Summer often brings staff changes for Ottawa businesses, from seasonal hires to departing employees. Every departure leaves a question mark over who still has access to your building. Locksmith On Time helps business owners answer that question with confidence. This guide explains exactly when rekeying makes sense and why timing matters.
Why Staff Turnover Creates a Security Gap
When an employee leaves, their physical key rarely gets returned the same day. However, that key still opens your door until you take action. Consequently, every unreturned key represents an access point you no longer control. Locksmith On Time recommends treating key return like any other offboarding step, not an afterthought.
Signs Your Office Needs Rekeying Now
Certain situations call for immediate action. For example, a former employee leaving on bad terms is an obvious trigger. Similarly, a lost or stolen master key affects every lock tied to that system. Additionally, moving into a new lease space means you never know how many old keys exist. If any of these apply to your business, rekeying should happen this week, not next quarter.
Master Key Systems vs Full Rekeying
A master key system lets managers access multiple areas while staff use limited keys for their own zones. This structure works well for offices with several departments or shared spaces. However, a full rekey resets every cylinder, which suits businesses recovering from a serious security concern. Our commercial locksmith services include both options, and our technicians help you choose based on your actual risk, not guesswork.
Smart Access Control for Modern Offices in 2026
More Ottawa businesses are moving toward keyless entry systems this year. These setups use access codes or key fobs instead of traditional metal keys. Therefore, removing a former employee’s access takes seconds instead of a full rekeying job. Furthermore, you get a log of who entered your building and when, which adds accountability that physical keys never provided.
What Rekeying Actually Costs and Takes
Business owners often delay rekeying because they assume it’s expensive or disruptive. In reality, most commercial rekeying jobs finish within a single visit. Pricing depends on the number of doors and the lock hardware involved, but it typically costs far less than a full lock replacement. Consequently, rekeying is one of the most cost-effective security upgrades available to small and mid-sized offices.
Don’t Forget Your Home Office Security
Many Ottawa business owners also run part of their operation from home. If that describes you, the same access risks apply to your home office door. Our residential locksmith services cover rekeying, smart locks, and lock upgrades for exactly this situation. This way, your business stays protected whether you’re working from the office or your kitchen table.
How Locksmith On Time Handles Office Rekeying
Our technicians start with a quick walkthrough of your entry points and existing key system. Next, we recommend either a targeted rekey or a broader access control upgrade based on your layout. We work around your business hours whenever possible, including early mornings and evenings. Above all, we aim to minimize disruption while closing every security gap left behind by turnover.
Staff changes are a normal part of running a business, but the security risk doesn’t have to linger. Therefore, make rekeying part of your standard offboarding checklist this summer. Locksmith On Time serves offices across Ottawa, Kanata, and Nepean with fast, professional commercial service. Reach out today, and secure your business before a small gap becomes a bigger problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a business rekey its locks? Most offices rekey after any employee departure involving key access, or roughly every few years as routine maintenance. However, high-turnover businesses often benefit from an annual review instead.
Is rekeying cheaper than replacing locks entirely? Yes, typically. Rekeying reuses your existing hardware while changing the internal pins, so it costs less than full replacement. Consequently, most businesses choose rekeying unless the hardware itself is damaged.
Can I rekey just one office instead of the whole building? Absolutely. Locksmith On Time can rekey individual doors or offices without touching the rest of your building’s system, which keeps costs down for targeted security concerns.
What’s the difference between a master key and a rekey? A master key system controls tiered access across multiple doors. A rekey simply changes which physical keys open a lock. Many businesses use both together.
How long does commercial rekeying take? Most jobs finish within one visit, often in under an hour per door. Therefore, your business experiences minimal downtime while gaining a meaningful security upgrade.
