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.
Locksmith Before & After in Marietta, GA
We’ve been walking through doors in Marietta since 2002. Not every job photographs well, but the ones that do tell a clear story: what was there, what was wrong, and what we left behind. Every project here includes a documented photo record delivered to the customer at completion, plus the written price we quoted on the phone before anyone drove out. Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice.
Recent Transformations
Commercial Exit Hardware Upgrade: East Cobb Office Park
The existing exit devices on a 12-door office suite were original to the 1994 build, with visible corrosion on the latch mechanisms and two doors that failed to latch without shoulder pressure. We documented the grade-2 hardware, the frame misalignment causing the latch failure, and the security gap created by doors that could be pulled open without key re-entry. Our crew installed grade-1 ANSI exit hardware with electric latch retraction tied to the existing access control system, realigned all strike plates, and delivered a photo record showing each door’s latch engagement and the final wiring termination. The building manager received a written scope, the photo record, and a 365-Day Done Right Promise on all 12 devices.
Residential Rekey After Closing: Indian Hills
A family in Indian Hills had closed on a foreclosure with five Kwikset deadbolts and three Schlage entry knobs, no two keyed alike, and no way to know how many copies of the previous keys existed in the market. We photographed every cylinder before removal, rekeyed all eight locks to a single master key system with one change key for the side entrance, and cut four copies on-site. The customer received the photo record showing each pinned cylinder, a written key control log, and the final price matched the phone quote to the dollar. Total time on site: 47 minutes.
High-Security Cylinder Installation: Whitlock Estates
The homeowner in Whitlock Estates had experienced two attempted break-ins in six months, with visible pry marks on the standard Schlage deadbolt and a kicked frame that had been repaired by a carpenter but never properly reinforced. We documented the grade of the existing lock (ANSI grade 2, residential specification), the 1/2-inch strike plate screws into soft pine, and the 3/4-inch gap between the frame and the structural stud. Our installation included Medeco M3 high-security cylinders (locks that cannot be picked or bumped by standard tools) with a restricted keyway, a grade-1 commercial deadbolt with a full 1-inch throw, and a strike plate anchored with 3-inch screws into the stud. The photo record shows the pry marks, the old hardware, the reinforced frame, and the key registration card. Price was quoted in writing before we started: $340 per door, two doors, no add-ons on arrival.
Access Control Retrofit: Powers Ferry Landing Warehouse
A 24,000-square-foot warehouse in Powers Ferry Landing was running on mechanical deadbolts and a logbook for key tracking, with three missing keys unaccounted for and no way to know who entered when. We surveyed all six entry points, documented the existing door conditions and frame materials, and installed standalone networked access control with HID prox readers and a cloud-based audit trail. The system logs every entry by credential, time, and door, with remote lockdown capability. We left a written scope, the photo record of each reader installation and wire termination, and trained the facilities manager on credential enrollment. Per-door pricing was flat, quoted in writing, and matched the invoice.
Emergency Lockout Response: Marietta Square Historic District
A restaurant owner in the Marietta Square historic district called at 6:15 a.m. with a failed mortise lock on the main entrance, the key turning freely with no latch retraction and a lunch service starting at 11:00. Our technician arrived in 22 minutes, documented the failed cam mechanism inside the mortise body (a Yale 8800 series, original to the 1987 renovation), and performed non-destructive entry through a secondary door to avoid damaging the historic woodwork. The mortise was rebuilt with a new cam and springs rather than replaced, preserving the original faceplate and trim that matched the district’s architectural requirements. The owner received the photo record, the written price that matched the phone quote, and a 365-Day Done Right Promise on the rebuild. Total downtime: under two hours.
Master Key System: Kennesaw State Adjacent Student Housing
A 24-unit student housing complex near Kennesaw State had been rekeyed three times in two years due to key turnover, with no system in place to manage access for maintenance, leasing, and individual tenants. We designed a five-level master key system: grand master for ownership, master for maintenance by building, sub-master for leasing staff by phase, change key per unit, and construction keying for ongoing renovations that automatically voided upon first tenant key turn. Every cylinder was photographed before pinning and after installation. The property manager received the written bitting list, the photo record, and a key control agreement. Flat per-cylinder pricing was quoted in writing before work began: $28 per rekey, $45 per new cylinder, no dispatch fee, no minimum.
Want Results Like These?
Every job starts with a written price before we turn a cylinder, and ends with a photo record and a 365-Day Done Right Promise. We’re background-checked, uniformed, and we answer the phone live. Call (762) 252-5919 and we’ll quote your job directly, whether it’s one rekey or a full building system. Daniel Novak, Owner & Lead Technician, Novak Lock & Security Marietta.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner at Novak Lock & Security, serving Marietta since 2002.