Why do Lakewood homeowners need a deadbolt installed or replaced?
A deadbolt is the one piece of hardware on a door that is meant to stop a person, not just keep a latch closed. The spring latch inside most knobs can be slipped with a plastic card or pushed back with a screwdriver. A deadbolt has no spring to defeat. The bolt is a solid steel bar that moves only when the cylinder turns, so the door stays shut until someone with a key or thumb-turn opens it. That is why deadbolt installation is usually the first upgrade we suggest for a home whose exterior doors rely on knob locks alone.
Here are the situations that bring people to us:
- A door that never had a deadbolt, only a knob lock
- An older deadbolt that turns stiffly, sticks halfway, or no longer lines up with the strike plate
- A new home or rental where you want fresh hardware on every exterior door
- A break-in attempt, a split door frame, or a lost set of keys that leaves the old lock feeling untrustworthy
- A door with glass in or beside it where a double-cylinder deadbolt is being considered
What is the difference between single and double-cylinder deadbolts?
A single-cylinder deadbolt takes a key on the outside and has a thumb-turn on the inside. It is by far the more common choice for houses, and it lets anyone inside open the door quickly without hunting for a key.
A double-cylinder deadbolt takes a key on both sides. People ask for double cylinder deadbolt installation when there is glass within arm's reach of the interior thumb-turn, such as a sidelight, a glass-paneled door, or a small window beside the frame. Without a thumb-turn, someone who breaks the glass cannot simply reach in and open the bolt.
The trade-off is real, and we will explain it plainly. With a double-cylinder lock, you need a key to get out. In a fire or any emergency, that can cost seconds you do not have, and a key left in the lock for convenience cancels out the reason you bought it. Some landlords, insurers, and local fire or building authorities have rules about key-operated locks on the inside of residential exits, so check yours before we install one. If a single-cylinder deadbolt plus another fix for the glass would serve you better, we will say so rather than sell you the more complicated lock.
If your concern is picking, bumping, or drilling rather than glass, the cylinder matters more than the number of cylinders. Our page on higher-security lock options covers restricted keyways and hardened cylinders.
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Call (213) 577-1366How does a deadbolt installation work, step by step?
Whether it is a first-time installation or a replacement, we follow the same sequence. Most of the quality in this job is in the measuring and aligning, not in the lock itself.
- Talk through the door. We ask which door it is, who uses it, whether there is glass nearby, and whether a single or double-cylinder deadbolt makes sense.
- Inspect and measure. We check door thickness, the condition of the door edge, the backset (the distance from the door edge to the center of the lock, commonly 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches), any existing bore holes, and the state of the frame and jamb.
- Choose the hardware with you: security grade, finish, keying, and whether it should match keys you already carry.
- Mark and drill. A drilling jig keeps the large face hole and the smaller edge hole square to each other and centered, which is what keeps the bolt from binding later. On a door that already has holes, we check whether they match before reusing them.
- Set the latch and faceplate. We cut a clean mortise so the faceplate sits flush with the door edge, not proud of it or sunk below it.
- Fit the strike. The strike plate goes on with a deep pocket in the jamb and long screws that reach the framing behind the jamb, not just the thin trim. This step does as much for break-in resistance as the lock body does.
- Mount the cylinder and interior piece, then test. We run the bolt with the door open, with it closed, and with the weight of the door on the latch, then adjust until it throws fully without lifting, pushing, or forcing.
- Hand over keys, show you how the lock works, and clean up the shavings and old hardware.
What should I know about deadbolt replacement on an existing door?
Deadbolt replacement is often quicker than a fresh installation because the holes already exist, but it is not always a straight swap. Before we remove anything, we check whether the bolt is fully extending, whether the strike has worn or shifted, and whether the door itself has sagged or swollen so the bolt only half-engages. A new lock on a misaligned door will fail the same way the old one did.
Sometimes the lock is fine and the real issue is who holds keys. If the hardware is sound but you want old keys to stop working, rekeying the existing lock is usually the more economical route, since you keep the body and change only the internals. If the hardware is worn, corroded, or damaged, full lock replacement makes more sense, and a new deadbolt may be part of that. If you would rather open the door with a code or phone, we can talk through smart lock installation instead, which has its own power, door-prep, and backup-key considerations.
When the old holes are the wrong size, or a past installer drilled them crooked or too large, we use a repair plate or reinforcement so the new deadbolt seats solidly. We would rather tell you that up front than hide it under a faceplate.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How much does deadbolt installation cost in Lakewood?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the same job can look very different from one door to the next. Here is what moves the cost:
- New installation versus replacement. Drilling fresh holes in a door takes more work than swapping a lock into holes that already fit.
- Single or double-cylinder. Double-cylinder hardware is a more specialized product, and the conversation about whether it suits the door adds time.
- Security grade. Hardware is rated in grades under the ANSI/BHMA system, with Grade 1 the most robust and Grade 3 the lightest duty. A higher grade generally costs more and is built to take more abuse.
- Brand, finish, and keying. Matching several doors to one key, or matching a key you already carry, changes the parts needed.
- Door and frame condition. A hollow or damaged door edge, split jamb, or swollen wood may need reinforcement or repair before a new bolt will hold.
- How many doors. Doing the front, back, and garage side door in one visit is usually more efficient than three separate trips.
- When and where. After-hours or urgent calls are handled differently from scheduled work, and the distance our van travels plays a part.
What does deadbolt installation look like on Lakewood's 1950s ranch homes?
Lakewood is a postwar planned suburb. Roughly 17,500 compact single-story tract homes went up between 1950 and 1953, and that ranch stock still dominates the city. If you live in Lakewood Park, Lakewood Mutuals, Lakewood Gardens, Lakewood Country Club Estates, or Mayfair, there is a good chance your house is part of that era, and that your doors still carry decades-old knob and deadbolt hardware. In ZIP codes 90712, 90713, and 90715, that is the typical situation we expect to find: a front door with a tired knob lock, maybe an aging deadbolt that has been painted over more than once.
Age affects the work in specific ways. Older doors and jambs may have had several lock changes over the years, leaving extra holes or oversized bores that need a repair plate. Lakewood's damp winters can swell older wood doors, so a bolt that slides freely in August may drag in January. We check alignment with that seasonal movement in mind, rather than adjusting the bolt to a door that is only temporarily swollen or shrunken. Salt-air corrosion is minor here compared with shoreline Long Beach, so finish choice is more about looks than about fighting the coast.
The layout matters too. Side-yard gates and garages, whether attached or detached, are near-universal on these lots, and the garage side door and the back door are often the least protected openings on the property. A deadbolt installation visit in Lakewood often turns into a walk around the whole house: front door, back slider or door, garage side door. For a side gate latch, our gate lock repair page covers that hardware.
Apartments are limited in Lakewood and sit mostly along major corridors such as South Street and Candlewood Street. If you rent there, ask your landlord before adding or changing a deadbolt, particularly a double-cylinder, since many leases and building rules spell out who may change locks and what keys must be on file.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How do I choose the right deadbolt hardware?
There are three decisions, and we will help with each. First is the grade. For an exterior door on a house, we generally lean toward a higher-grade deadbolt because the bolt, the strike, and the cylinder are all heavier, and that matters if someone kicks or pries at the door. Second is the bolt itself: a full-length steel bolt that extends well into the jamb holds up better than a short one, and a reinforced strike with long screws completes the job. Third is the cylinder: a standard key is fine for many homes, while a restricted keyway makes sense when you want control over who can copy your keys.
Finish is mostly a matter of taste. Match it to the other hardware on the door so the entry looks cohesive, and we will tell you if a finish is known to wear faster in your situation. If you want extra keys cut once the deadbolt is in, our residential locksmith service covers the rest of the household lock work, so you can handle everything in one visit.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for deadbolt installation?
We have been in business since 1987, and a deadbolt is one of the oldest jobs in the trade. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, so there is a real shop behind the van that arrives at your door. Lakewood is about 29 miles from our base, and the mobile locksmith service is how we get to you; you do not need to bring the door anywhere.
You are dealing with one company. There is no dispatch middleman who hands your job to whoever is closest, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year, at (213) 577-1366, so if a break-in leaves a door that will not secure at night, you are not waiting for business hours.
We will also tell you when a deadbolt is not the answer: when the door itself is the weak point, when a rekey will do, or when a double-cylinder would create a safety problem.
What should you ask any locksmith before work begins?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, which is issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith, including us, for that license information before they start work on your home. A reputable company will give it to you without hesitation.
To make the visit go smoothly, have the door accessible and know which doors you want done. If you have any existing keys, set them aside. If you rent, have your landlord's permission ready. If you are not sure whether you want single or double-cylinder hardware, say so when you call, and we will talk it through before the van leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a deadbolt on a door that does not have one?
Yes. We measure the door, drill the face and edge holes with a jig, fit the latch and strike, and test it. We also check that the door is thick and solid enough to hold a deadbolt, since a damaged or very thin door may need reinforcement first.
Is a double-cylinder deadbolt a good idea for my Lakewood home?
Only in specific cases, such as glass in or next to the door. The risk is that you need a key to exit during a fire or emergency. Some landlords, insurers, and local authorities restrict them, so check before we install. If a single-cylinder works better, we will say so.
How long does deadbolt installation take?
A swap into existing holes is usually quicker than a new installation, and a door that needs repair work takes longer. We would rather get the alignment right than rush it. When you call, describe the door and we can tell you what the visit will involve.
Should I replace my old deadbolt or just rekey it?
If the lock turns smoothly and the bolt fully engages, rekeying is usually the more economical route when the concern is who has keys. If the bolt is worn, sticking, or damaged, replacing it makes more sense. We check it in person and tell you which applies.
Why does my deadbolt stick in winter?
Lakewood's damp winters can swell older wood doors, so the bolt may no longer line up with the strike. Sometimes the strike needs adjusting or the door edge needs attention. We look at whether the lock or the door is the real problem before replacing anything.
Can you match the new deadbolt to my existing keys?
Often, yes, depending on the brand and keyway of your current lock. If it cannot be matched, we can rekey the new lock or set up keyed-alike hardware across several doors. Tell us how many doors you want on one key.
What if I am locked out when I call?
Tell us when you call. We handle that first, and our house lockout service is there for exactly that situation. Once you are inside, we can install or replace the deadbolt in the same visit if the door needs it.
Do I need a landlord's permission to install a deadbolt in a Lakewood apartment?
In most rentals, yes. Leases and building rules commonly say who may change locks and what keys must be on file. Check before we start, especially for a double-cylinder deadbolt, since those may be restricted for exit-safety reasons.
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Deadbolt Installation near Lakewood
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.