Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Medeco Lock Installation & Rekey in Los Angeles: What to Know First
We provide independent Medeco lock installation and rekey services throughout Los Angeles, with most residential jobs completed same-day and commercial projects scheduled within 24 to 48 hours. Medeco high-security cylinders run $280-$520 installed; rekeying an existing Medeco deadbolt or rim cylinder typically costs $145-$225 per core, with the full price quoted in writing before we dispatch. This page is for homeowners in Los Feliz, Hancock Park, and the Westside who already own Medeco hardware and need service that preserves the warranty and the security grade they paid for. Call (213) 632-4875 for a written estimate - no call-out surcharge, no price change at the door.
How Medeco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Medeco Biaxial keyway wear in pre-2010 deadbolts. The original angled pin design tolerates Los Angeles’ dry, dusty air poorly - grit works into the keyway and accelerates sidebar slot elongation. We see this weekly in 1920s Spanish Revival homes in Los Feliz where original Biaxial cylinders were retrofitted in the 1990s. We rekey to a fresh Biaxial core or upgrade to the M3 platform, depending on the door prep and your keying needs.
- Medeco M3 sidebar binding after coastal exposure. The M3’s slider system uses a secondary locking bar that corrodes slowly in Santa Monica and Venice properties within three blocks of the ocean. The key turns with a gritty, stepped resistance before failing entirely. We disassemble the cylinder, clean the sidebar track, and replace the slider pack with OEM components - aftermarket sliders vary in hardening and will fail again within 18 months.
- Medeco X4 rim cylinder tailpiece fatigue in commercial gates. The X4 is a patented interchangeable core, not a true high-security cylinder, and the zinc alloy tailpiece strips where it meets the cam in high-cycle applications. We find this on Melrose retail gates and Downtown loading docks. We replace with a brass-tailpiece OEM assembly or convert to a full M3 rim cylinder if the security requirement justifies it.
- Key control breakdown in master-keyed Medeco systems. Property managers in Silver Lake four-plexes call us when a tenant’s key still operates after rekeying - usually because a previous locksmith duplicated the master bitting onto a change key blank. We audit the entire key hierarchy with a scope and decode, then rebuild the master key system with proper progression and restricted keyways.
- Medeco Logic (electronic) battery compartment corrosion. The Logic’s AA battery tray sits directly below the cylinder and collects condensation in Los Angeles’ occasional heavy winter rains. The audit trail fails before the mechanical override does. We clean the PCB contacts, replace the tray gasket with OEM, and test the audit download to confirm full function.
Our Medeco Lock Installation & Rekey Process
- 1
Call and scope. You describe the lock, the symptoms, and the property type. We quote a firm price based on Medeco series, door condition, and whether you need rekeying, replacement, or a new installation. Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice.
- 2
Dispatch with correct parts. Our technician loads the van with the specific Medeco cylinder, cam, and tailpiece for your door prep - not a generic “maybe” kit. Daniel Novak keeps a running inventory of M3, Biaxial, and X4 components because showing up without the right part wastes your time and ours.
- 3
On-site diagnosis and photo record. We photograph the existing hardware, test the failure mode, and confirm the scope with you before touching anything. You receive the photo record at job completion.
- 4
Work and test. Rekeying is done on-site with factory pinning kits; installations include full strike alignment, door-frame reinforcement where needed, and 25-cycle function testing. Electronic Medeco Logic systems get audit-trail verification.
- 5
Documentation and guarantee. You receive a written invoice, the photo record, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If it’s not done right, we make it right. The name on the van is the warranty.
What Medeco Lock Installation & Rekey Costs in Los Angeles
| Service | Typical Range | What Affects Price |
|---|---|---|
| Medeco deadbolt rekey (Biaxial/M3) | $145-$225 per cylinder | Number of pins, master-keying, key quantity |
| Medeco deadbolt installation (new prep) | $340-$520 | Door material, strike reinforcement, finish |
| Medeco rim cylinder rekey | $125-$195 | Tailpiece type, cam compatibility |
| Medeco X4 interchangeable core rekey | $95-$165 per core | Core quantity, control key status |
| Medeco Logic electronic service | $180-$350 | Electronic vs. mechanical failure, parts availability |
| Master key system audit and rebuild | $280-$600 | Hierarchy complexity, cylinder count |
Price drivers in Los Angeles: older Biaxial hardware often needs cam or strike adaptation that newer M3 lines do not; coastal properties may need corrosion-related parts replacement; master-keyed systems require more labor to decode safely. We do not add a call-out fee or surcharge on arrival. Call (213) 632-4875 for a written estimate - free, no obligation.
Why Los Angeles Homeowners Call Novak Lock & Security Los Angeles for Medeco Work
We are an independent Medeco service provider - not factory-authorized, but factory-trained on the product lines we install and service. Since 2002, we have handled over 60,000 locks, keys, and security systems, every one with a written price before we started and a documented record when we left. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and carry the specific Medeco pinning kits and OEM parts that generic locksmiths do not stock. If your Medeco system is beyond economical repair, we also work with Schlage and Kwikset and will quote both paths without pushing the higher-margin option. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to every job. Calls are answered by a live person, 24/7.
FAQs
No, if done with factory pinning kits and correct key blanks. We use OEM components and document the work, so your warranty remains intact. Call (213) 632-4875 if you need warranty documentation for your records.
Most residential rekeys are completed same-day, often within two to four hours of your call. Commercial master-key projects or multiple-cylinder jobs in Downtown or the Valley typically schedule within 24 hours. Call (213) 632-4875 for current availability.
If the cylinder is pre-2005 and showing sidebar wear, we usually recommend M3 - the keyway is more dust-tolerant and key blanks are easier to source in Los Angeles. If the hardware is sound and you need only a rekey, Biaxial remains viable. We quote both options.
We stock M3, Biaxial, and X4 cylinders, cams, and pinning kits for same-day completion. Logic electronic components and restricted keyway blanks are ordered factory-direct with a 2-5 day turnaround - we will tell you before dispatch if your job requires a special order.
Yes. Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice. The technician is contractually prohibited from changing it at the door. This rule has been in place since 2002. Call (213) 632-4875 for a written estimate - free, and we will honor it.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner, Novak Lock & Security Los Angeles at Novak Lock & Security Los Angeles, serving Los Angeles and nearby areas.