What does professional lock installation actually involve?
Installing a lock sounds like a screwdriver job, and sometimes it nearly is. A like-for-like swap on a door that is already bored for a standard lock can be simple. But a lot of new lock installation is not like-for-like. The door may have no hardware at all, the old holes may be the wrong size, the latch may not line up with the strike, or the frame may have shifted over the years so the bolt rubs and sticks. Fitting a lock correctly means the lock, the door and the frame all agree with each other.
When we do door lock installation, we are really doing four things. We choose hardware that suits the door and the way it is used. We prepare the door, which may mean boring new holes, cutting a mortise pocket, or filling and reworking old holes. We mount the lock so it turns smoothly without forcing. And we align the strike and the frame so the bolt reaches into solid material. That last step is the one that decides whether a lock protects you or only looks like it does.
This page is about putting new locks on doors. If what you want is a dedicated bolt added above the knob, our deadbolt installation page goes into that in detail, and if you are after keyless or app-connected hardware, see smart lock installation. We keep those separate so each one gets proper attention.
Which type of lock suits your Hawthorne door?
The right lock depends on the door material, the thickness, how many people use it, and what you are trying to protect. Here is how the common choices break down, in plain terms.
- Knob and lever sets: the everyday handle-and-latch combination used on interior doors and many entry doors. On their own, they are convenience hardware more than serious security, so on an exterior door we usually pair them with a separate bolt.
- Front door lock installation: most front doors do best with a quality handle set or entry lever plus a deadbolt. We check that the door is solid enough to hold them, because a strong lock in a weak door is wasted effort.
- Lever lock installation: lever handles are easier on hands than round knobs, which matters for older residents, people carrying groceries, or anyone with limited grip. They are also common in commercial settings. A lever is a handle style, so it can be fitted on a standard entry set or a heavier-duty body.
- Mortise lock installation: a mortise lock sits in a deep pocket cut into the edge of the door instead of in two round holes. It is found on older doors and many commercial and storefront doors. It is a more involved job, and it needs the right body, trim and a door with enough material to take the cut.
- Security lock installation: higher-grade bolts, reinforced strike plates, long screws that reach the framing, and cylinders that resist picking and drilling. If this is your priority, our high-security lock options are worth reading before you decide.
- Commercial lock installation: heavier-duty bodies, keyed-alike or master-keyed cylinders, and hardware designed for many openings a day. We cover this further down.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we handle a lock installation, step by step
Every door is a little different, but the process is the same, and we explain each stage so nothing about the work is a surprise.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us about the door: wood, hollow metal, aluminum storefront, or a door behind a security screen. Tell us whether it already has holes cut for a lock and what you want the lock to do.
- We look at the door itself. We check the thickness, the size of the existing bores, the backset (the distance from the door edge to the lock center), the condition of the edge, and whether the frame is solid or has rot, splits or movement.
- We explain the options in plain language before touching anything, including the tradeoffs between grades and finishes, so you decide what goes on your door.
- We prepare the door. That might mean boring new holes to the correct size, cutting a mortise pocket, or repairing old holes that do not suit the new hardware.
- We fit the lock body, latch and strike, and add reinforcement where the frame needs it so the bolt seats into solid material rather than thin trim.
- We test the work in real use: door open, door closing, door fully shut, key in and out, thumb turn operation. If something drags, we fix it on the spot rather than hand it over.
- We give you your keys, show you how the hardware works, and tell you honestly about anything else on the door that you may want to deal with later.
Residential and commercial lock installation are different jobs
For a house or apartment, the main questions are security, convenience, and how the hardware looks on the door. Residential lock installation usually involves standard bore sizes, standard door thicknesses, and keys for a household or a small group of tenants. Most of the time the work is straightforward, and the real judgment goes into the frame and the strike.
Commercial doors ask more of a lock. They are opened and closed far more often, they may need to meet life-safety expectations for exit, they may need keys organized by who is allowed through which door, and the doors themselves are often steel or aluminum rather than wood. Fitting a lock to a hollow metal door or a narrow-stile storefront door takes different preparation, and the hardware has to match the door's design.
If you manage a business space, our commercial door hardware page covers the heavier-duty side in more depth, including the kinds of trim and bodies that suit shops and offices. When you call, tell us which type of door you have and how many people use it. That one detail changes the hardware we recommend.
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Call (213) 577-1366How much does lock installation cost in Hawthorne?
We do not quote prices on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the door in front of us. What we can do is tell you what moves the cost up or down, so you know what you are paying for and can compare quotes sensibly.
The biggest factor is the hardware itself. A basic entry set is a different purchase from a high-grade bolt with a restricted keyway, a mortise body, or a connected smart lock. Grade, finish and brand all change the cost.
The second factor is the state of the door. If the door is already bored for the lock we are fitting, the work is lighter. If we need to cut new holes, repair old ones, install a mortise pocket, or reinforce a weak edge, there is more labor involved.
The third factor is the number of doors and whether the cylinders should match. Fitting several locks keyed alike, or setting up a system where different people hold different keys, takes more planning than a single door.
The fourth factor is timing and location. A scheduled visit during the day is a different situation from an urgent after-hours call, and we take that into account. Hawthorne is about 15 miles from our Westwood storefront, and our mobile vans come to you, so there is no need to bring a door anywhere.
Usually the more economical route is to choose solid mid-grade hardware and have it installed properly once, rather than buying very cheap hardware that wears out, or paying later to fix a poor fit. We tell you what we would put on the door and why, and you can decide whether to go higher or lighter.
Lock installation around Hawthorne: homes, apartments and townhomes
Hawthorne's housing stock shapes what we actually install. Much of the city is postwar single-family stucco from the 1940s through the 1960s, especially in neighborhoods like Hollyglen and Bodger Park. Those houses often still have their original door preparation, which means older bore layouts and sometimes hardware that no longer lines up with modern lock bodies. A front door lock installation on one of these homes often involves checking that the door and jamb are in good enough shape to carry a new handle set and bolt, and adding a longer strike screw or reinforcing plate so the frame holds up.
Many older homes and small apartment buildings in the 90250 ZIP code also have security screen doors in front of the main door. That affects installation in a practical way: the screen door and the inner door need to open without hitting each other, and the hardware on both has to be reachable and workable. When we fit a new lock behind a screen door, we make sure the handle clearances work, so you are not scraping your knuckles on the grille every time you come home.
Along Hawthorne Boulevard and the other commercial corridors, the dingbat-style apartment buildings tend to have many similar doors. For owners and managers, installing matched locks across several units is often more sensible than treating each door as a separate problem, and our locksmith for landlords page explains how that works. For tenants, keep in mind that changing hardware usually needs the landlord's approval.
ThreeSixty at South Bay is a newer gated townhome community on the west side, and the doors there are a different story: newer construction, tighter tolerances, and residents who often want keyless entry or connected locks. We would check door prep and any HOA hardware rules before recommending a specific model.
Around the industrial district near Hawthorne Municipal Airport and SpaceX, the doors are business doors: steel, aluminum, roll-up access, and warehouse or office entrances. These call for commercial-grade bodies and cylinders rather than residential sets.
As for weather, Hawthorne sits a few miles inland with marine-layer mornings and mild temperatures all year. That means the effect on doors and locks is modest. You do not need to worry about extreme swelling or heat damage the way you might in other parts of the region, though we still pick finishes that hold up to daily use.
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Call (213) 577-1366New lock, rekey, or replacement: which do you need?
Not every door needs a new lock installed. If your lock works well and the only issue is who has keys, changing the pin combination inside is a lighter job. That is what our lock rekey service does, and it is usually the more economical route when the hardware is still in good shape.
If the lock is worn, damaged, broken or outdated, replacing it is the right move. Our lock replacement page explains when a swap makes more sense than a repair. New installation is the term we use when there is no lock yet, when you are adding a lock in a new position, when you are upgrading to a different type of lock that needs the door to be reworked, or when a new door has been hung and needs hardware.
If you are not sure which category you are in, call and describe the situation. We would rather tell you honestly that a rekey will do the job than sell you hardware you do not need.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for lock installation
We have been in business since 1987, and we are a real company with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, plus mobile service vans that travel to our customers. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and Hawthorne is one of them. When you call, you reach us directly, not a dispatch call center that passes your job to whoever is free.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That matters on installation, because most problems with new locks come from the preparation rather than the lock: a bore that is slightly off, a strike set a bit too high, a frame that was never checked. Careful, unhurried work at that stage is what makes a lock last.
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year, at (213) 577-1366. Most installations are planned, but a door that has been forced or a lock that failed overnight cannot wait for office hours. If you need us to come to you, read about our mobile locksmith service.
One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, which is issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith you are considering for their license number, and check it before work starts. You should expect a straight answer from anyone you let near your doors.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What to have ready before you call
A few details make the conversation faster and help us bring the right hardware on the first visit.
- What kind of door it is: wood, metal, glass, aluminum, or a door behind a security screen.
- Whether the door already has a hole for a lock, and roughly what the old lock looked like.
- What you want: a handle set, a lever, a bolt, a mortise lock, a smart lock, or a general upgrade.
- Whether the lock should be keyed to match others at the property.
- Any HOA or landlord rules that apply to the hardware you can use.
- Photos of the door edge, the frame and the existing lock, if you can send them.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a lock on a door that has never had one?
Yes. We measure the door, bore the holes to the right size, fit the latch and lock body, and set a strike in the frame. First we check that the door is thick and solid enough for the hardware you want, since a hollow or damaged door may need reinforcement.
What is the difference between lock installation and lock replacement?
Installation means fitting a lock where there is none, adding a new lock in a different position, or reworking the door for a different type of hardware. Replacement means taking out a worn or damaged lock and putting a new one in the same place. The work often overlaps, and we will tell you which applies to your door.
Do you install mortise locks?
Yes. Mortise lock installation is more involved than a standard bore job because the lock sits in a pocket cut into the edge of the door. We check that the door can take the pocket, match the body and trim, and align everything so the latch and bolt engage cleanly. Older doors and many storefront doors use this style.
Should I choose a lever handle or a knob?
Levers are easier to operate, especially for people with limited grip or arms full of bags, and they are common in commercial buildings. Knobs are fine for many homes. Either one handles the latching; for the security of an exterior door, the bolt and the strike matter far more than the handle style.
Can you fit new locks to a door with a security screen in front of it?
Yes. Security screen doors are common on older Hawthorne homes and small apartment buildings. We check that the screen door and the inner door open without hitting each other and that the new hardware is easy to reach and use with both closed.
Do you do commercial lock installation in Hawthorne?
Yes. We fit commercial-grade locks on steel, aluminum and wood doors, including mortise and heavy-duty bodies. Tell us how many doors there are, who needs keys for which door, and whether any exit-door requirements apply, and we will recommend suitable hardware.
How do I know a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask for the license number and verify it before work begins. Also ask who will come to your door, what the work includes, and how the cost will be determined, and be wary of anyone who will not answer plainly.
Will the new lock work with my existing keys?
Often it can. Many locks can be keyed to match the keys you already carry, so you do not need a separate key for each door. Tell us when you call, and we will confirm whether the hardware you want can be matched to your current key.
More locksmith help in Hawthorne
Lock Installation near Hawthorne
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.