Frequently Asked Questions

A live coordinator answers, asks what you're dealing with, and gives you a flat price right then. If you agree, we dispatch the nearest available technician to your location. The tech calls when they're on the way, shows a badge and ID at your door, and completes the work. Payment is collected only after you're satisfied. We've been doing it this way since 2013.

Most residential lockouts take 15 to 30 minutes from arrival to finished. Rekeying a full house runs 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on cylinder count. Safe openings and commercial master key systems take longer and we'll give you a realistic timeframe when you call. We'll be there when we say, and we work efficiently without rushing past details.

Yes, in most cases we can create a working key by impressioning the lock or decoding the cylinder. This works on standard pin-tumbler locks common in New York homes and apartments. High-security locks like Medeco require specialized blanks and authorization. We'll tell you upfront if your lock can be keyed from scratch or if replacement is the better path. Call (833) 317-5852 and describe your situation.

Yes, you should rekey or replace all exterior locks. You don't know who has copies from previous owners, contractors, dog walkers, or neighbors. In New York's dense housing market, keys change hands more often than people realize. We recommend rekeying as the cost-effective first step, with replacement only if locks show wear or don't meet current security grades.

We install and service Kwikset, Medeco, Yale, and Baldwin depending on your security needs and budget. Kwikset covers solid residential grade at reasonable cost. Medeco and Yale step up to pick-resistant and drill-resistant protection for homes that need it. Baldwin brings architectural hardware for period homes common in Brooklyn Heights and the Upper West Side. We'll match the brand to your door, not upsell you past what makes sense.

Kwikset is a reliable residential grade with widely available keys and straightforward rekeying. Medeco uses angled key cuts and sidebar pins that resist picking, drilling, and unauthorized key duplication. For a standard New York apartment or suburban home, Kwikset often suffices. For ground-floor units, commercial spaces, or anyone who's experienced a break-in, Medeco's higher security grade is worth the investment. We'll explain both and let you decide.

Yes, we work on mortise locks, rim cylinders, and other vintage hardware found in pre-war buildings throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Repair is often possible when replacement would damage the door's original character. We carry parts for common antique mechanisms and can fabricate solutions for rare ones. If replacement is unavoidable, we source Baldwin and other heritage-appropriate hardware that respects the building's period.

New York City requires locksmiths to hold a DCWP license, and New York State has additional requirements for certain security work. Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. Our techs show badge and ID at your door, because the person who opens your locks should be the most verifiable person you've ever hired. If anyone refuses to show credentials, send them away and call someone else.

Yes, we carry the insurance required for locksmith and safe work in New York. This protects your property while we're working and covers any rare instance of damage. We've been serving New York since 2013 with a record built on doing right by people. Insurance is part of standing behind our work, one of our K.E.Y.S. values: Krafted right, Every time, Your home first, Standing behind it.

Ask for their DCWP license number, proof of insurance, and a written estimate before work begins. Check that their vehicle is marked and that they arrive in a company vehicle, not an unmarked car. Legitimate locksmiths quote real prices, not $19 come-ons. At Strongbox, we quote flat prices on the phone, show ID at your door, and put our guarantee in writing. Named for the iron box where your grandfather kept the deed - we believe trust is earned, not assumed.

Yes, our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lockouts don't follow business hours, and neither do we. A live coordinator takes your call, quotes your flat price, and dispatches the nearest technician. We've handled midnight lockouts in the Financial District, early morning safe malfunctions in Midtown, and weekend emergencies from Yonkers to Williamsville. Call (833) 317-5852 any time - we're here.

Response time depends on your location, traffic, and how many calls are active. We dispatch from multiple points across the New York area to keep drives reasonable. 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 the tech calls when they're en route so you're not waiting blind.

First, check whether a neighbor, superintendent, or building manager has a spare key. If not, call us from a safe location rather than waiting in a poorly lit entryway. Have your ID ready - any legitimate locksmith will verify you live there before opening the door. We'll quote your flat price, dispatch a tech, and have you back inside with minimal hassle. Call (833) 317-5852; estimates are free.

We apply The Keystone Standard to every job: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If a lock we rekeyed sticks, a key we cut fails, or an installation isn't right, we come back and fix it. No paperwork battle, no pro-rating, no runaround. Standing behind our work is built into our K.E.Y.S. values. We've honored this standard since 2013 because a company that plans to be in town in thirty years acts like it.

Call us. Within 90 days, we'll repair or replace it at no charge. Beyond 90 days, we'll diagnose the issue honestly and give you a fair price for the fix. Sometimes the problem isn't the lock but the door settling, frame shifting, or weather stripping binding - common in New York's humidity swings and freeze-thaw cycles. We'll tell you what's actually wrong and fix it right.

Yes. The flat price we quote on the phone is what you pay. No add-ons for "difficult access," no after-hours surprises, no tool fees materializing at your door. If we encounter something truly unexpected that changes the scope, we'll stop and explain before proceeding. A square deal means no surprises on the bill. That's how we've operated since 2013, and it's not changing.

Written by the team at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of New York, serving New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and surrounding communities since 2013.