What does lock replacement actually mean?
Lock replacement means we take out the existing lock hardware and install new hardware in its place. That might be a new deadbolt, a knob or lever set, a latch, a cylinder, or a complete lockset with a fresh strike plate. It is a different job from rekeying, where the lock body stays and only the internal pins change so your old keys stop working. If your lock is physically sound and you just want to cut off old keys, rekeying the lock is usually the more economical route. If the hardware itself is worn, damaged, or no longer suits the door, replacement is the honest answer.
People look for this under a lot of names: door lock replacement, front door lock replacement, house lock replacement, replace broken lock, replace damaged lock. In the shop it is all the same trade skill. What changes is the door, the frame, the way you use the entrance, and how much security the opening needs.
We do this for homes, apartments, and businesses. The hardware differs between them, so we describe each below rather than pretending one answer fits all.
When should you replace a lock instead of repairing it?
Plenty of lock problems can be fixed without new hardware. A dry cylinder, a loose screw, or a misaligned strike plate does not call for replacement. But there is a point where repair stops making sense, and we would rather tell you that than sell you a part you do not need. Here are the situations where we usually recommend replacing:
- The key turns hard, sticks, or needs jiggling, and cleaning and lubrication have not helped. That is usually internal wear, and it gets worse, not better.
- The bolt does not fully extend or retract, or the latch hangs up on the strike no matter how the door is adjusted.
- There is visible corrosion: pitting, white or green crust, a thumb turn that will not move. This is common on exterior hardware near the water.
- The lock has been forced, pried, drilled, or kicked. A bent bolt, a cracked cylinder, or a split door edge means the lock cannot be trusted even if it still turns.
- The lock is builder-grade hardware and you want a stronger deadbolt on the door. That is a security lock upgrade rather than a repair.
- You cannot account for the keys, and the lock is old anyway. Replacing it can make more sense than rekeying hardware that is near the end of its life.
- The finish, style, or function no longer fits, for example mismatched hardware across doors or a handle set that no longer latches reliably.
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Call (213) 577-1366How does a lock replacement work, step by step?
The process is simple, but the details are where a job is done well or done badly. Here is how a typical visit goes, whether it is a front door at a house or a storefront door downtown.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and talk to a person, any hour of any day. We ask what the door is, what is wrong with the lock, and whether the door can currently be secured. If it cannot, we treat that as the priority.
- A technician comes to you in a mobile van. We look at the door, the lock, the frame, and the strike plate before recommending anything, because the problem is sometimes the frame and not the lock.
- We explain the options plainly: replace like for like, move up to a stronger grade, or in some cases do a lighter repair. You decide. Nothing is installed until you agree.
- We remove the old hardware and check the door preparation, including the bore holes, the edge, and the alignment, since a good lock in a poorly prepared door will still fail.
- We install the new hardware, set the strike plate properly, and where needed reinforce the frame area so the lock is held by solid wood or metal, not just trim.
- We test the lock repeatedly with the door open and closed, check that every key works smoothly, and hand over the keys. If you want extra copies, we can discuss key duplication at the same visit.
- We take the old hardware away unless you want to keep it, and we leave the door clean and secure.
How much does lock replacement cost in Long Beach?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because an honest price depends on the door in front of us. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so nothing about the quote surprises you.
The most important factor is the hardware. A basic keyed knob and a high-security deadbolt with restricted keys are very different products. Grade matters too: heavier-duty hardware costs more than light residential hardware, and it holds up longer. Finish also plays in, since marine-rated or corrosion-resistant finishes are a sensible choice near the water.
- Type and grade of the lock: knob, lever, deadbolt, mortise, or electronic.
- Number of locks: replacing one door is not the same job as doing every opening in a building, and multiple locks on one visit are usually handled more efficiently.
- Condition of the door and frame: if the door needs re-boring, the strike area needs reinforcing, or there is damage from a break-in attempt, that adds work.
- Keying: keyed alike across several doors, restricted keyways, or a master key system all change the scope.
- Time of day: a call in the middle of the night is a different situation from a scheduled daytime visit, and we will tell you how that affects the quote before we start.
- Special hardware: panic bars, commercial grade cylinders, and smart locks are priced and installed differently from standard residential sets.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Replacing locks on a house, apartment, or rental
For a house, the front door usually gets the most attention, and it should. A solid deadbolt with a properly set strike plate does more for security than most add-ons. If the existing deadbolt is original to the house, worn, or sitting in a loose door edge, a new one is a sensible investment. We can install a new deadbolt where there is none, upgrade the one you have, or step up to a high-security lock with a restricted keyway if you want tighter control over who can copy your keys. If you are leaning toward keypad or app-based entry, we can also talk through smart lock installation and whether it suits your door.
Apartment lock replacement has its own wrinkles. Renters usually need permission from the property manager before changing anything, and lease terms may cover who pays and who keeps a key. In many apartment buildings the entry door is a metal or fire-rated door with specific hardware requirements, so we look at what is already there and match it carefully. If you are a renter, we suggest checking with your landlord first. If you are a property owner, we can work with you directly.
Landlords and property managers often need several units done on one visit, with consistent keying and clear records of which key opens which door. That is a different kind of job from a single front door, and we have a page for it: locksmith for landlords.
Business lock replacement and security upgrades
Commercial lock replacement is not residential work with a bigger bill. Business doors take more traffic, are often glass or aluminum storefront doors with narrow stiles, and may have to meet fire and egress rules. A lock that works on a front door at home can be the wrong choice on a shop door. We choose hardware that fits the door, the traffic, and the legal requirements for getting out in an emergency.
A business security upgrade usually starts with a plain question: what are you protecting, and who needs access? A small retail shop, an office, and a warehouse each have different answers. Sometimes the right upgrade is nothing more than better cylinders and a reinforced strike. Sometimes it is a new keying system so that employees only have keys to what they need, which is where a commercial locksmith approach comes in.
If your storefront door is sticking, will not latch, or has been tampered with, our storefront lock repair page covers the repair side. Where the hardware is beyond repair or the door has been forced, we replace it. We schedule non-emergency business work around your hours when we can, and for after-hours break-ins or a door that will not secure, we come out whenever you call.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Lock replacement across Long Beach: salt air, old houses, and dense buildings
Long Beach is a coastal city, and that shapes the hardware problems we see. Marine layer and onshore salt air are routine, and corrosion of exterior deadbolts, gate latches, and marina hardware is a real maintenance issue within a mile or two of the water. In Belmont Shore, Naples, and out on the Peninsula, exterior locks, gate hardware, and handle sets take a beating. A deadbolt that looked fine two years ago can be pitted, stiff, and one cold morning away from seizing. When that happens, replacement is usually the right fix, and we recommend corrosion-resistant finishes for exterior doors near the water. Marina gates and dock box locks around Alamitos Bay face the same exposure, and we can replace those with hardware chosen to survive it. Gate latches that are failing but not yet dead may be candidates for gate lock repair instead.
Inland districts are milder, so hardware there tends to wear out from use and age rather than from salt. But the housing varies widely. In Rose Park and Bluff Park, Craftsman bungalows and 1920s Spanish Revival homes often have original or very old hardware, and we take care with period doors, matching the look where it matters and upgrading security where it does not show. Downtown, in the East Village Arts District, and in Alamitos Beach, dense prewar apartment blocks and newer high-rise condos mean a lot of unit entry doors and shared-building hardware. East Long Beach, including Los Altos and the El Dorado area, is largely postwar ranch tracts, where original front door sets are often tired and a replacement is a straightforward upgrade. Central neighborhoods have many renters and older multifamily buildings, where security screen doors are common and their latches and locks often need replacing too.
We work throughout the city, from 90802 near downtown and the waterfront to the other Long Beach ZIP codes, including 90803, 90804, 90807, 90808, and 90815. Student rentals near California State University, Long Beach often need a lock swap when tenants turn over. Storefronts along Pine Avenue, 4th Street's Retro Row, and 2nd Street in Belmont Shore have their own door and panic hardware needs, and commercial and warehouse doors near the Port of Long Beach and the Westside industrial area call for heavier-duty replacements. Whatever the address, we look at the door first and recommend from there.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a replacement?
We have been in business since 1987, and that experience matters on jobs like this because replacement is full of small judgment calls: whether a frame can hold a stronger lock, whether a door is worth re-boring, whether hardware is a sensible fit or a wasteful upgrade. We would rather talk you out of an unnecessary part than sell it to you.
We are one company, not a call center passing your job to whoever answers an app. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and our mobile vans bring the work to you across Long Beach and 140 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The person you speak with is part of the same company that sends the technician, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
We answer the phone at (213) 577-1366 around the clock, every day of the year. If a door will not lock at two in the morning, that is exactly when you need a person, not a voicemail. For urgent situations, our Long Beach emergency locksmith page explains how we handle them.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you ask any locksmith before they replace your lock?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), called an LCO license. Ask any locksmith you are thinking of hiring for their license number, and check it. It is a reasonable request, and a company that dodges it is telling you something.
Beyond that, a few more questions help you sort good locksmiths from bad ones:
- Will you look at the door and frame before quoting, or quote blind over the phone?
- What brand and grade of hardware are you installing, and why that one?
- What affects the final cost, and will you explain it before starting work?
- Is the person who answers the phone part of the same company that sends the technician?
- Will you remove and test everything, and leave me with working keys?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lock replacement and rekeying?
Replacement swaps the hardware for new hardware. Rekeying keeps the same lock but changes the inside so old keys no longer work. If the lock is in good condition and you just want to cut off old keys, rekeying is usually the more economical route. If the lock is worn, damaged, or corroded, replace it.
Can you replace a lock the same day I call?
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we send a mobile van to Long Beach. Timing depends on where our vans are and what hardware the job needs, so we give you a realistic arrival estimate when you call (213) 577-1366 rather than promising a number up front.
My deadbolt is corroded from the salt air. Should I replace it?
Usually yes. Once a deadbolt is pitted, stiff, or hard to turn, lubricating it only buys a little time. Near the water, in places like Belmont Shore, Naples, or the Peninsula, we recommend corrosion-resistant finishes for exterior doors so the replacement lasts longer.
Do I need my landlord's permission to replace an apartment lock?
In most cases, yes. Your lease usually says who may change locks and who holds copies of the keys. Check with your property manager first. If you own the building or manage it, we can work with you directly, including multi-unit jobs.
Can you replace a lock on a storefront or office door?
Yes. We do commercial lock replacement and business security upgrades, including storefront doors and doors with panic hardware. We look at the door type, the traffic, and egress requirements so the new lock fits the opening and the rules.
Can you upgrade to a stronger lock without changing the whole door?
Often, yes. A better deadbolt, a longer strike plate screwed into the frame, and a reinforced door edge can raise security a lot without a new door. If the door or frame is the weak point, we will say so plainly.
How do I know if a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask for the license number and verify it. Also ask who will actually come to your door, what hardware they will install, and what affects the final cost, before any work starts.
Will the new lock work with my existing keys?
Sometimes. We can often key a new lock to match an existing key so you do not carry extra keys, but not every combination is possible, and we would not do it if your old key is worn or if you want to cut off old key copies. We talk through the options before installing.
More locksmith help in Long Beach
Lock Replacement near Long Beach
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.