Browse Forums Building A New House Re: where does your builder keep the keys? 11Apr 15, 2012 11:08 am The question whether to get your locked changed or not after you receive your owner keys is quite valid. Personally, because I know how to repin cylinders, I would definitely change the locks. The problem with not changing your cylinders, even after deactivating the builder's key using the owner's key, is that the cylinder still has a heap of master pins. This means that keys other than your own owner's key will work, depending on how many master pins there are. Assuming each pin stack has one master pin, and assuming a 5 pin system, then 1+2^4 = 17 other keys will work with your lock. Generally speaking though, if it is a 6 pin lock then you shouldn't have to worry, depending on how the builder's locksmith has configured the pins (because you roughly have an extra 2^9 combinations available due to the extra stack from a 5 pin). But for most houses, and certainly for the last house that I built, it was a Gainsborough 5 pin lock that was installed. One of the old keys I had (NOT the new owner's key that I was given) actually worked with the lock. So if you do get a locksmith to change your locks ask him to remove all the master pins from the lock. Some lazy locksmiths wont do it. But saying something like "I will pay extra for you to remove them" would probably work (and they can't really charge you more either). Also, there is always the possibility that a master key could be made (that works with all locks built with that builder, regardless of if the old builder's construction key was deactivated using the owner's key). But this does require a bit of ingenuity and probably wont happen. But it is always a possibility. Hope that helps. Sorry but you have a crap builder. Probably too late now. For our last build I only spoke to builders who would allow me easy access (at no cost). I used my own sparky… 10 9804 Hi All, I just wanted to close this topic out with an update. So we ended up agreeing to a number with the insurance company, and after an extensive amount of hand… 8 23388 |