person you've ever hired.

Yes, we can originate new automotive keys for most makes and models, including transponder keys and key fobs, even when you have no working copy. Modern vehicles require programming, which we handle on-site. The process typically takes 30-90 minutes depending on the complexity of your vehicle's system. We'll need proof of ownership, a legal requirement we don't bend on. Call (844) 643-4161 with your year, make, and model for specifics.

Rekeying is the smarter move for most new homeowners, and we recommend it within your first week in the property. You don't know who has copies from previous owners, contractors, realtors, or neighbors. Rekeying gives you complete key control for a fraction of replacement cost. In older Pennsylvania neighborhoods like Pennsport or Whitman, where homes have changed hands multiple times, this is especially important. We'll rekey your whole house in one visit.

Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work, giving you one new key for one lock. Master keying creates a hierarchy where individual keys open specific doors and a master key opens all of them. We master key small office buildings in Allentown, apartment complexes in Pittsburgh, and mixed-use properties in Philadelphia. The system is Krafted right, documented clearly, and we keep records so you're never locked out of your own building.

For residential security, we regularly install and service Baldwin for solid brass craftsmanship, Yale for proven reliability, and Medeco or Mul-T-Lock when you need pick-resistant, drill-resistant high security. Pennsylvania's mix of historic homes and new construction means we match the hardware to the door, the neighborhood, and your actual security needs, not just the highest price tag. We'll show you the difference and let you decide.

Medeco cylinders are worth it when you face genuine security risks, repeated break-in attempts, or need restricted key control that prevents unauthorized duplication. The angled key cuts and sidebar mechanism resist picking, bumping, and drilling far better than standard hardware. For a typical suburban home in good repair, a quality Baldwin or Yale deadbolt properly installed may suffice. We'll assess your situation honestly rather than upsell you on protection you don't need.

We repair and restore antique lock hardware in the Victorian and Craftsman homes common across Pennsylvania, particularly in established neighborhoods from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. Original mortise locks, rim locks, and early pin tumbler mechanisms require patience and the right parts. When original components aren't available, we fabricate or adapt carefully to preserve function without destroying character. Not every locksmith takes the time; we do, because Your home first.

We sell, deliver, install, and service residential and commercial safes across Pennsylvania, from small fire boxes to large burglary-rated units. Proper installation matters, a heavy safe in a weak location is a liability, not an asset. We anchor to structural elements, assess floor load capacity, and position for both security and practical access. Named for the iron box where your grandfather kept the deed, we understand what a safe represents.

Pennsylvania does not require a state-level locksmith license, which makes it especially important to verify who you're hiring. Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their municipality requires, and we carry general liability and workers' compensation coverage. Our technicians show ID and badge at your door. Ask any locksmith you consider the same, if they hesitate, call someone else. We're happy to provide our documentation.

Ask for photo ID, a company badge, and proof of insurance before any work begins. A legitimate technician expects this and carries it. Our techs arrive in marked vehicles, wearing branded identification, with your quote already in hand from the phone call. In Pennsylvania's larger cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh especially, unmarked "locksmiths" in personal vehicles have been linked to scams. Don't let urgency override caution. The Keystone Standard means we prove who we are before we touch your lock.

We install to manufacturer specifications and industry standards, which satisfies most homeowner and commercial insurance policies. If your insurer has specific requirements for deadbolt grade, strike plate reinforcement, or high-security cylinders, bring us the documentation and we'll meet it precisely. We document our work with photos and detailed invoices when needed for claims or compliance. Done right means it holds up to scrutiny.

Yes, our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by a live coordinator who can dispatch our local team. Lockouts don't respect business hours, and neither do we. Whether you're stranded in Tacony at 2 AM or dealing with a break-in in Center City on a Sunday morning, we'll get someone moving. Call (844) 643-4161 anytime, the voice on the other end knows locks and knows Pennsylvania.

Response time depends on your location, traffic conditions, and current call volume. Our technicians are positioned across our service area, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and points between, to minimize travel time. When you call, we'll give you an honest estimated arrival window based on real conditions, not a fantasy number to get you off the phone. We'll be there when we say, and we'll call if anything changes.

Stay in a safe, well-lit location, preferably with a neighbor or inside a nearby business if you're locked out of your vehicle. Have your ID ready, we'll need to verify you're authorized to access the property. If it's a break-in situation, call police first, we can secure the premises after they've cleared the scene. Don't attempt to force entry yourself, damaged frames and locks cost more to repair than the service call.

The Keystone Standard covers our work for 90 days, in writing, with no arguing. If a rekeyed lock sticks, a new deadbolt loosens, or anything else isn't right, we come back and fix it. No paperwork battle, no "that wasn't covered" excuses. Standing behind it is literally one of our values. We K.E.Y.S. it that way because we've been in Pennsylvania since 2013 and plan to be here when your grandchildren need locks changed.

Manufacturer defects in Baldwin, Yale, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and other brands we install are covered by the manufacturer's warranty, typically one to ten years depending on the product and line. Our 90-day Keystone Standard covers the installation labor and our workmanship. If a lock fails and it's a manufacturer issue, we handle the claim process and replacement at no labor charge within our warranty period. After 90 days, we'll still service it, we just charge fairly for the time.

Call us. Every time means the 400th job gets the care of the first, and if we missed that mark on yours, we want to know. We'll return, reassess, and make it right under the Keystone Standard. No satisfaction survey that goes into a black hole, a real person answers and a real technician returns. That's how a company acts when it plans to be in town in thirty years. We've served Pennsylvania since 2013 on exactly that principle.

Written by the team at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Pennsylvania, serving Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, and communities across the Keystone State since 2013.