When does an Inglewood door need a new deadbolt?
Most deadbolt calls begin one of three ways. A front door has only a knob lock and the household wants something sturdier. An existing deadbolt has gone stiff, loose, or sloppy, and the bolt no longer lines up with the strike plate. Or keys are floating around that shouldn't be, after a move, a split, or a roommate leaving, and it makes more sense to replace the hardware than to keep patching it.
The reason a deadbolt matters is simple. The spring latch in a knob or lever set can often be slipped open with a stiff card or a pry tool. A deadbolt uses a solid bolt that has to be physically driven out of the frame, and that is a much harder job. But a deadbolt is only as strong as its installation. A good bolt in a poorly bored door, held by short screws in a thin strike plate, will fail the first time someone puts a shoulder or a boot into it.
That is why we treat this as an installation job and not just a hardware swap. The lock, the door, and the frame all have to work together. Deadbolt installation and deadbolt replacement are the work we do most often at residential doors, and the details below are how we approach them.
Single or double cylinder: which deadbolt fits your door?
A single-cylinder deadbolt takes a key on the outside and has a thumb turn on the inside. It is the right answer for the large majority of doors. You can leave quickly without hunting for a key, which matters in an emergency.
A double cylinder deadbolt installation puts a keyed cylinder on both sides, so the bolt can't be opened from inside without a key. The point is to protect doors that have glass in them or beside them. If a burglar breaks a pane near a thumb turn, he can reach through and open the door. With a keyed interior cylinder, that shortcut is gone.
The tradeoff is real, and we explain it plainly before we sell anyone one. Anyone inside needs a key to get out, including in a fire. A key left in the interior cylinder defeats the whole idea. Many buildings and rental agreements also restrict keyed-both-sides locks on exit doors, so check with your landlord or building manager before choosing one.
- Choose single cylinder for solid doors, for doors with no glass within arm's reach of the lock, and wherever fast exit matters most.
- Consider double cylinder for a door with a glass panel or sidelight close to the lock, if your lease and building rules allow it and everyone in the home knows where the interior key lives.
- Consider a single cylinder plus security film or a stronger glass panel if you want to keep the thumb turn and still deal with the glass problem. We will tell you if that suits your door.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install a deadbolt, step by step
Every door is a little different, especially older ones, so the order below changes in the details. The principle stays the same: measure, prepare the door properly, and test it under real use before we leave.
- Inspect the door and frame. We check the thickness and material of the door, the existing bore holes, the backset (the distance from the door edge to the center of the lock), the condition of the edge, and the state of the frame and strike area.
- Choose the hardware with you. We go over single or double cylinder, the grade of the deadbolt, the finish, and whether you want it keyed to match other locks on the property.
- Prepare the door. If the existing holes fit the new deadbolt, we reuse them. If the door has no deadbolt bore, we use a hole saw and a drilling jig so the cross bore and the edge bore are square and centered. Freehand drilling is how misaligned bolts happen.
- Fit the bolt and cylinders. We install the latch assembly in the door edge, run the tailpiece through, mount the exterior cylinder and interior assembly, and set the connecting screws so nothing binds.
- Install a reinforced strike. The strike is set into the frame with long screws that reach the framing stud behind the jamb, not just the thin jamb trim. This is the step that decides how a door holds up to force.
- Align and test. With the door closed, the bolt should extend fully without lifting, pushing, or pulling on the door. We run it with the key, with the thumb turn if there is one, and with the door in its normal fit.
- Hand over and explain. You get all the keys, we confirm they operate smoothly, and we point out anything about the door itself, such as sticking, a gap, or a cracked jamb, that you may want to deal with later.
Deadbolt replacement or rekey: what makes sense?
Not every deadbolt call needs a new deadbolt. If the lock is solid, operates smoothly, and your only worry is who has a copy of the key, rekeying the lock is usually the more economical route. We change the internal pins so the old keys stop working, and the hardware stays in place.
Deadbolt replacement is the better call when the hardware itself is the problem. That includes worn or sticking mechanisms, a cylinder that has been damaged by a forced-entry attempt, a bolt that is too short or too light for the door, a lock that came with a cheap builder-grade finish that is wearing through, or a style you simply want to change. It is also the right move if you want a higher-grade lock than the one you have, or a keyed-both-sides cylinder in place of a thumb turn.
When we look at an existing deadbolt, we tell you which side of that line it falls on. If a rekey will do, we say so, even though it is a smaller job.
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Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of deadbolt installation?
We don't quote a price over a general description, because the same job can be very different from one door to the next. What we can tell you is what moves the cost, so you know what you are paying for.
We explain the cost for your door before we start work, so there are no surprises midway through.
- Single or double cylinder. A keyed-both-sides deadbolt has more hardware and a bit more setup than a standard single-cylinder.
- Deadbolt grade and brand. Lighter-duty residential deadbolts cost less than heavy-duty ones with hardened bolts and tougher internal parts. Finish and style also play a part.
- Whether the door is already bored. Replacing an existing deadbolt in good holes is a lighter job than drilling a new set of holes in a door that never had one.
- Door and frame condition. A cracked jamb, a split door edge, or a strike area that needs rebuilding adds repair work before the lock can be installed correctly.
- Number of locks and keying. Several deadbolts keyed alike, or tied into an existing key set, take more planning than a single lock.
- High-security cylinders. If you want pick-resistant or restricted-key cylinders, see our high-security locks options, which cost more than standard cylinders.
- Timing. After-hours and emergency visits are priced differently from scheduled daytime work.
Deadbolt installation across Inglewood homes and apartments
Inglewood's housing is more varied than most people expect, and the door in front of us usually tells us how to approach the work. In Fairview Heights and Morningside Park, many homes are 1920s to 1940s Spanish bungalows. Older wood doors in these homes have often been drilled several times over the decades for different hardware, and layers of paint can clog the bore and the strike area. We check the door edge for old patches before we commit to a hole location, and we reinforce the strike carefully, since frames that old can be soft around the screws.
Security screen doors and window bars are common on older homes and small apartment buildings in the denser parts of the city. They affect deadbolt work in a practical way. The screen door's swing and handle can crowd access to the lock, and some homeowners want a deadbolt on the inner door as the real security layer, with the screen door as a first barrier. We plan the placement so you can reach the key and the door still swings freely. If the problem is the gate or security-door lock itself on a Morningside Park bungalow, that is a separate repair, and we can handle that during the same visit.
Postwar stucco homes in areas like North Inglewood, Lockhaven, and Inglewood Knolls tend to have more standard doors and frames, though many still carry the original builder-grade hardware. Upgrading to a better deadbolt with a properly reinforced strike makes a real difference there. Along the Century Boulevard and La Brea corridors, apartments are the norm, and doors vary from solid wood to hollow-core, so we check what the door can actually support before recommending a lock.
Newer condominium and apartment buildings are going up with the Hollywood Park development near SoFi Stadium. Many residents there are interested in electronic locks, and a deadbolt that fits an existing bore can often be swapped for a keypad or app-controlled model. See our smart lock installation page if that is what you want.
We cover all five Inglewood ZIP codes, 90301 through 90305, along with Downtown Inglewood, Arbor Village, Crenshaw-Imperial, and the rest of the city. Our base is the storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, about 11 miles away, and our mobile vans come to you. Because Inglewood is a few miles inland, with marine-layer mornings but little direct salt exposure, door hardware here doesn't suffer the fast corrosion you see near the coast. Finish choice is mostly about appearance and matching your other hardware.
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Call (213) 577-1366Renting in Inglewood: who decides on the deadbolt?
Most Inglewood residents rent, so we often get the question of who is allowed to change a lock. The honest answer is that it depends on your lease. Many leases require landlord approval for any lock change, and some require that the landlord keeps a key. Ask first, get the approval in writing if you can, and then we can do the work. If you simply want to upgrade the deadbolt on your own door, that is a normal request in many buildings, and a conversation with your manager usually settles it.
For owners and managers with several units, the useful move is consistency. Deadbolts of the same grade, keyed in a system that makes sense for the building, and rekeyed between tenants rather than replaced each time. We work with property owners on this under locksmith services for landlords, and we can match what is already installed in your other units.
If you are already outside the door and can't get in, you need a different service. Our apartment lockout page covers that. A new deadbolt can follow once you are back inside.
What should you ask any locksmith about a deadbolt installation?
Whoever you hire, ask a few things before work starts. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you are entitled to ask any locksmith for that license information. Ask who will actually be doing the work and whether they work for the company on the phone or are a subcontractor sent out by a call center.
Ask what grade the deadbolt is and what it is made of. A deadbolt with a solid steel bolt and a reinforced strike is a different product from a light one, even if the two look alike on the shelf. Ask whether the strike will be screwed into the framing and how long the screws are. And ask what the total cost covers before the work starts, not after.
If a door has been kicked in or forced, we can secure it quickly with a new deadbolt and a repaired strike, at any hour, through our emergency locksmith service.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your deadbolt?
Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987. We run a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, along with mobile service vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Inglewood among them. When you call, you reach us and not a dispatch middleman who sells your job to whoever is closest. It is one company from the first call through the finished door, and David, our owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
Our phone, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year. A deadbolt is a planned purchase for many people, but a broken lock or a door that won't secure at midnight can't wait for business hours.
If your door needs more than a deadbolt, such as new handles, a full set of knobs and levers, or hardware on several doors, our lock installation and residential locksmith pages describe how we handle the larger jobs. For a deadbolt, call us, tell us about the door, and we'll work out the right lock with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a deadbolt on a door that only has a knob lock?
Yes. We drill the cross bore and edge bore with a jig so the holes are square, install the bolt and cylinders, and fit a reinforced strike in the frame. Most solid and solid-core doors take a deadbolt well. Hollow doors may need reinforcement, and we will tell you if yours does.
Is a double cylinder deadbolt a good idea for my front door?
It depends on the door. It helps where there is glass near the lock that a burglar could break to reach a thumb turn. The downside is that you need a key to exit, including in a fire, and many rentals and buildings restrict them. Check your lease first, and we'll talk through the options.
Can you replace my deadbolt without drilling new holes?
Often, yes. Standard deadbolts use common bore sizes, so a replacement usually fits the existing holes. If the old holes are damaged, oversized, or non-standard, we may need to adapt them with a repair or a different latch. We confirm when we see the door.
Should I replace my deadbolt or just rekey it?
If the hardware is solid and works smoothly and you only want old keys to stop working, rekeying is usually the more economical route. If the lock is worn, damaged, low-grade, or the wrong type for the door, replacement is the better call. We'll tell you which applies after looking at it.
Will a deadbolt work with my security screen door?
Usually yes, but placement matters. The screen door's swing and handle can get in the way of the key and your hand. We plan the position so the inner door's deadbolt is easy to reach and both doors open and close freely.
Can the new deadbolt be keyed to match my other locks?
In many cases, yes. We can key a new deadbolt to match existing locks of a compatible brand and keyway, or key several new locks alike, so you carry one key. If your existing locks are an unusual make, we'll tell you what is possible.
Can I install a deadbolt in my Inglewood apartment myself?
Check your lease first. Many require landlord approval for any lock change and may require a copy of the key to be on file. Once you have permission, we can do the installation and keep the old hardware if you need it for move-out.
Do you do deadbolt installation at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Scheduled daytime work and after-hours emergency visits are priced differently, and we explain that before we begin.
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Deadbolt Installation near Inglewood
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.