What does lock installation actually involve?
Lock installation means fitting a lock to a door that doesn't have one yet, or fitting a different kind of lock than the door was originally set up for. That is a different job from rekeying, which changes the inside of a lock you already own so old keys stop working. It is also different from swapping a worn-out lock for a like-for-like unit. If all you need is new keys, rekeying is usually the more economical route. If an existing lock is failing or damaged, lock replacement is the better fit.
Installation is where the carpentry matters. A lock is only as good as the hole it sits in. The bore has to be the right diameter and square to the door face. The latch has to meet the strike plate cleanly. The bolt has to land in solid framing, not a thin strip of soft wood. A new lock on a badly prepped door will bind, rattle, or give way to a hard shoulder. Most of our time on an install goes into preparation and alignment, not into the lock itself.
When do Lakewood homeowners need a new lock installed?
Installation calls tend to fall into a handful of situations. Recognizing yours helps us quote the right job from the first phone call.
- A front door with only a knob lock and no deadbolt, where you want real security on the main entry.
- A new or replaced door, after a remodel or a break-in that splintered the old one, that has no hardware or has prep that doesn't match what you want to put on it.
- A back door, a garage side door, or a side-yard gate that has never had a proper lock.
- A rental unit, converted room, or home office that needs its own entry hardware.
- An upgrade from basic builder-grade hardware to a sturdier grade or a keypad lock.
- A business opening a new space that needs commercial lock installation on the front, back and interior doors.
How we install a lock, step by step
Every door is a little different, but the sequence stays the same. We follow it whether it is a single front door lock installation or a run of doors in a shop.
- Talk through the door. We ask about the door material, its thickness, who uses it, and what you need the lock to do: keep people out, let family in easily, or both.
- Inspect the door and frame. We check the condition of the door, any existing bore holes, the jamb, and the strike area. Cracked wood or a loose frame gets dealt with first, because a strong lock on a weak frame doesn't help anyone.
- Confirm the hardware. Lock type, grade, finish and, for levers, the handing are settled before anything is drilled.
- Mark and prepare the door. We use templates to mark the cross bore and edge bore, confirm the backset, and cut with hole saws and a jig so the holes stay square. For mortise sets we cut a rectangular pocket into the door edge.
- Fit the lock and latch. The hardware goes in, the faceplate is set flush, and the two sides are joined without over-tightening, which is a common cause of a sticking latch.
- Set the strike and reinforce. The strike plate is mortised into the frame, and on exterior doors we use long screws that bite into the framing behind the jamb.
- Test it properly. We run the key, the thumb-turn and the latch with the door open and closed, check the bolt throw, and hand over your keys only after the door closes and locks without a fight.
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Call (213) 577-1366Which type of lock suits your door?
Choosing hardware is half the job. Here is how the common options compare for new installs, and why we might steer you toward one over another.
- Knob locks are simple and common, and fine for interior doors. On their own they offer limited resistance on an exterior entry, so we usually pair them with a deadbolt.
- Lever lock installation suits people who want handles that are easier on the hands, and levers are a staple in commercial and accessibility-minded spaces. Levers have a handing (left or right) unless the model is reversible, so we confirm that before fitting.
- Deadbolts throw a solid steel bolt into the frame and are the backbone of exterior security. Our deadbolt installation page covers them in detail.
- Mortise lock installation places the latch, bolt and lock body in a pocket cut into the door edge. You find these on heavier, older-style doors and many storefronts. The work needs more precise cutting than a standard bored lock, and a mortise set cannot simply be dropped into a door that was only drilled for a cylindrical lock.
- Security lock installation means higher-grade cylinders and deadbolts built to resist picking, drilling and forced entry, with reinforced strikes. See high-security locks for what separates them from standard hardware.
- Keypad and app-based locks need the same careful door prep as any other, plus battery and setup considerations. Our smart lock installation page explains how those go in.
Residential vs commercial lock installation: what changes?
Residential lock installation is mostly about balancing security with convenience for the people living in the house. Commercial lock installation adds more questions: how many people need access, whether a door must open freely from the inside for safe exit, whether keys need to be organized under a hierarchy, and how much daily abuse the hardware will take.
Storefront and office doors often call for mortise sets, heavy-duty levers, or hardware paired with closers and exit devices. Fire and accessibility rules can limit what you are allowed to put on an exit door, so we ask what the door is used for before recommending anything. For doors that need more than a lock, our commercial door hardware page covers the wider set of parts. If an existing storefront lock is the problem rather than a new installation, storefront lock repair is the place to start.
What affects the cost of lock installation in Lakewood?
We don't quote prices on a web page, because the real number depends on your door. Here is what moves it up or down, so nothing surprises you:
- Lock type and grade. A basic knob set, a mortise lock and a high-security deadbolt are very different products and very different amounts of work.
- How many doors. Several doors in one visit are usually more economical per door than separate trips.
- The door itself. Hollow-core, solid wood, metal and glass-panel doors all drill differently. A door that is already bored for the lock is quicker than one that needs fresh holes.
- Frame and strike condition. Reinforcing a split jamb or setting a deeper strike adds time and materials.
- Mortise work. Cutting a clean pocket takes more skill and time than a standard bore.
- Finish and extras, such as matching finishes, keyed-alike sets, or keypad features.
- Time of day and travel. Our storefront is in Westwood, about 29 miles from Lakewood, and mobile calls and after-hours visits can factor in. We explain how that works when you call, before anyone starts work.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Lock installation in Lakewood: tract homes, side gates and storefronts
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. Across Lakewood Park, Lakewood Mutuals, Lakewood Gardens and Mayfair, the typical job is a modest ranch house with decades-old knob and deadbolt hardware on the doors. In those homes, a request to rekey old hardware often turns into an installation job once we see the condition of the set: worn latches, loose bores, or a front door with a knob and nothing else. Whether you are in 90712, 90713 or 90715, we start by looking at what is already in the door before suggesting anything.
Side-yard gates and garages are close to universal on these lots, which makes the side door and gate latch a common place for a first proper lock. Our gate lock repair page covers fixing existing latches, while a gate or garage side door that has never had a lock is an installation job. Lakewood's flat coastal-plain setting means salt-air corrosion is minor compared with shoreline Long Beach, but damp winters can swell older wood doors. A swollen door changes how the latch lines up with the strike, so we check alignment with the door as it sits now, not as it might sit in dry weather.
Apartments are limited and sit mostly along major corridors such as South Street and Candlewood Street. Storefront lock work is common along Lakewood Boulevard, South Street and Del Amo Boulevard. For a new tenant or a new shop, we can fit commercial locks on the front and back doors and set up the hardware so staff can open and close without fuss.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for an installation?
We have been in business since 1987, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We run a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood plus mobile service vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Lakewood among them. When you call, you reach our company, not a dispatch middleman who passes your job to whoever is free.
Phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. Installation is rarely an emergency, but a door that won't latch after a break-in or a failed lock at night is. For true lockouts, we have separate pages, but you do not need to know which page fits to call us.
One more point on trust: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith for their license number before they start work. It is a fair question and a good habit.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What to have ready when you call
A few details let us give you a clearer answer on the phone and arrive with the right hardware.
- Which door: front, back, garage side door, gate, or a business door.
- What is on it now: a knob, a deadbolt, a mortise lock, or nothing.
- Door material and rough thickness, if you can tell.
- Any damage to the door or frame, including splits near the latch.
- What you want: a certain brand, a lever or keypad, or just a solid lock that works.
- Whether you want the new lock to use the same key as your other locks.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a lock installation take?
A single standard door that is already bored is usually a short visit. A door that needs fresh holes, a mortise pocket, or frame reinforcement takes longer, as do several doors in one visit. Tell us the door type when you call and we will give you an honest sense of the work involved.
Can you install a lock I bought myself?
Often yes, if the lock suits the door. We check the door thickness, the backset and the lock's grade before starting. If something you bought will not fit properly or is too light for an exterior entry, we'll say so rather than force it in.
Do I need a new lock installed or just a rekey?
If your lock works and is in decent condition but you worry about who has keys, rekeying is usually the lighter-cost route. If the lock is worn, missing, the wrong type for the door, or you want a different kind of hardware, installation or replacement makes more sense. Describe it and we'll tell you which.
Can you add a deadbolt to a door that only has a knob lock?
In most cases, yes, provided the door is solid and thick enough to take a deadbolt bore without weakening it. Hollow or damaged doors may need reinforcement first. We look at the door before drilling.
Do you do commercial lock installation in Lakewood?
Yes. We fit locks on storefronts, offices and back doors, including levers and mortise sets. We also ask how the door is used, since exit and accessibility requirements can limit what is allowed on certain doors.
Will a new lock work with my existing keys?
Often it can. Many locks can be keyed to match keys you already carry, which saves you juggling several. It depends on the brand and model, so tell us what you are trying to match when you call.
My old wood door sticks in winter. Does that affect a new lock?
It can. Damp weather can swell older wood doors and shift how the latch meets the strike. We set the alignment with the door in its current condition and leave enough tolerance to work through the seasons. If the door itself is badly warped, we may suggest planing or adjusting it before fitting the lock.
Can you install locks on a side gate or garage side door?
Yes, we do both. A garage side door takes a standard exterior lock and deadbolt like any other door. Gates have their own latch hardware and often need weather-resistant parts, so tell us the gate material when you call.
Are you available at night or on weekends for installation?
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. After-hours visits can affect the cost, and we'll explain that before work begins.
More locksmith help in Lakewood
Lock Installation near Lakewood
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.