Locks in Plantation's Original Homes (1950s–70s): What to Keep, Rekey or Replace
Updated: November 2026
In a Plantation home built between the 1950s and the 1970s, a lock that turns smoothly, throws a full one-inch bolt and sits tight in the door can usually be rekeyed for $95 (first lock, trip included); a worn, wobbly or knob-only setup is worth replacing, from $145 per lock. Age matters more here than in much of Broward. Plantation was incorporated on April 30, 1953, with fewer than 500 people (City of Plantation), and the median home sold in the last year was built around 1974 (Move With Momentum, MLS summary). Many front doors here have fifty years of use behind them.
- Licensed & insured
- 6-month workmanship warranty
- About 20 min to you
How the city grew, and why it shows in the hardware
In 1931 Frederick Peters bought 10,000 acres along State Road 7 and planned one-acre "long acres" lots, roughly two-thirds of each meant for gardens and fruit trees (City of Plantation). Homes then spread outward in waves:
- Historic District: the Peters-era lots around Fig Tree Lane and Palm Tree Road, the oldest part of town, where the Plantation Historical Museum and the Plantation Botanical Garden now sit side by side at 511 and 501 N Fig Tree Lane (City of Plantation).
- Plantation Isles: canal-front homes from the late 1950s onward, per a local window installer (Republic Window).
- Plantation Acres: large lots developed in the 1960s (area overview).
- Jacaranda: built up around a golf club designed in 1970 (GolfN).
The city's own housing plan puts numbers on those waves. Of 38,833 homes counted in the 2010 Census, 22,307 (57%) were built in the 1970s and 80s, and about 5,800 went up before 1970; by type, 46% were detached houses and 41% were in multi-family buildings (City of Plantation Housing Element). So the typical Plantation lock problem sits on a door that has been opening and closing since the 1970s or 80s, and in about four homes out of ten it's a condo or apartment door where an association or landlord may have a say.
The canopy grew with the houses: 2023 marked Plantation's 40th Tree City USA designation (Our City Media). Wood frames under that shade move with the seasons, and a shifted door makes any lock feel worse than it is.
What original or very old hardware looks like
- A knob lock and nothing else. The spring latch is the door's only protection.
- A short bolt. Broward's hurricane guide recommends a deadbolt throwing at least 1 inch and at least three hinges on outside doors (Broward County). Open the door, extend the bolt and measure.
- A rosette that spins when you turn the knob, or a key you have to jiggle.
- A different brand on every door, so your ring carries four keys.
- A key on both sides of the deadbolt, often next to a glass panel.
Streets under the oaks.
Homes from the 1950s and 60s, many still on their first locks.
Keep, rekey or replace
| What you find | What makes sense | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth, solid, full bolt; unknown key history | Rekey | $95 first lock, $49 each extra; $242 for 4 standard locks |
| Knob only, or bolt under an inch | Add or replace the deadbolt | from $145 per lock, usually $145–275 |
| Loose, corroded, sticky key | Replace | from $145 per lock |
| Mixed brands, you want one key | Rekey the ones that share a keyway, replace the odd ones | quoted per door |
| Keypad wanted | Smart lock install | labor from $169 |
A rekey changes the pins, not the lock, so it never makes a weak lock stronger. And sometimes the lock is fine: if the bolt only catches when you lean on the door, we adjust the strike before selling you anything. Details on rekeying and lock change & deadbolt upgrades.
Impact doors and sliders follow other rules
Many older homes now have impact doors. Broward sits in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, where approvals cover the tested assembly, and a "similar" lock can void the listing (National Lock Supply). That's why we rekey or match the approved part; see impact-door locks. On aluminum sliders, look for a latch that clicks without catching or a panel with room to be lifted out (inspection guide); slider lock repair starts at $99.
Inside, every exit should open without a key
The IRC, the model behind Florida's residential building code, expects anyone inside to open an exit door with no key at all (I Dig Hardware). Replacing a key-both-sides deadbolt on a main door? We suggest a thumb-turn.
Don't forget the mailbox
If your box is one compartment in a shared cluster unit, the owner or association looks after its lock and USPS keeps only the master lock (USPS); USPS also warns against prying a box open (USPS). A new compartment lock runs from $90, usually $90–125. We never touch the postal lock.
A ten-minute walk-around before you call
- Count every outside door, including garage-to-house and French doors.
- Note the brand stamped on each lock or key.
- Measure each deadbolt's throw.
- Close and lock each door: does the bolt slide in without a push?
- Mark which doors are impact-rated or sliders.
- Check gates, sheds and barns (gate locks).
- Text us a photo of each lock face.
Can a lock from the 1960s still be rekeyed?
Often, if the cylinder works smoothly and pins fit it; a worn one is better replaced.
Is changing a deadbolt the same job as replacing the door?
No. On an impact or rated door we install only hardware that fits the door's approval; putting in a whole new door is permitted work that belongs to a door contractor.
How much to rekey a whole house in Plantation?
$242 for four standard locks, same visit.
· [Just bought a home?](/new-homeowners/)