What does deadbolt installation actually involve?
A deadbolt is the lock that does the real work on an exterior door. The spring latch in your knob or handleset keeps the door closed, but it can often be pushed back with a thin tool or a firm shove. A deadbolt throws a solid steel bolt, usually a full inch, into the door frame, and it does not retract unless the cylinder or thumbturn is turned. That is why most people want one on every exterior door, and why insurers and landlords so often ask about them.
Installation sounds simple, and on a good door it is. The trouble is that a deadbolt is only as strong as the door and frame around it, and only as smooth as its alignment. A bolt that rubs the strike, a hole bored slightly off, or a short screw holding the strike plate into soft trim will leave you with a lock that sticks in summer and gives way under a kick. Most of what we do is making sure those details are right.
This page covers adding a new deadbolt where there isn't one, and replacing an old or worn one. If you only need the existing lock to accept a different key, that is a different job, and we point you to it below.
Single-cylinder or double-cylinder: which one belongs on your door?
A single-cylinder deadbolt has a keyway on the outside and a thumbturn on the inside. It is the standard choice for nearly every home door, because anyone inside can leave quickly without hunting for a key.
A double-cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both sides. People ask for it when a door has glass in it or beside it, since a burglar who breaks the glass could otherwise reach in and turn a thumbturn. It is a legitimate option, but we tell customers the tradeoff plainly: in a fire or other emergency, a key-operated inside cylinder can slow your exit, especially if the key is not where you expect it. Building and fire codes in many places restrict or discourage them on doors that serve as a required exit, so check what applies to your home or HOA before you commit.
- Solid door with no glass nearby: single-cylinder is almost always the right call.
- Glass panel or sidelight within arm's reach of the lock: a double-cylinder may be worth discussing, with a key kept in a consistent, reachable spot.
- Rental or shared property: the owner or manager often decides, and local rules may limit double-cylinder use.
- Households with young children, older adults, or anyone who might need to leave fast: single-cylinder is usually safer day to day.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install a deadbolt, step by step
Whether we are replacing an old deadbolt or boring a door for a new one, the sequence is the same. We do not rush the alignment, because that is where installs succeed or fail.
- We look at the door first: material, thickness, condition, and whether it is solid wood, hollow core, metal, or fiberglass. We also check the frame and the existing holes.
- We confirm the backset, which is the distance from the door edge to the center of the lock bore, and the bore sizes. Most residential doors take a standard cross bore and edge bore, but older or custom doors do not always follow the standard.
- If we are replacing, we remove the old deadbolt and check that the holes are clean and not enlarged. If we are adding a new one, we mark and bore with a hole saw and edge-bore bit, working from the correct height and keeping the cut square.
- We mount the lock, connect the cylinder and thumbturn or second cylinder, and test the action before the door is closed.
- We chisel and fit the strike plate so the bolt enters without rubbing, then drive longer screws that reach into the stud behind the jamb rather than just the trim.
- We test it repeatedly with the door open and closed, in both directions, and hand you the keys. If the door itself is warped or the frame is loose, we tell you what we found and what it means for how well the lock can protect you.
What affects the cost of deadbolt installation in Calabasas?
We don't quote numbers on a web page because the job isn't the same from one door to the next. What we can do is tell you honestly what moves the cost, so you can see why a phone description helps and why we prefer to confirm the details before work begins.
- The lock itself. Deadbolts come in different security grades and build qualities, and a heavier, better-built unit costs more than a basic one. Matching an existing finish or a whole-house keying plan can also change the choice.
- New hole or existing hole. Replacing a deadbolt in a prepared door is usually quicker than boring a door that has never had one. Doors that are metal, fiberglass, or thick solid wood take more care to bore cleanly.
- Door and frame condition. A cracked jamb, a loose frame, or a worn bore may need reinforcement before a new deadbolt will hold properly.
- Number of doors. Several doors in one visit usually go more efficiently than separate trips, especially if you want them keyed alike.
- Keying. Single-cylinder versus double-cylinder, keyed-alike sets, and extra keys all play into the final figure.
- Timing and location. After-hours calls and service farther from our Westwood base can affect the total. Calabasas is about 22 miles from our storefront, and our mobile vans come to you.
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Call (213) 577-1366Deadbolt replacement, rekey, or something else?
People often call for a new deadbolt when another service would solve the real problem. We would rather point you to the right one than sell you hardware you don't need.
If the deadbolt works well and looks fine but you want to stop old keys from working, for example after a move or a lost key, lock rekeying is usually the more economical route. The same lock gets new internal pinning and you get new keys. If the lock is worn, sticking, damaged, or outdated, deadbolt replacement is the right move, and our broader lock replacement service covers the full handleset and knob side of the door.
If you want keyless entry, a keypad, or app control on the same door, look at smart lock installation, which we handle separately because setup and compatibility are different from a mechanical install. For all-around work on doors that need more than the deadbolt, see our lock installation page.
Deadbolt installation across Calabasas neighborhoods
Calabasas housing is mostly single-family construction from the 1970s through the 2000s, and that matters for deadbolts. Many of those homes came with builder-grade hardware, and after a couple of decades of sun and use, those original deadbolts are often loose, stiff, or mismatched with the rest of the door. Replacing one is a very common request in 91302.
In the guard-gated communities, including The Oaks of Calabasas, Calabasas Hills, and Mountain View Estates, the usual job is updating the hardware after a home changes hands. A new owner often wants a fresh deadbolt with keys no previous owner holds, and sometimes a matched set across the front door, garage entry, and side or patio doors. Gated access controls the street, but it does not secure the door, so the lock still matters. If the community has rules about exterior hardware finish or style, check with the HOA before we pick a model, and we will work around what is permitted.
Along the Las Virgenes Road corridor, condos and townhomes tend to have standard single doors with shared exterior rules, so we confirm what you are allowed to change. In Calabasas Highlands and the Park Moderne area, where homes are older and smaller on narrow hillside streets, older doors and frames sometimes need extra care: a previous bore may be off-standard, or the jamb may need reinforcing before a new strike will hold.
One more local scenario we see is new hardware installation on homes rebuilt in canyon areas affected by the 2018 Woolsey Fire. Rebuilt homes have new doors, and new doors need properly installed deadbolts from the start, set square and strike-reinforced rather than left with whatever came in the builder's box.
If you have an estate driveway gate with a keypad, that is separate from a door deadbolt. We handle it under gate lock repair.
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Call (213) 577-1366Heat, Santa Ana wind, and what they do to exterior deadbolts
Inland Calabasas has hot, dry summers, and heat cycling is one of the main wear factors on exterior doors and hardware. Doors expand in the afternoon and contract at night, and over years that movement can shift how the bolt meets the strike. A deadbolt that worked perfectly in winter may start to bind in August. It is rarely the lock that has failed; more often the alignment has drifted.
Strong Santa Ana wind events can also slam doors and stress hinges and frames. If a door is loose on its hinges, the deadbolt will never line up reliably, so we check hinge screws and door fit as part of the install and adjust where we can.
Mild marine air sometimes pushes up Malibu Canyon, but for most of Calabasas the bigger long-term enemy is sun and heat on the exterior finish. Where a door gets direct afternoon sun, we may suggest a durable finish and a quality cylinder so the lock keeps turning smoothly instead of seizing or fading.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for deadbolt work?
We have been in business since 1987, and we work from a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood plus mobile service vans, so there is a real shop behind the van that arrives at your door. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are reaching our company, not a call center dispatching to whoever is free. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and Calabasas is part of that regular work.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That matters on a job where small decisions, like bore angle, strike depth, and screw length, decide whether the lock performs for years. We would rather take the time to do it correctly than leave you with something that looks installed but doesn't seat.
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. If a break-in has damaged your door or a lock has failed and you need the entry secured tonight, call. For wider after-hours needs, our 24-hour locksmith and mobile locksmith pages explain how we work. If you are locked out rather than upgrading, see house lockout.
What should you ask any locksmith before they install a lock?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a Locksmith Company license (LCO) issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, or BSIS. Whoever you hire, ask for the license number, ask who will actually come to your door, and ask for a clear description of the work before it starts. A reputable company will answer all three without hesitation.
Also ask what grade of deadbolt is being installed, whether the strike will be anchored into the framing, and whether the old hardware will be taken or left with you. These are ordinary questions, and the answers tell you a lot about how the job will go.
For doors where you want stronger protection than a standard deadbolt, such as a side entry that faces a secluded part of the lot, our high-security locks page explains the options and what makes them harder to pick, drill, or force.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a deadbolt on a door that doesn't have one?
Yes, if the door is suitable. We check thickness, material, and how close the edge is to the existing latch bore, then drill the cross bore and edge bore for the deadbolt. Very thin or hollow doors can still take one, but we may recommend reinforcement so the lock isn't stronger than the door around it.
Is a double-cylinder deadbolt a good idea for my Calabasas home?
It can be, but only in the right setting, usually a door with glass in or beside it. The downside is that you need a key to leave from inside, which can be dangerous in an emergency. Codes in many places limit them on exit doors, so check with your HOA, landlord, or local building department. For most solid doors, a single-cylinder is the safer everyday choice.
How do I know whether I need a replacement or just a rekey?
If the deadbolt turns smoothly and looks sound, rekeying usually does the job when your goal is new keys. If the lock is loose, sticking, damaged, or outdated, replacement makes more sense. Tell us what you are seeing when you call and we will say which fits before any work begins.
Do you install deadbolts in gated communities like The Oaks or Calabasas Hills?
Yes. We work in guard-gated communities regularly. It helps to let the gate or HOA office know a technician is coming, and to check whether the association has rules about exterior hardware finish before you choose a model.
Will a new deadbolt work with my existing keys?
It can. We can often key a new deadbolt to match your other locks so one key works throughout, depending on the brand and keyway of what you already have. If the existing locks are a different brand, we may rekey them or choose a new set so everything matches.
Do you handle deadbolts on newly built or rebuilt homes?
Yes. New doors benefit from correct installation from the start, with square bores, properly seated strikes, and long screws into the framing. We work with homeowners and builders on new hardware, including homes rebuilt after the 2018 Woolsey Fire in canyon areas.
Why does my deadbolt stick in summer?
Heat usually expands the door and shifts how the bolt lines up with the strike. Often the lock itself is fine and only needs the strike adjusted or the hinges tightened. If the cylinder is worn, replacement may be worthwhile. We check both.
Can you come out at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. Call, describe your door, and we will explain how we can help and what the visit will involve.
More locksmith help in Calabasas
Deadbolt Installation near Calabasas
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.