Guide
Locks on an old DC rowhouse
22% of DC homes are attached rowhouses, and the median home in the District was built in 1958 (Census ACS 2020-2024). That means old hardware, and more doors per house than people expect.
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Count the doors
A typical rowhouse can have a front door, a vestibule door, a back door to the yard or alley, a basement door under the front stoop, and sometimes a roof hatch. After you buy, rekey them all to one key in one visit; a second trip costs more than a few extra cylinders.
Mortise locks
Older front doors often have a mortise lock: a steel box set into the edge of the door, with a cylinder and a latch. Many still work well. Often the cylinder can be rekeyed or swapped without touching the box, which keeps the original door intact. If the box itself is worn, a locksmith who knows old hardware can say whether a replacement body fits the existing pocket.
Parts for very old mortise locks can be hard to find. If a piece inside is broken or missing, ask whether a new lock body made to fit the old pocket is cheaper than hunting for the original part.
Basement units
An English basement with its own entrance needs its own key plan. If you rent it out, the tenant's key should not open your door, and yours should open theirs only if the lease says so. A master key system or separate keyways handles that.
Doors that have settled
Old houses move. If the deadbolt misses the strike or the key only turns with the door pushed, the fix may be adjusting the strike or the door, not a new lock. Ask the locksmith to look before quoting hardware.
| Job | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| House lockout | $50 to $175 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| House lockout | $169 to $205 | This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Rekey | $70 to $160 per job About $20 to $30 per extra cylinder | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Rekey | $191 to $225 About $18 per keyhole | Thumbtack, Oct 2026 |
| Change locks | $150 to $550 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| New lock installed | $203 to $240 | Thumbtack, Oct 2026 |
| Smart lock | $50 to $350 hardware, about $50 labor | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Smart lock | $144 to $226 hardware, $106 to $291 labor | This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Key copy | $10 to $25 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Mailbox lock replacement | $75 to $200 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
Questions people in DC ask
Can I keep my original rowhouse door and still be secure?
Usually. A sound old door with a well-fitted mortise lock or an added deadbolt can be solid. A locksmith can check the frame and strike, which matter as much as the lock.