Frequently Asked Questions

A person answers the phone, every time. We ask what you need, where you are, and give you a flat price right then. If you say yes, we dispatch the nearest licensed, badged tech and tell you when they'll arrive. They show ID at your door, in uniform, with a marked vehicle. We don't subcontract to strangers - these are our journeymen, trained in our shop.

Most residential lockouts take 15-30 minutes. Rekeying a whole house runs 45-90 minutes. Installing new deadbolts or handling a safe opening takes longer, and we'll estimate that when you call. We've done this in Ohio since 1984, so we've seen the frozen locks of Toledo winters and the swollen doors of Cincinnati summers. We work efficiently, but we don't rush the details.

Yes, in most cases we can originate a key by code or by impressioning the lock. For common residential brands like Kwikset and Yale, this is straightforward. High-security locks like Medeco may require proof of ownership and sometimes manufacturer authorization. Bring your ID and something showing you live there - utility bill, deed, whatever you've got. We verify because the person who opens your locks should be the most verifiable person you've ever hired.

Yes, absolutely. Rekeying should be on your move-in checklist, right after turning on the utilities. You don't know who has keys - previous owners, their relatives, contractors, neighbors, real estate agents. We rekey homes across Ohio every day, from century houses in Glenville to new builds in Medina. It's a small cost for sleeping soundly. Call (866) 283-1853 - we'll get you scheduled before the boxes are unpacked.

Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work; the hardware stays the same. Changing locks means removing the entire lock and installing new hardware. Rekeying is faster and cheaper. Changing locks lets you upgrade security, switch styles, or replace worn mechanisms. We can do either, and we'll tell you which makes sense for your situation without pushing the more expensive option.

For most Ohio homeowners, we recommend Kwikset's SmartKey series for convenience and value, or Yale's residential line for a step up in build quality. If you've had break-ins in your area or keep valuables at home, Medeco's high-security cylinders are worth the investment - they're pick-resistant and drill-resistant, and key control means copies can't be made at the hardware store. We install what fits your needs, not what pads our margin.

Yes, we service and install Baldwin's full line. Their mortise locks and estate hardware are common in older homes around Shaker Heights, East Cleveland, and the historic districts of Dayton. Baldwin parts are quality but specialized - not every shop stocks them or knows how to service them properly. We've worked on Baldwin since the 1980s, so we know the line inside and out.

We can, though we'll ask you some questions first. Smart locks work well for tech-comfortable households with reliable WiFi. For our core customers - folks who've been in their house twenty years and plan to stay - we often suggest staying with proven mechanical hardware, or a hybrid like Yale's Assure Lock that offers both keypad and key override. The best lock is the one you'll actually use correctly.

Ohio does not have a statewide locksmith license, which is exactly why you need to be careful who you hire. We carry city business licenses everywhere we operate - Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and beyond. Our techs are badged employees, background-checked, trained through our apprentice-to-journeyman program. We show ID at your door because in a state with no licensing barrier, verification is on us.

We're fully insured and bonded. That means if something goes wrong - scratched door, damaged hardware, a rare but possible issue - you're covered, and so are we. We've been at this since 1984 and we've learned that being properly insured isn't just protection; it's a signal that we plan to be here tomorrow. A company that plans to be in town in thirty years acts like it.

Ask for ID before they touch anything. A legitimate tech will show company credentials without hesitation. Our guys wear Strongbox uniforms, drive marked vans, and carry photo badges. They'll also be happy to call our office while you watch, so you can confirm with a real person. If someone shows up in an unmarked car, won't show ID, or pressures you to pay cash before starting, close the door and call someone else.

Yes, we answer calls around the clock for lockouts and emergencies. Our response time varies by location and time of day - typically 20-45 minutes in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metro areas, longer in outlying towns like Vermilion or Youngstown. We'll give you an honest ETA when you call, and we'll be there when we say. If we're backed up, we'll tell you that too, rather than leave you waiting.

First, check every door and ground-floor window - you'd be surprised how often one is unlocked. If you're truly locked out, call us at (866) 283-1853. Stay somewhere safe and visible, especially at night. Don't try to force a window or pick the lock yourself; we've seen more damage from DIY attempts than from actual break-ins. Our tech will verify your ID and proof of residence, then get you inside without destroying your lock.

Yes, and don't try to extract it yourself unless the broken piece is sticking out far enough to grip with pliers. Forcing tools into the keyway can push the broken piece deeper or damage the pins. We carry specialized extractors and can usually remove the broken key and cut a new one on-site. In winter, this happens more often in Ohio - cold makes keys brittle, and people twist harder than they should.

We apply The Keystone Standard to every job: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If a lock we rekeyed starts sticking, a deadbolt we installed loosens, or anything else isn't right, we come back and fix it. No paperwork to fill out, no runaround, no "that's normal wear." This is our trademarked guarantee, stamped on every invoice. We stand behind it because our name is on the work - Strongbox, named for the iron box where your grandfather kept the deed.

K.E.Y.S. is how we train our people and judge our work. Krafted right means trained journeymen, proper materials, no shortcuts. Every time means the 400th job gets the care of the first. Your home first means we work in your house the way we'd work in our mother's. Standing behind it means if it's not right, we come back - no paperwork, no arguing. These aren't poster slogans. They're how we decide what to do when no one's watching.

We guarantee we'll tell you the truth about when we'll arrive, and we'll communicate if that changes. Traffic in Cincinnati at rush hour, a snow squall rolling through Medina, a job running long in Canton - life happens. What we don't do is tell you "20 minutes" because it sounds good, then show up in an hour. We'll be there when we say, or we'll call with a real update. Respect for your time is part of a square deal.

Call us. The owner answers complaints personally - always has. If we missed something, we'll make it right under The Keystone Standard. If we genuinely disagree, we'll talk it through like neighbors. In forty years serving Ohio, we've learned that most problems come from poor communication, not bad work. So we listen first, fix second, and never make you feel foolish for calling. Your home first. That's the code.

Written by the team at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co., serving Ohio since 1984.