Home Rekeying & Deadbolt Installation
Branchburg, NJ is a spread-out township — from the neighborhoods off Route 202 near Finderne Avenue to the quieter residential roads tucked behind Lamington Road — and when a homeowner needs the locks changed after a move, a break-in scare, or a lost key, waiting days for an appointment simply is not realistic. Premier Locksmith Inc operates as a fully mobile, 24/7 service, meaning our trained and insured technicians drive directly to your address, show up with the right tools and hardware already in the van, and handle everything on-site without you needing to haul a lock to a hardware store or coordinate a second trip.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
Whether you are looking at a straightforward home rekeying, a full deadbolt installation, a mortise lock replacement on an older door, or a complete door hardware upgrade across several entry points, our team brings hands-on experience to every job. We confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins — no surprise invoice at the end — and we work on everything from basic door knob locks to heavy-duty jimmy proof deadbolts and multi-point mortise lock assemblies. If you are ready now, call (908) 320-8094 and a live technician will pick up, day or night.
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 Branchburg, we reach the Branchburg 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.
What Home Rekeying and Deadbolt Installation Actually Involves
Rekeying and replacing locks are two different services that are often confused. When we rekey a cylinder, we disassemble the lock, swap out the internal pin stacks, and reset the mechanism so that all previous keys are permanently disabled and a new key operates the lock. This is the fastest, most cost-effective way to secure a home after a move, a roommate situation that has changed, or a key that was lost or copied without permission. A skilled rekey visit can cover every keyed entry on a home — front door, back door, garage entry, and side gate — and leave you with a single working key that operates all of them, a setup called a master-key-on-a-budget or 'keyed alike' configuration. No drilling, no door damage, and no new hardware required unless the existing cylinder is worn or incompatible.
Deadbolt installation is the next layer of protection. A properly installed single-cylinder or double-cylinder deadbolt extends a hardened steel bolt deep into the door frame's strike plate, resisting kick-in and pry attacks far better than a spring latch alone. Our technicians carry Schlage, Kwikset, and comparable Grade 1 and Grade 2 hardware so we can match the security rating to the exposure of each specific entry point. For exterior doors with sidelights or glass panels near the lock, we frequently recommend a double-cylinder deadbolt or a jimmy proof deadbolt installation that mounts surface-style and eliminates the lever gap entirely. Every hole is bored cleanly, the strike plate is secured with long screws that reach the stud, and the finished result looks factory-fitted.
Mortise Lock and Door Knob Lock Services for Branchburg Homeowners
Older homes in Branchburg — particularly those built before the 1980s — frequently have mortise lock assemblies rather than the cylindrical bored locks most people are familiar with. A mortise lock fits into a deep rectangular pocket routed into the door edge and combines the latch, deadbolt, and sometimes a privacy turn all in one case. They are robust when functioning correctly but require a skilled hand to service: the case must be removed, the cylinder extracted, and parts either rekeyed, lubricated, or replaced before everything is reassembled in the correct orientation. Our technicians work on both residential mortise lock units and the heavier commercial mortise lock formats found on some Branchburg home offices and converted spaces, so no matter what hardware is on your door, we have the experience and parts to address it.
Door knob lock service is equally important and often overlooked. A deadbolt does most of the security work, but a failing knob lock mechanism — one that sticks, fails to latch fully, or has a loose exterior trim — creates its own vulnerabilities. We replace door knob locks with properly rated units that align with the existing bore, refinish the appearance to match existing hardware where possible, and test every component for smooth, reliable operation before we leave. For Branchburg residents dealing with seasonal wood swelling on exterior doors, we also adjust the strike plate and door stop to eliminate the binding that causes knobs to feel stuck without indicating any actual lock failure.
24 Hour Emergency Locksmith Response and Residential Security Upgrades
Residential security needs do not follow business hours. A key broken in a cylinder at midnight on a Tuesday, a door that will not re-latch after a storm, or a lock that feels compromised after a neighbor reports suspicious activity — all of these are situations where waiting until morning creates genuine risk. Premier Locksmith Inc provides true 24 hour emergency locksmith response throughout Branchburg and the surrounding Somerset County area. Our mobile units stay stocked overnight so the technician who arrives at 2 a.m. has the same inventory of cylinders, deadbolts, and mortise lock components as the one who comes at noon. We verify ownership or occupancy before beginning any work — a standard step that protects you and ensures the service is legitimate — and we work damage-free wherever the situation permits, using non-destructive entry techniques when a lockout is involved rather than drilling as a first resort.
Beyond emergency calls, we handle planned residential security upgrades for homeowners who want to assess every entry point at once. This is especially common after a home purchase in Branchburg, where buyers rightly want to eliminate any possibility that a previous owner, contractor, or real estate contact still has a working key. A whole-home rekey visit, combined with a deadbolt installation on any doors that currently have only a knob lock, and a mortise lock service on original hardware, is one of the highest-value security investments a new homeowner can make. Call (908) 320-8094 to schedule that assessment or to reach us for an after-hours emergency — we answer every call live, around the clock.
Commercial Locksmith and Vehicle Locksmith Services Available Alongside Residential Work
While this page focuses on residential rekeying and deadbolt installation, Premier Locksmith Inc also serves small businesses in the Branchburg area as a commercial locksmith. That includes master key system design, commercial mortise lock installation and repair, push-bar exit device servicing, and access control hardware for offices, warehouses, and retail spaces. If you operate a home-based business with a separate entry or a detached garage workshop, we can integrate that hardware into the same keying system as your residence for seamless access. Our vehicle locksmith services round out the mobile offering: car lockouts, transponder key programming, and ignition cylinder work are handled by the same trained and insured technicians who manage your door hardware, so one call to (908) 320-8094 covers the full range of lock and key needs — residential, commercial locksmith, and automotive — without dispatching a separate specialist.
Our full list of specific services includes: home cylinder rekeying, master key system setup, deadbolt installation (single-cylinder), deadbolt installation (double-cylinder), jimmy proof deadbolt installation, mortise lock removal and replacement, mortise lock rekeying, mortise lock repair, door knob lock installation, door knob lock replacement, door knob lock rekeying, keyed-alike configuration across multiple doors, high-security cylinder upgrades (Schlage B-series, Kwikset SmartKey), smart lock installation and setup, door reinforcement strike plate upgrade, door viewer (peephole) installation, sliding door lock bar and auxiliary lock installation, window lock installation, garage entry door deadbolt addition, broken key extraction from cylinders, key duplication on-site, car lockout service, transponder and proximity key programming, ignition cylinder repair and replacement, commercial mortise lock installation, push-bar exit device inspection and repair, and access control keypad installation for small businesses.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a locksmith cost in NJ, and how is the price determined?
There is no single flat rate for locksmith work in New Jersey because several variables affect the final number: the type of lock or cylinder involved (a basic knob lock rekey is simpler than a mortise lock overhaul), the time of day (overnight and holiday calls carry a different rate than weekday daytime visits), how far the technician needs to travel to reach your address, and which parts — if any — need to be sourced from the van's stock. At Premier Locksmith Inc, we confirm an exact up-front quote after a brief phone conversation about your situation before any work begins. You will never receive a surprise invoice that does not match what was discussed.
How much is the average locksmith charge for a deadbolt installation?
The charge for a deadbolt installation varies depending on whether you are supplying the hardware yourself or having us source it, the door preparation required (some doors need boring, others already have the correct hole pattern), and the time of day. A straightforward installation on a pre-bored door during standard hours is faster and simpler than fitting a jimmy proof deadbolt or a mortise lock on a door that needs edge work. Rather than quote an average that may not reflect your specific door and hardware, we provide an exact price over the phone before dispatch so there is nothing uncertain when the technician arrives.
How much should an emergency locksmith cost, and what should I watch for?
An emergency locksmith visit — whether for a lockout, a broken key, or an urgent deadbolt installation — typically reflects the after-hours component in the rate, along with travel distance and parts needed. What you should watch for is any technician who quotes a very low number on the phone and then presents a much larger invoice after the work is done. At Premier Locksmith Inc, the price you agree to before we start is the price you pay. We verify your identity and your right to access the property before beginning, which is a standard protective step for you as much as for us. If you are ever unsure, call (908) 320-8094 and ask our dispatcher to walk you through the pricing factors for your specific situation.
How much does an emergency locksmith cost near me in Branchburg?
For Branchburg addresses — whether you are off Readington Road, near the Duke Farms border on Route 206, or in one of the newer developments closer to the Route 22 corridor — our technicians are typically close enough that travel is not a significant factor in the quote. The main variables remain the service type, time of day, and any hardware needed. We serve Branchburg and surrounding Somerset County communities around the clock, and we confirm pricing before any work begins. Call (908) 320-8094 for a specific quote based on your address and situation.
What is the difference between rekeying and replacing a lock, and which do I need?
Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of your existing cylinder so previous keys no longer work, while replacement swaps the entire lock unit. Rekeying is the right choice when the hardware itself is in good condition — correct grade, good function, no visible wear — and you simply need to eliminate old keys. Replacement is appropriate when the lock is damaged, low-quality, or the wrong type for the door (for example, if you have only a door knob lock on an exterior door with no deadbolt). In some cases, particularly with older mortise lock assemblies, we may recommend rekeying the cylinder while replacing worn internal components rather than replacing the entire unit. Our technicians will give you an honest assessment on-site before recommending either option.
Is Branchburg, NJ Republican or Democrat, and does that affect your service area or pricing?
Branchburg Township leans Republican in most statewide and local elections, consistent with much of rural and semi-rural Somerset County. That has no bearing whatsoever on how we serve the community or how we price our work. Premier Locksmith Inc is a mobile locksmith serving every household and business in Branchburg — regardless of neighborhood, political leaning, or any other factor — with the same trained and insured technicians, the same honest up-front pricing, and the same 24/7 availability. If you need a lock rekeyed, a deadbolt installed, or a mortise lock serviced, call (908) 320-8094 and we will take care of it.
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
(908) 320-8094