What does lock installation include in Long Beach?
Lock installation means fitting a new lock to a door: a new deadbolt on a front door that only has a knob, a lever handle on an office, a mortise lock on an older entry, or a full set of matching hardware on a new build or remodel. It is a different job from rekeying, which changes the inside of a lock you already own, and different from repair, which fixes a lock that has started to stick or slip.
A lock is only as good as the door it sits in. A deadbolt in a door with a loose frame, a short strike screw, or a badly drilled bore will look fine and fail the first time someone leans on it. So installation, done properly, is part hardware and part carpentry. We check the door, the edge, the frame and the strike plate, and we fit the lock so it throws smoothly and the door closes without being forced.
If all you need is a single deadbolt added above an existing handle, we have a dedicated page on deadbolt installation in Long Beach. This page covers the wider job: choosing, fitting and setting up locks of every type on doors of every type.
When do you need a new lock installed instead of a rekey or repair?
Most people call us for installation in one of a handful of situations. Knowing which one you are in saves you from paying for the wrong job.
If the lock works but someone else has a key, you usually want a rekey, not a new lock. If the lock is worn, damaged, or simply not the kind of lock you want on that door, installation or replacement is the right route.
- A door has no lock at all, or only a privacy latch, and you want real security on it.
- You are adding a second point of security, such as a deadbolt above a knob lock, or a secondary lock on a sliding or security screen door.
- A remodel, new door, or new-construction unit needs hardware fitted from scratch.
- An old lock is corroded, loose or obsolete and you want a better one. In that case see our page on lock replacement.
- You have moved in and would rather change hardware than keep what the last occupant left. If the existing locks are sound, rekeying is often the more economical route, and we will say so honestly.
- A business is opening, expanding or changing layout and needs commercial-grade locks on new doors.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install a lock, step by step
Whether we arrive in a mobile van or you visit our Westwood storefront for hardware, the process is the same. We do not rush the part that matters, which is the fit.
- Talk through the door and the need. We ask what the door is for, who needs keys, and how much security the situation calls for. A back gate and a front entry are not the same job.
- Inspect the door and frame. We check thickness, edge condition, bore size, backset, frame alignment and the strike area. Warped or swollen doors, common in older buildings, are dealt with before the lock goes in.
- Agree the hardware. We lay out the options that suit the door and the budget, explain the real differences, and confirm what you want before cutting or drilling anything.
- Prepare the door. If a bore or edge needs to be drilled, cut or enlarged, we do it cleanly so the lock sits flush and the finish is not chewed up.
- Fit the lock and the strike. We mount the lockset, install the strike plate with screws long enough to reach the framing, and check that the bolt extends fully into the strike.
- Test and set up keys. We cycle the lock repeatedly with the door open and closed, check every key, and show you how to operate any thumbturn, lever or electronic function.
- Tidy up and hand over. We clear the debris, give you the keys and any codes, and answer questions about care and future key copies.
Which types of locks do we install?
We install locks for every common door, and we try to match the lock to the door rather than the other way around. Here is how the main categories break down.
- Front door lock installation: a handleset or entry knob paired with a deadbolt is the standard setup for a house or apartment entry. We make sure the two operate smoothly and line up with the frame.
- Lever lock installation: lever handles are easier on the hands than knobs and are common in offices, rentals and accessibility-minded homes. Function matters here: passage, privacy, entry or storeroom.
- Mortise lock installation: a mortise lock sits inside a pocket cut into the edge of the door and is common on older homes, some storefronts and many commercial doors. Fitting one correctly takes more care than a bored lock, and some older doors in historic districts already have a mortise pocket we can work with.
- Security lock installation: this covers higher-grade deadbolts, reinforced strikes, door reinforcers and key systems that resist picking and unauthorized copying. We cover options on our high-security locks page.
- Smart and keypad locks: these suit short-term rentals, shared entries and people who are tired of carrying keys. Setup and battery details are covered on our smart lock installation page.
- Secondary and gate locks: latches, slide bolts and keyed locks for security screen doors and side gates, where a different style of hardware is often needed.
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Call (213) 577-1366Residential versus commercial lock installation
Residential lock installation is mostly about the front door, back door, patio door and any interior room that needs a key. The questions are usually about style, key control, and whether the door is in a building with a landlord or HOA that has rules about hardware.
Commercial lock installation is a different animal. Doors see far more cycles in a day, fire and egress rules can apply, and the hardware has to match how the business actually operates: who opens, who closes, who needs access after hours. Commercial-grade cylinders, heavier-duty locksets and exit hardware are standard.
For shop fronts and offices we also look at what sits around the lock: closers, hinges, and exit devices. If your door needs an exit device, see our page on panic bar installation, and for the wider picture of commercial doors, our commercial door hardware page covers it. We install the lock; we will tell you if the door around it is the real problem.
What affects the cost of lock installation in Long Beach?
We do not quote a number on a web page because the same phrase, new lock, covers very different jobs. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost, so a quote from us or anyone else makes sense.
The biggest factor is the hardware itself. A basic bored deadbolt, a heavy-duty commercial lever set, a mortise lock and a smart lock are in different cost territory, and finish and brand shift it further. Higher-security cylinders with controlled keys cost more than standard ones, and they exist for a reason.
The second factor is the door. A standard, well-hung door with an existing bore is the lighter-cost job. A door with no bore, a damaged edge, a metal or fire-rated door, or a frame that needs repair means more labor. Fitting a mortise lock into a door that was not prepared for one takes the most time.
Other things that change the quote:
- How many doors, and whether you want them keyed alike so one key works throughout.
- Whether the work is at a scheduled time or an after-hours call.
- Whether you want us to supply the hardware or install something you already bought. We will look at it first, because a lock that does not suit the door is a problem whoever bought it.
- Where the job is. We are based at our Westwood storefront and the Long Beach area is roughly 30 miles from there, so travel is a factor we will be upfront about when you call.
- Frame, strike or door repairs needed to make the lock work properly.
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Call (213) 577-1366Lock installation across Long Beach: homes, salt air and storefronts
Long Beach is not one kind of building, and the lock that suits one block is wrong for the next. The historic districts of Rose Park and Bluff Park have Craftsman bungalows and 1920s Spanish Revival homes where doors can be thick, original or non-standard. We measure carefully before we drill, and where it makes sense we fit hardware that respects the look of the house.
Closer to the water, the story is salt. In Belmont Shore, Naples and the Peninsula, the marine layer and onshore air are routine, and exterior deadbolts, gate latches and marina hardware corrode faster than they do inland. When we install a new exterior lock in those areas, we talk about finish and material, because a lock that seizes in a couple of seasons is a poor installation, whatever the fitting. Replacing salt-corroded deadbolts and gate hardware is one of the most common reasons for a new lock there, and it is worth getting right the first time. Around Alamitos Bay, marina gate and dock box locks face the same exposure.
Downtown, East Village and Alamitos Beach are dense with prewar apartment blocks and newer high-rise condos. Installation here often means adding a deadbolt to an older unit door, or fitting hardware that suits a building with shared rules. Central neighborhoods also have many renters and older multifamily buildings where security screen doors are common, and those need their own type of lock. Near California State University, Long Beach, student rentals regularly turn over, and a fresh lock on a bedroom or entry door is a common request.
Business owners along Pine Avenue, 4th Street's Retro Row and 2nd Street in Belmont Shore need storefront locks and exit hardware that can handle daily use. Near the Port of Long Beach and the Westside industrial area, warehouse and commercial doors call for heavy-duty hardware. East Long Beach, including Los Altos and El Dorado Park Estates, has postwar ranch tracts with mostly conventional doors, where a new handleset and deadbolt is usually a straightforward job.
We work in all of the city's ZIP codes, from 90802 and 90803 through 90815, and in neighborhoods such as Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Wrigley and North Long Beach. If you are not sure we cover your block, call and ask, or see our wider Long Beach locksmith page.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for installation?
We have been in business since 1987, and installation is the kind of work where that experience shows up in small ways: knowing what an old door will take, noticing a strike that is about to fail, and not drilling until we have measured twice.
We are one company. There is no call center passing your job to whoever is free. When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach us, any hour of any day. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and our mobile service vans carry hardware so many installs are done at your door. For more on how that works, see our mobile locksmith service in Long Beach page.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, but a job on your door should still get the same care as a job on the first one we ever did.
One thing worth knowing about any locksmith, including us: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask for the license number before anyone starts work on your door, and be wary of anyone who dodges the question.
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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 call faster and the quote more accurate. You do not need all of them, and we will walk you through anything you are unsure of.
Tell us whether the door is an exterior or interior door, what it is made of, and what lock is on it now, if any. A photo of the door edge and the existing hardware helps. Let us know how many keys you need, whether you want keyed-alike locks, and if you are a renter, whether your landlord needs to approve the change.
If you are a landlord or manage several units, we can help set up a sensible key plan rather than a pile of mismatched locks. And if you are unsure whether you want installation, rekeying or something else, say so; we will give you a straight opinion even if it means a smaller job.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a lock the same day I call in Long Beach?
Often yes, because our mobile vans carry common hardware and our phone is answered 24 hours a day at (213) 577-1366. Same-day availability depends on the hardware you want and our schedule at the time. We will tell you plainly what we can do when you call, and we do not make promises we cannot keep.
What is the difference between lock installation and lock replacement?
Installation covers fitting a lock where there was none, adding a new one, or fitting hardware on a new or remodeled door. Replacement means swapping out a lock that is already there. The work overlaps, and the process is similar. If you are changing a worn or corroded lock, our page on lock replacement goes into more detail.
Do you install mortise locks on older Long Beach homes?
Yes. Some older homes, including some in historic districts like Rose Park and Bluff Park, have doors prepared for mortise locks, and some commercial doors use them as well. We inspect the pocket and the door edge first, since a mortise lock needs a properly cut pocket and the right faceplate, and parts for older sets can take effort to match.
Will a new deadbolt work on my existing door?
Usually, if the door is a standard thickness and has, or can take, a standard bore. We check the door thickness, backset, edge and frame before we recommend anything. Metal, fire-rated and unusually thick doors, or doors with damaged edges, need more care and sometimes different hardware.
Is there a better lock for homes near the beach?
Salt air shortens the life of exterior hardware, so in Belmont Shore, Naples, the Peninsula and other spots close to the water, finish and material matter more. We can talk through corrosion-resistant options for deadbolts, latches and gate hardware when you call, and explain how the choice affects cost.
Can you install locks for my business, not just my home?
Yes. We install commercial-grade locks, lever sets, mortise locks and related hardware on storefronts, offices and warehouse doors in Long Beach. If your door needs exit hardware or other changes around the lock, we will tell you what applies and what does not. See our commercial door hardware page for more.
Should I buy the lock myself and have you install it?
You can, and we are happy to look at it first. The risk is that the lock may not suit the door, may be a lower grade than the label suggests, or may not have the parts needed for your frame. If you are unsure, send us the model or a photo before you buy.
How do I know a locksmith is legitimate in California?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and any locksmith should be willing to give you that number on request. Also ask who is coming, whether the company has a real address, and how the quote is worked out before work starts. We are at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and have been in business since 1987.
Can I get several doors keyed alike during one installation?
Yes. If you are installing locks on multiple doors, we can key them alike so one key operates all of them, or set up a plan with different access levels. Landlords and owners of small buildings often find this saves a lot of key clutter. Tell us how many doors and who needs which access.
More locksmith help in Long Beach
Lock Installation near Long Beach
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.