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.
Fast, Reliable Access Control Systems Across Decatur
Access control systems in Decatur, GA typically run $1,800-$4,500 for residential installations and $3,500-$12,000 for commercial multi-door setups, with most projects surveyed and quoted in writing within 24 hours. Our Access Control Systems team serves Decatur from our Atlanta coordination office, with technicians dispatched to Oakhurst, Winnona Park, and the Ponce de Leon corridor for same-day assessments. We know the local hardware - from original mortise lock bodies in 1920s bungalows to modern smart-lock retrofits near the Decatur MARTA station - and we quote every job in writing before any work starts. Call (762) 252-5919 to schedule a free survey.
Why Novak Lock & Security Marietta Is Decatur’s Preferred Access Control Systems Company
We’ve worked in Decatur since 2002, and the calls we get here are different from anywhere else in metro Atlanta. The city’s historic preservation overlay and its concentration of original Craftsman bungalows mean our technicians regularly encounter mortise lock sets and skeleton-key hardware that most chain operations won’t touch. In Oakhurst and Winnona Park, we’ve built a reputation for figuring out how to add modern key control without destroying century-old doors.
Our response time to Decatur neighborhoods averages 45-60 minutes for emergency calls, with scheduled surveys booked within one business day. Every technician is background-checked, uniformed, and works to The Haven Standard, our documented quality framework. Haven Standard Clause 1 applies on every visit: the price quoted on the phone is the price on the invoice, and the technician is contractually prohibited from changing it at your door.
Daniel Novak has overseen every aspect of our Decatur operations, from the first mortise lock rebuild in Winnona Park to the multi-point locking systems we’ve installed in renovated colonials near Agnes Scott College. Customers in Decatur receive the same documented photo record and written warranty that we provide across all ten Haven brands.
Our Access Control Systems Services in Decatur

Restricted and Patented Key Systems for High-End Properties
Decatur’s affluent neighborhoods - particularly the restored colonials near Druid Hills and the custom renovations in Oakhurst - attract homeowners who need key control, not just key replacement. Our restricted key systems use patented keyways from Mul-T-Lock, Medeco, and Sargent that cannot be duplicated at a kiosk or hardware store. The key blank itself is restricted by factory authorization; only our registered technicians can cut replacements.
A typical residential restricted key system in Decatur runs $450-$1,200 installed, depending on cylinder count and whether we’re retrofitting existing hardware or installing new. For properties near Emory with high tenant turnover or renovation crews, we issue keyed-alike suites with master key hierarchies, all documented in writing before installation.

Mortise Lock Servicing and Parts Sourcing for Historic Doors
Decatur’s historic preservation overlay and its concentration of 1920s-1940s Craftsman bungalows in Oakhurst and Winnona Park mean many access-control upgrades must be built around original mortise lock pockets and skeleton-key hardware rather than replacing them - a constraint that doesn’t exist in newer metro suburbs like Smyrna. We stock replacement parts for antique mortise bodies, including springs, cams, and skeleton-key bitting blanks that most suppliers discontinued decades ago.
In Winnona Park, our tech was called after a homeowner’s smart lock retrofit failed because the 1930s mortise lock body had been re-hung with a thicker door, throwing off bore spacing. We diagnosed the misaligned pocket and installed a Medeco deadbolt with a restricted keyway while preserving the original mortise latch for aesthetics. The fix required no new door and kept the historic streetscape intact.
Mortise lock service calls in Decatur typically run $180-$450, with full rebuilds of antique bodies at the higher end. We source Baldwin and Yale mortise components for replacements when the original body is too corroded to salvage.

Smart Lock and Alarm Integration with Existing Systems
Closer to the Decatur MARTA station and along Ponce de Leon Avenue, the 1980s-2000s condos and infill townhomes present a different challenge: integrating keypad entry, Wi-Fi deadbolts, and Z-Wave smart locks with existing alarm panels and property management systems. We’ve installed Yale Assure locks integrated with Honeywell and DSC alarm panels in multiple Decatur condo buildings, enabling remote unlock for delivery access and automatic disarm when a valid code is entered.
Smart lock integration projects in Decatur typically run $650-$2,200, depending on whether we’re adding a single connected deadbolt or reconfiguring a multi-unit entry system with cloud-based audit trails. Every integration is surveyed in person; we don’t quote these over the phone without seeing the existing hardware and network conditions.

Multi-Point Locking and Tall-Door Hardware
Decatur’s renovated historic homes often feature custom entry doors eight feet or taller, with single-point deadbolts that provide inadequate security for the door’s height and weight. We install multi-point locking systems - bolts at the top, center, and bottom of the door frame - that engage simultaneously with a single key turn. These systems require precise mortising into the door edge and frame, work we perform with jigs specific to each manufacturer’s backset and spacing.
Multi-point installations in Decatur run $1,400-$3,800, with European-style systems from brands like Sargent at the higher end. We always verify door material and frame condition before quoting; swollen or misaligned frames from Decatur’s humid summers must be addressed first or the multi-point bolts won’t seat properly.

What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Decatur
We maintain factory authorization for Mul-T-Lock, Baldwin, Sargent, and Yale, with restricted key blanks and warranty parts stocked for Decatur customers. Our Mul-T-Lock inventory includes the MT5+ and Interactive+ keyways for high-security residential installations in Winnona Park and Oakhurst. Baldwin mortise components are held specifically for historic door rebuilds, and we carry Yale smart-lock modules compatible with most Decatur condo association access systems. Turnaround on factory-ordered specialty hardware is typically 3-5 business days; most standard service calls are completed same-day with stocked parts.
Common Access Control Systems Problems We See in Decatur Homes

- Seasonal binding in original solid-wood frames. Decatur’s humid subtropical climate produces significant seasonal wood movement in the older solid-wood door frames that dominate historic neighborhoods - frames swell noticeably each summer, causing deadbolts and mortise latches to bind or fail to throw fully, generating a predictable surge in ‘lock won’t work’ calls from June through August that aren’t true lock failures but door-fit issues requiring adjustment.
- Misaligned mortise pockets in re-hung renovation doors. In the Oakhurst and Winnona Park neighborhoods, it’s common to find a door that has been re-hung during a renovation but still retains the original 1930s mortise lock pocket - meaning the new door thickness or bore spacing no longer matches the old hardware, creating a misalignment problem that a locksmith must diagnose before any rekeying or repair work can even begin.
- Stripped smart-lock retrofits on antique mortise bodies. Retrofitting modern smart locks or keypad entry onto century-old mortise lock bodies without proper adapters leads to stripped screws, misaligned strikes, and non-functional lock cylinders. We remove these failed retrofits regularly and rebuild the original hardware before installing properly adapted modern components.
- Key control gaps in multi-unit Decatur rentals. Properties near Agnes Scott College and the MARTA station experience high tenant turnover, with landlords discovering too late that former tenants had keys duplicated at strip-mall kiosks. Restricted key systems eliminate this exposure; the key itself is legally protected from unauthorized copying.
Pricing for Access Control Systems in Decatur, GA
Every access control project in Decatur is surveyed in person and quoted in writing before any work begins. Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice.
| Service | Typical Range in Decatur |
|---|---|
| Restricted/patented key cylinder (single door) | $280-$550 |
| Restricted key system (3-4 doors, keyed alike) | $750-$1,400 |
| Mortise lock rebuild/service call | $180-$450 |
| Smart lock installation (single deadbolt) | $320-$680 |
| Smart lock + alarm integration | $650-$2,200 |
| Multi-point locking system | $1,400-$3,800 |
| Full residential access control survey | Free |
Factors that move Decatur projects within these ranges: door material and age (original mortise hardware requires more labor), frame condition (summer swelling may need planing or strike adjustment), and integration complexity (standalone smart lock versus multi-unit cloud system). Commercial multi-door installations with audit logging and scheduled access start at $3,500. We do not add call-out surcharges or trip fees; the quoted price is the full price.
We Also Serve Cities Near Decatur

Our technicians are dispatched throughout metro Atlanta from our coordination office. In addition to Decatur, we provide access control surveys and installation in Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, and Norcross. Each city receives the same written-price guarantee and Haven Standard documentation. Call (762) 252-5919 to schedule service in any of these areas.
Serving Decatur, GA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Decatur area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs - Access Control Systems in Decatur

Yes, in most cases we can retrofit a restricted cylinder into your existing mortise lock body without replacing the hardware. We remove the original keyway, machine the mortise case to accept a Mul-T-Lock or Medeco restricted cylinder, and preserve the skeleton-key aesthetic on the interior side if desired. Typical cost for this retrofit in Decatur runs $340-$620 per door, quoted in writing after we inspect the mortise body condition. Call (762) 252-5919 for a free survey of your Oakhurst property.
Your solid-wood door frame is swelling from summer humidity, compressing the bolt path and preventing full throw. This is a door-fit issue, not a lock failure. We plane the strike pocket or adjust the door stop to restore clearance, then verify the deadbolt throws smoothly through the full seasonal cycle. Seasonal adjustment calls in Winnona Park typically run $140-$220. If the frame has been painted repeatedly and the stop is too thick to adjust, we may recommend a minor frame modification. Call (762) 252-5919 to schedule before the next humidity spike.
Yes, most modern smart locks integrate with alarm panels via Z-Wave or Wi-Fi, but compatibility depends on your specific panel model and firmware version. We survey the existing system, test signal strength at the door location, and quote the integration in writing before ordering hardware. Decatur condo integrations typically run $650-$1,800 depending on panel complexity. Call (762) 252-5919 to book a technical survey; we bring a compatibility checklist and test module to every appointment.
Rekeying changes the internal pin combination so old keys no longer operate the lock, but the key blank itself remains standard and can be copied anywhere. A restricted key system replaces the cylinder with a patented keyway that cannot be duplicated by unauthorized vendors; the key blank is factory-controlled and registered to your property. For Decatur homes with renovation crews, rental turnover, or household staff, restricted keys provide permanent key control that rekeying cannot. Restricted cylinder installation runs $280-$550 per door versus $45-$85 for standard rekeying. Call (762) 252-5919 and we’ll recommend the right approach for your situation.
Yes, this is a common issue in Decatur’s renovated bungalows. We measure the new door thickness and bore spacing against the original mortise pocket, then either machine adapter plates to bridge the misalignment or source a compatible mortise body with modern dimensions that fits the existing pocket. The original door stays in place. These repairs typically run $280-$520 depending on parts availability. We carry Baldwin and Yale mortise components for common Decatur door dimensions. Call (762) 252-5919 for an assessment; we’ll diagnose the misalignment and quote the fix in writing before any work begins.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner at Novak Lock & Security, serving Decatur and metro Atlanta since 2002.






