What does lock installation actually involve?
Lock installation means fitting a lock where there isn't one yet, or putting a different kind of lock into a door that was bored or mortised for something else. It is a different job from a rekey, where the lock stays and only the internal pinning changes, and different from a repair, where a worn part gets fixed. Installation is the work of making a door and a lock agree with each other.
That sounds simple, and sometimes it is. A standard bored lock in a solid door with a straight frame is a clean, short job. But a lot of what we see is less tidy: a hole drilled slightly off-center, a latch mortise chiseled too large, a strike plate screwed into the trim instead of the framing, or a lock bought online that doesn't match the door's backset. Those small details decide whether a lock feels solid for years or starts sticking the first time the weather turns.
Our job is to get those details right the first time, and to tell you plainly when the door itself is the real problem. Wilshire Lock & Key has been doing this work since 1987. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, and the company that answers your call is the company that sends the technician.
Do you need a new lock installed, or a different service?
Before anyone drills into your door, it's worth asking what the door actually needs. Some calls that start as installation turn out to be something lighter, and we would rather tell you that on the phone than sell you work you don't need.
- The door has no lock at all, such as a new side gate, a garage service door, a converted room or a remodel. That is true installation work.
- You want a second lock on an entry door, like a deadbolt above a knob or handle set. That is installation too, and our deadbolt installation page covers that specific job in detail.
- The lock works but you don't know who has keys. Rekeying is usually the more economical route, and it is covered under lock rekeying.
- The existing lock is worn out, damaged, or the wrong style for the door. Swapping it is a lock replacement job, which overlaps with installation but starts from a lock that is already there.
How do we install a lock, step by step?
Every door is a little different, but the sequence is the same. This is how a typical installation visit runs.
- Look at the door first. We check the material, thickness, condition, any existing holes, and how the door hangs and closes. A door that rubs, sags or won't latch cleanly needs attention before any new lock goes in, or the new lock will inherit the problem.
- Confirm the hardware fits the door. Backset, door thickness, bore diameter, edge preparation, door handing and, for mortise locks, the size of the pocket all have to match. If you already bought a lock, this is when we find out whether it suits the door.
- Talk through the options. Grade of hardware, finish, how the keys should work, and whether you want the new lock keyed to match locks you already have. We explain the trade-offs without pushing the most expensive choice.
- Mark and prepare the door properly. We use templates and the correct hole saws and chisels, not freehand guesses. Solid wood, hollow metal, fiberglass and clad doors are each handled differently, because fiberglass and veneered doors can crack or splinter if they are drilled carelessly.
- Fit the lock body, latch and strike. The strike plate is set into the door frame with screws long enough to reach the framing behind the jamb, not just the trim, because that is what actually resists a hard push or kick.
- Test it the way it will be used. We cycle the lock with the door open, then closed, then again with the door pushed and pulled the way a person really uses it. The latch should catch without lifting or shoving, the bolt should throw fully, and the key should turn smoothly.
- Hand over the keys and explain the lock. We show you how it operates, mention any adjustment the door may need as seasons change, and note anything about the door we think you should watch.
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Call (213) 577-1366Which kinds of locks can we install?
Most people searching for door lock installation have one of a handful of jobs in mind. Here is how the common ones differ in practice.
- Front door lock installation: usually a deadbolt paired with a knob, lever or handle set. The fit between the two, and the alignment with the strike, matters more than the brand name on the box.
- Mortise lock installation: common on older doors and on many commercial doors. The lock body sits in a rectangular pocket cut into the door edge, so it takes more careful chiseling and a door that is thick and sound enough to hold it.
- Lever lock installation: lever handles are standard in many commercial settings and are easier on the hands, which is why some homeowners choose them too. Internal lock function varies, so we match the function to how the door is used.
- Security lock installation: higher-grade cylinders, reinforced strikes and longer screws. If a standard lock isn't enough for your situation, our high-security locks page explains the options, including restricted keyways.
- Electronic and keypad locks: these need a correctly prepared door plus a sound installation of the hardware itself. Our smart lock installation page covers that side.
- Residential and commercial lock installation: homes and businesses are handled by the same company, though commercial doors bring their own hardware and exit requirements.
What affects the cost of lock installation in Agoura Hills?
We don't quote numbers on a web page, because two installs that look alike from the street can be very different once the door is open. What we can do is explain what moves the cost up or down, so you know what you're paying for.
If you ask for the lighter-cost option, we'll tell you honestly what it gives up. A basic lock on a good door is often fine. A basic lock on a poor door usually isn't the more economical route over the years, because you end up paying twice.
- The lock itself: grade, brand, finish and function. A basic keyed deadbolt and a high-security or mortise lock are different products with different labor.
- The door: solid wood, hollow metal, fiberglass and aluminum all take different tools and different time. A door that needs new bores, a repaired edge or reinforcement costs more than one already prepared.
- How many locks: several locks installed in one visit, especially if they are keyed alike, usually make for a more efficient job than separate trips.
- Keying: matching an existing key, setting up a master key arrangement, or using a restricted keyway all add steps.
- Who supplies the hardware: we can install a lock you bought if it is sound and fits the door, or we can supply one. If a lock doesn't suit the door, we'll say so before we start.
- Timing and travel: after-hours calls and distance both play a part. Our storefront is in Westwood, and Agoura Hills is about 28 miles from it, which is part of how we think about scheduling.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What does lock installation look like around Agoura Hills?
Most Agoura Hills homes are 1960s to 1980s ranch and two-story tract houses built as the Ventura Freeway corridor developed, with townhomes and condos near Kanan Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Doors that age have been through decades of seasons, so a new lock often goes into an older bore and a frame that has moved a little over the years. We plan for that rather than being surprised by it.
The climate matters here. Summers are hot and dry, the Santa Ana winds push through the canyons, and the swing between day and night temperatures can make wood doors and frames shift seasonally. A lock fitted tight in one season can start to bind in another. When we install, we check clearances and alignment with that movement in mind, and if a door really needs to be planed or re-hung before a lock will work well, we tell you instead of forcing the lock to fit.
In Morrison Ranch and Lake Lindero, many homeowners live under HOAs. Some associations have rules about exterior finishes and door hardware, so it's sensible to check your association's guidelines before choosing a visible finish for a front door lock. We can't speak for any particular HOA's rules, but we'll gladly install within whatever you've been told is allowed. All of these neighborhoods share the 91301 ZIP code, and we serve the whole city.
Old Agoura is a different picture, with larger equestrian lots and older rural homes. Horse-property gate and barn lock work is a real part of installation there. Gates, tack rooms and barn doors face sun, dust and wind, and they need hardware chosen for that exposure, not a front-door lock bolted onto a shed. If you already have a gate lock that has failed, our gate lock repair page covers that side.
Agoura Hills sits in a wildland-urban interface, and some housing was rebuilt after the 2018 Woolsey Fire. Rebuilt or recently renovated homes often come with new doors that still need the right hardware chosen and installed, and we can fit an entry set, deadbolt and side-door locks so the whole house works consistently. Townhome and condo owners near Whizin Market Square should check what the building allows them to change on doors facing common areas before choosing new hardware.
What about commercial lock installation along Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Kanan Road?
Storefronts and offices along the Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Kanan Road corridors have different needs from a house. Doors see constant use, so the hardware has to hold up to hundreds of cycles a day, and many of them need lever handles, mortise locks or hardware that allows people to exit without special knowledge or a key. Exit requirements are a real part of the job, and we install with them in mind.
A shop might need a new lock on a back door, a mortise lock on a glass storefront door, or a set of keyed-alike locks for a small office. We'll look at how the door is used, who needs keys, and what you want to be able to change later. For the broader picture, including hardware, panic devices and key control, see our commercial locksmith services. This page stays focused on getting new locks into doors correctly.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for installation?
There are a lot of locksmith listings, and many of them are dispatch services that pass your call to whoever is free. We run differently, and these are the reasons that matter for an installation job.
- In business since 1987, serving 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
- A real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile locksmith vans that come to your door in Agoura Hills.
- One company, no dispatch middlemen. The people who answer the phone are the people who send the technician.
- David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
- Phones answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366.
- Honest advice about whether you need installation, a rekey, a repair or nothing at all.
How should you vet a locksmith before they install anything?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a Locksmith Company license, known as an LCO license, issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Ask any locksmith for that license number before work begins, and check it with the state. A legitimate company will not mind the question.
Also ask who will come to your door, whether the company has a real address, and whether the price structure was explained before work started. A company that won't answer those questions plainly isn't one to hand your door and your keys to.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a lock on a door that doesn't have one?
Yes. New side doors, gates, garage service doors, remodeled rooms and new construction all fall under installation. We check the door material and thickness first, then prepare the bores and edge for the lock we're fitting.
Should I buy the lock myself or have you supply it?
Either works. If you already bought a lock, we'll check whether it fits the door and whether it is sound enough to be worth installing. If you'd rather not guess, we can supply hardware and explain the differences between grades.
Can you match new locks to the keys I already use?
In many cases, yes, depending on the brand and keyway of your existing locks. We confirm what is possible at the door, since some keyways can't be matched and a few call for a different approach, such as rekeying the old lock to match the new one.
My door sticks in the heat. Can you still install a lock?
We can, but we'll look at the door first. In Agoura Hills, hot dry weather and day-to-night temperature swings can make wood doors and frames move. If the door needs adjusting so the latch and bolt line up, we'll tell you before installing rather than hiding the problem behind new hardware.
Do you install mortise locks on older doors?
Yes. Mortise lock installation takes more care than a standard bored lock because the lock sits in a pocket cut into the edge of the door. We check that the door is thick and sound enough, and we match the lock to the existing pocket where one is already cut.
Will installing a lock damage my door?
Fitting a lock does require holes in the door and a cut for the latch, but a proper installation leaves only what the lock needs, covered by the hardware itself. Damage tends to come from rushed or misaligned drilling, which is exactly what we work to avoid.
Can you install locks at night or on weekends?
Our phone line at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Call and describe the door, and we'll tell you what is practical. If a lock install isn't urgent, we may suggest scheduling it, which is usually easier on everyone.
Can I choose a lock finish that matches my HOA rules?
Yes. If you live in an HOA community such as Morrison Ranch or Lake Lindero, check your association's guidelines for exterior door hardware, then tell us what finish and style are allowed. We can install within those limits.
Do you install locks for gates and barns on horse properties?
Yes. Gate and barn locks face sun, dust, wind and constant use, so we choose hardware suited to that environment. Bring up the type of gate or door when you call and we'll talk through what suits it.
More locksmith help in Agoura Hills
Lock Installation near Agoura Hills
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.