What does deadbolt installation in Burbank involve?
A deadbolt is the lock that does the real work on an exterior door. The spring latch in your doorknob keeps the door closed against a breeze. A deadbolt is a solid steel bolt that moves only when a key or a thumbturn moves it, and it reaches into the door frame far enough to resist a shove or a kick. Deadbolt installation means putting that bolt where there wasn't one, or swapping out a worn one, and making sure it lines up so it works every day without fighting you.
In Burbank we get two kinds of calls. The first is a door that has only a knob lock and needs a deadbolt added, which means cutting a new bore through the face of the door and a new hole in its edge. The second is deadbolt replacement: a bolt already exists, but it's loose, sticky, worn out, or keyed to people who shouldn't have access anymore. This page covers both, plus the choice between single and double-cylinder models. If you're looking at every lock on the property, our lock installation page covers the full range. Here we stay on deadbolts.
We've been in business since 1987, and David, who owns the company and leads our technicians, set the standard we work to: measure first, drill clean, align the bolt, and test it with the door open, closed, and under normal use before we call it done.
Single-cylinder or double-cylinder deadbolt: which one fits your door?
A single-cylinder deadbolt takes a key on the outside and has a thumbturn on the inside. It's the right choice for most homes because anyone inside can leave in a second, with no key hunt in an emergency. A double-cylinder deadbolt takes a key on both sides. Its job is narrow: it protects doors where a thumbturn sits within arm's reach of glass, so a burglar can't break a pane, reach through, and turn the knob.
The trade-off is real and we'll say it plainly. With a double-cylinder bolt, you need a key to get out as well as in. In a fire or any emergency, a key that isn't where you expect it becomes a serious problem. That's why we ask questions before we recommend one, and why we sometimes talk people out of it.
- A double-cylinder deadbolt makes sense when a door has a glass panel, sidelight, or window close enough to reach the thumbturn.
- A single-cylinder deadbolt is usually better when the door is solid, when children or older family members live in the home, or when you want the fastest possible exit.
- Some buildings, especially rentals and multi-unit properties, have rules about keyed-both-sides hardware. Check with your landlord, HOA, or the local building and fire authority before ordering one. We can't rule on your property's requirements, but we'll bring it up.
- If you do choose a double-cylinder bolt, plan where the interior key lives: close enough that everyone can find it, but not within reach of the glass.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install a deadbolt, step by step
Every door is a little different, but a proper deadbolt installation follows the same order. Skipping the early steps is how you end up with a bolt that sticks every summer.
- Inspect the door and frame. We check the door material (solid wood, hollow-core, metal, or fiberglass), its thickness, existing holes, and the condition of the jamb. A split or rotted frame needs attention before any lock goes in.
- Choose the hardware. We match the backset (the distance from the door edge to the center of the bore), the finish, and the security grade to the door and to how you use it. If you want the deadbolt keyed to match your existing knob lock, we plan that now.
- Mark and drill. We use a template to mark the cross-bore and edge bore, then drill with a hole saw and a spade bit from both sides where needed, so the door face doesn't splinter.
- Fit the latch. The bolt assembly goes into the edge of the door, and we mortise the faceplate so it sits flush rather than proud of the wood.
- Install the strike and reinforce it. The strike plate goes into the frame. We use long screws that bite into the framing behind the jamb, not just the thin jamb material, because a deadbolt is only as strong as what holds the strike.
- Mount the cylinders. The exterior cylinder and the interior thumbturn (or second cylinder) are joined through the door, and we tighten them evenly so nothing binds.
- Align and test. We close the door and run the bolt repeatedly. It should extend fully and retract with no dragging or lifting of the door. If it needs a nudge to line up, we fix the alignment instead of leaving you to live with it.
- Cut keys and hand over. We cut or confirm your keys, explain how the lock works, and tell you what to watch for as the door ages.
Deadbolt replacement: when to swap it and when to rekey it
Plenty of people call asking for a new deadbolt when what they need is a rekey. If the bolt itself is solid and turns smoothly, but you've lost a key, had a tenant move out, or just bought the place, changing the internal pins with a lock rekey is usually the more economical route. The hardware stays, and the old keys stop working.
Replacement is the better call when the hardware itself is the problem. Signs include a bolt that has to be lifted or pushed to engage, a cylinder that spins loosely, a thumbturn that feels gritty, visible wear on the bolt, or a lock that's been forced and bent. It's also the right moment to move up in quality. Many older doors carry basic builder-grade bolts, and swapping in a sturdier model with a hardened bolt and a reinforced strike is a meaningful change. Our high-security locks page explains the options if you want key control that's harder to copy or bypass.
If you'd rather open the door with a code or your phone, we also handle smart lock installation. One caution: a smart deadbolt still needs a properly drilled, properly aligned door. The electronics won't fix a bolt that rubs against the strike.
Replacing an existing deadbolt is often the simpler job, because the bore holes are usually standard sizes. Older or customized doors are the exception, and we'll tell you what we find once we see the door.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of deadbolt installation in Burbank?
We don't quote numbers on a web page, because the same phone call can describe very different jobs. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so nothing surprises you.
When you call, describe the door, and we'll tell you what the job will involve and what's driving the cost before any work begins.
- New installation or replacement. Adding a deadbolt to a door with no bore means drilling and fitting. Replacing a bolt in existing holes is usually quicker.
- Door material and condition. Solid wood, metal, and fiberglass doors each cut differently. A door that's warped, cracked, or already badly drilled takes more care.
- Hardware grade and style. A standard single-cylinder bolt, a heavier-duty model, a double-cylinder bolt, and a smart deadbolt sit at different cost levels, and finish matters too.
- Frame and strike work. Reinforcing a weak jamb or repairing a split frame adds labor and material.
- Number of doors. Doing the front, back, and side doors in one visit is usually more efficient than separate trips.
- Keying. Matching several locks to one key, or coordinating with your existing keys, takes extra setup.
- When and where. Burbank is about 16 miles from our Westwood storefront, and after-hours calls are part of what we do. We'll explain what applies to your visit when you phone.
Deadbolt installation across Burbank: bungalows, ranch homes, hillsides and condos
Burbank's housing varies enough that the right deadbolt job on one street can be the wrong one two blocks away. Here's what we think about, neighborhood by neighborhood.
In Magnolia Park, the 1920s-1940s bungalows often have original doors that predate modern bolt standards. Many older Burbank homes still carry original mid-century door hardware, and an old door may have been bored for something other than a modern deadbolt. We measure carefully, and sometimes we recommend rekeying vintage hardware that still works and adding a deadbolt beside it. The postwar ranch homes across the flats are usually easier: standard doors and frames, where the main question is whether the strike is anchored properly.
Up in the Hillside district above Glenoaks Boulevard, in the Verdugo foothills, doors get more sun and wind exposure than the flats. Dry Santa Ana winds and strong sun can shrink and shift wood, and valley summer heat swells it, so a bolt that slides freely in spring can bind by August. There's no salt-air corrosion this far inland, so when a Burbank bolt sticks, the cause is usually fit, not rust. That's why alignment matters more here than a fancy finish.
The Rancho District keeps equestrian-zoned single-family lots, and those properties often have several exterior doors beyond the front one: side doors, back doors, and doors to outbuildings. A deadbolt on every one is a common request.
Downtown Burbank and the Media District have mid-rise condos and large controlled-access apartment complexes. Here, the first question is who's allowed to change the lock. Owners usually need to check HOA or building rules, and tenants should get a landlord's approval. Property owners with several units can look at our locksmith for landlords service. We hear about lockouts in complexes near Downtown Burbank and the Chandler Bikeway, and often the follow-up is a new deadbolt once the door's been dealt with.
We serve the whole city, including addresses in ZIP codes 91501, 91502, 91504, 91505, and 91506.
- Magnolia Park bungalows: older doors, mixed hardware, careful measuring.
- Hillside district: seasonal wood movement, so alignment checks.
- Rancho District: multiple exterior doors on larger lots.
- Downtown Burbank and Media District: check building rules before swapping hardware.
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 your deadbolt?
We're a real locksmith company with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, Los Angeles, and mobile service vans that come to you in Burbank. We've been in business since 1987. When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach us, not a call center that sells your job to whoever picks it up. One company means the person who quotes the work is connected to the people doing it, with no dispatch middlemen between you and the technician.
David oversees the work. He's the owner and lead technician, and he's the reason the details get attention: the reinforced strike, the alignment, the final test with the door closed. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year, so a break-in at midnight gets the same attention as a Tuesday-morning appointment.
If you've had a break-in or a forced door, our emergency locksmith service is built for that situation, and a new deadbolt is often part of securing the door. Our mobile locksmith vans carry the common hardware, so many installations are finished in one visit. If your door needs something unusual, we'll say so up front.
How to vet a locksmith and prepare for your appointment
California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), called an LCO license. Ask any locksmith you're thinking of hiring for that license number, and check it. That's good advice no matter who you call, including us.
To make the visit go smoothly, a little preparation helps. Our residential locksmith team handles homes of every age, and these details let us bring the right hardware.
- Tell us whether the door already has a deadbolt bore, or only a knob.
- Describe the door: wood, metal, or fiberglass, and whether it has any glass nearby.
- Say whether you want it keyed to match your other locks.
- If you rent or live in a managed building, have your landlord's or HOA's approval ready.
- Mention if the door sticks in hot weather, so we can check the fit and frame.
Frequently asked questions
Can you add a deadbolt to a door that only has a knob lock?
Yes. We drill a new cross-bore through the face of the door and a bore into the edge, fit the bolt, mortise the faceplate, and install a strike in the frame. Most solid wood, metal, and fiberglass doors can take one. Very thin or damaged doors may need extra attention, and we'll tell you what we see when we inspect it.
Do I need a single-cylinder or a double-cylinder deadbolt?
Most homes do well with a single-cylinder bolt, which has a key outside and a thumbturn inside. A double-cylinder bolt makes sense mainly when glass sits close enough to the door that someone could break it and reach the thumbturn. The cost is that you need a key to leave, which matters in a fire. We'll walk through your door and household before recommending one.
Are double-cylinder deadbolts allowed in Burbank?
We can't rule on that for your specific property. Rules about keyed-both-sides hardware depend on the type of building and how it's used, and rentals and multi-unit properties are often handled differently from single-family homes. Before you order one, check with your landlord, HOA, or the local building and fire authority. We'll raise the question during the visit either way.
Should I replace my deadbolt or just rekey it?
If the bolt works smoothly and you only need new keys because of a loss, a move, or a tenant change, a rekey is usually the more economical route. If the bolt sticks, spins loosely, shows wear, or has been forced, replacement is the better choice. If you're unsure, describe what's happening and we'll tell you which fits.
My deadbolt sticks in summer. Is it the lock or the door?
Often it's the door. Valley heat swells wooden doors, and dry Santa Ana winds and sun can shift them, especially on hillside homes with more exposure. When the door moves, the bolt and strike stop lining up. Sometimes a strike adjustment fixes it; sometimes a worn bolt needs replacing. We check the alignment first, since a new lock in a misaligned door will stick too.
Can a renter in a Burbank apartment have a deadbolt installed?
Usually you'll need your landlord's or property manager's approval first, and in controlled-access complexes there may be rules about hardware and keying. Once that's settled, we can do the installation. Landlords who want consistent hardware across units can look at our work for property owners.
Can you match the new deadbolt to my existing key?
In most cases, yes. We can key the new deadbolt to the same key as your existing knob lock so you carry one key, as long as the brands and keyways are compatible. When they aren't, we can often rekey the older lock to match the new one instead. Tell us what you have when you call.
Do you install deadbolts at night or on weekends?
Yes. We answer the phone at (213) 577-1366 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. If your door was forced or your deadbolt failed, call right away and we'll work out the fastest way to get the door secured. Planned installations can be scheduled around your day.
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Deadbolt Installation near Burbank
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.