What does lock installation in Manhattan Beach actually involve?
Lock installation means fitting a lock where there isn't one yet, or fitting a different kind of lock than the door was built for. That is a separate job from rekeying, which changes what key works in a lock you already own, and from repair, which fixes a lock that has stopped working. Installation is where the door itself matters most, because a good lock in a badly prepared door is still a weak door.
Most of what we install falls into a handful of situations. A remodel or rebuild leaves you with new doors and nothing on them. A door has only a knob and needs a proper deadbolt. An older door needs to take a modern lock without being ruined. A shop or office needs hardware that suits how people actually come and go. In every case the work starts with the door: its material, its thickness, its condition, and how it hangs in the frame.
Here is the kind of work that comes under this page:
- Front door lock installation on a new or refinished entry door
- Door lock installation on side, garage-access, and back doors that currently have weak hardware or none
- Mortise lock installation on older wood doors and on many storefront doors
- Lever lock installation where knobs are hard to grip or where a commercial-style handle is wanted
- Security lock installation, meaning a stronger deadbolt, reinforced strike, or higher-grade cylinder
- Residential lock installation for houses, condos, and duplexes, and commercial lock installation for shops and offices
Do you need a new installation, a replacement, or just a rekey?
People often call asking for one of these when they need another, and getting it right can lower the cost of the visit. If your locks work and feel solid but you don't know who holds keys, you probably want rekeying, not new hardware. If a lock is worn, damaged, or the wrong style but the door already has the right holes cut for it, that is usually a swap, and our page on lock replacement covers it.
Installation proper is what you need when the door has to be modified: drilling for a deadbolt that was never there, cutting a mortise pocket, enlarging a bore to fit a different lock body, or preparing a brand-new slab. It also applies when you are adding a second lock to a door for better security. We would rather tell you honestly on the phone that your situation is a simpler job than sell you an installation you don't need.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install a new lock, step by step
Every door is a little different, but the sequence is consistent. This is how a typical visit goes.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us about the door: wood, metal, or glass; what lock is there now, if any; and what you want the lock to do. A few photos help if you can send them.
- We confirm the plan before we arrive, including the type of lock, the grade of hardware, and what could change the scope of the work.
- On site, we inspect the door and frame. We check thickness, material, how it closes, whether the latch lines up with the strike, and whether the frame is solid enough to hold the new lock.
- We mark and prepare the door. That can mean drilling new bores, cutting a mortise pocket, or enlarging existing holes, always using templates so the lock sits square.
- We fit the lock body, cylinder, trim, and strike plate. Where the frame is soft or thin, we reinforce the strike area so the lock isn't only as strong as a few short screws.
- We test it properly: the key turns smoothly, the bolt extends fully into the frame, the latch catches without forcing the door, and the handle returns freely.
- We hand over the keys, show you how any special features work, and point out anything about the door itself that you may want to address later.
Which kind of lock fits which door?
Choosing the lock is half of the job. Here is how we think about the common options, with links to the pages that go deeper where we have them.
- Front door locks: an entry door usually needs both a latch (the handle or knob set) and a separate deadbolt. If you only have a knob lock, adding a deadbolt is the single most useful upgrade. Details are on our deadbolt installation page.
- Mortise locks: these sit in a rectangular pocket cut into the door edge and combine the latch and bolt in one body. They are found on many older wood doors and on a lot of commercial doors. Mortise lock installation is more involved than a standard bore-and-fit job, and doing it on an old door means being careful not to weaken the wood.
- Lever locks: a lever handle replaces the round knob. Levers are easier to operate with full hands, wet hands, or limited grip, and they are the common choice in commercial settings. Lever lock installation on a residential door is often a straightforward change if the door is already bored for a standard lock.
- Security locks: a stronger deadbolt, a reinforced strike plate, or a higher-grade cylinder that resists picking and drilling better. If this is your main concern, see our page on high-security locks.
- Electronic and smart locks: keypad, app, or fob locks need the right door prep and a reliable power and connectivity plan. We cover the details on our smart lock installation page.
- Commercial hardware: shop and office doors often call for different grades of lock, closers, and exit devices. Our commercial door hardware page explains what that can include.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of lock installation in Manhattan Beach?
We won't quote a figure on a web page, because honest pricing depends on the specific door. We will tell you what moves the cost up or down so you can judge any estimate, ours or someone else's.
- The lock itself: basic residential hardware, a heavier security grade, a mortise body, and a smart lock sit at very different points on the scale.
- Door material and condition: solid wood, hollow-core, steel, and fiberglass all drill differently, and a swollen or warped door may need attention before a lock will work properly.
- How much door prep is needed: fitting into existing holes is a lighter job than cutting new bores or a mortise pocket.
- Frame and strike reinforcement: a weak frame has to be dealt with, or a strong lock won't do its job.
- The number of doors: several doors in one visit usually make the visit more efficient than separate trips.
- Keying: matching all doors to one key, or keeping the new locks keyed like existing ones, adds some work.
- Timing and access: after-hours calls, tight parking, or hard-to-reach doors can add to the visit.
- Finish and style: matching existing handles, or choosing a finish suited to salt air, can change the hardware selection.
What does lock installation look like across Manhattan Beach?
Manhattan Beach is overwhelmingly single-family housing, but the age and style of the homes vary a lot from one part of the city to the next, and that changes what installation work involves.
In the Sand Section, the walk-streets mix surviving 1920s to 1940s beach cottages with newer custom rebuilds. Many of the older cottages still have their original door hardware, which means doors that were cut for old-style lock bodies. Fitting a modern deadbolt or lock into one of those doors takes care, and sometimes a mortise lock or a carefully chosen retrofit is the better answer than forcing a new design into an old door. Access matters there too. Walk-streets make parking and carrying equipment tight, which is one reason we work from mobile vans and plan the visit ahead of time. If you are in the 90266 ZIP and aren't sure what your old door can take, send us photos first.
The Tree and Hill Sections have mid-century homes sitting beside a lot of teardown-and-rebuild construction. New builds tend to arrive with doors that need hardware, and they commonly use high-end and smart-lock systems. In the Hill Section especially, we see the smart lock installation request on new construction, where the door prep, power, and connectivity plan should be settled before the door is finished. If you are buying or remodeling in these areas, we can also fit new locks as part of a larger hardware update, or rekey what is already there if that is the lighter-cost route.
East Manhattan Beach is dominated by 1950s to 1960s single-family tracts. Those homes often have doors that were never well secured to start with: basic knob sets, thin strike plates, and side doors with little more than a latch. A proper deadbolt and a reinforced strike on the entry and the garage-access door are common upgrades.
Manhattan Village is a gated condominium and townhome community near the mall. If you live in a condo or townhome, check whether your association has rules about exterior door hardware or finishes before you buy. We can work within those rules, but it is better to know them before the lock is chosen. In El Porto, apartment and duplex doors near Highland Avenue present a different picture: landlords and tenants there usually want reliable, easy-to-service hardware that can be keyed consistently.
Downtown Manhattan Beach, along Manhattan Beach Blvd, is where storefront work comes in. Shops and offices there often need commercial lock installation: a mortise lock on a glass-and-aluminum door, a lever set for an interior office door, or exit hardware. If you run a business and your door is already misbehaving, our storefront lock repair page may be what you want, but if you are fitting out a new space, installation is the right place to start.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How do salt air and the marine layer change the lock you should choose?
Living close to the water is hard on door hardware. Direct beachfront exposure means salt air steadily corrodes exterior lock hardware, especially along The Strand and in the Sand Section. A lock that looks fine on the shelf can seize or pit within a few seasons when it is facing the ocean air all day.
What we can do about that is choose and fit hardware sensibly. We favor solid construction and finishes that are meant for coastal use, and we pay attention to where the lock sits on the door and how well the cylinder is protected. No lock is immune. Regular cleaning and light lubrication appropriate to the lock type will extend its life, and we will tell you what we suggest for yours.
The other local factor is moisture. Persistent marine layer dampness can swell wood doors and stick latches in older cottages. A lock installed on a door that is swollen at the time will often misalign later when the door dries and shrinks, so we check the door's fit, the latch alignment, and the strike position at install, and we mention if the door itself needs planing or rehanging. If your current locks are corroded rather than missing, replacing them may be a better fit for your situation; see our page on lock replacement and our general residential locksmith overview.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for lock installation?
Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Manhattan Beach among them. When you call, you reach our own company rather than a dispatch middleman who passes your job to whoever is free. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year. If your door has been damaged or a new lock can't wait, our emergency locksmith service is built for that, and our mobile locksmith vans mean we come to the door rather than asking you to bring it to us. Planned installations are just as welcome. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will work out a schedule that suits you.
We try to be straightforward. If your existing lock can be rekeyed or repaired rather than replaced, we will say so. If your door isn't a good candidate for the lock you picked, we will explain why and suggest an alternative.
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 install a lock?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), known as an LCO license. Ask any locksmith for their license number before work begins, and check that it matches the company name on the invoice and the van. A reputable company will give it without fuss.
A few other good questions to ask:
- What lock do you recommend for this door, and why?
- Will the door need to be drilled or modified, and how?
- What can change the estimate once you see the door?
- Will the new locks be keyed alike with the existing ones, or separately?
- Who will be doing the work, and does your company handle the job directly?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lock installation and lock replacement?
Replacement swaps a lock for another one in a door that is already prepared for it. Installation covers work where the door itself has to be modified, such as drilling for a new deadbolt, cutting a mortise pocket, or preparing a new door. Many jobs involve a bit of both, and we will tell you which one yours is when we see the door.
Can you install a new lock on my old Sand Section cottage door?
Usually yes, but older doors need care. Many cottages in the Sand Section still have original hardware, and the door may be thinner, more worn, or cut for an older lock type. We look at the door first and then choose between a modern retrofit and a mortise lock. Photos sent ahead of time let us plan the visit.
Do I need a deadbolt as well as a handle set on my front door?
Most entry doors do best with both. The handle set holds the door closed and the deadbolt provides the locking strength. If your front door has only a knob lock, adding a deadbolt is typically the most useful upgrade. We can fit one to a door that doesn't have it.
What is a mortise lock, and can you install one?
A mortise lock is a lock body that sits inside a pocket cut into the edge of the door, combining the latch and bolt. It is common on older wood doors and many commercial doors. We install them, and we assess the door first, because cutting the pocket takes structural material out of the door.
Can you fit lever handles instead of round knobs?
Yes. Lever handles are easier to operate and are common in commercial buildings. On many residential doors, switching from a knob to a lever is simple if the door is already bored for a standard lock. We will check the existing holes and the door thickness before we confirm.
Will salt air damage a new lock on my beachfront home?
It can. Salt air steadily corrodes exterior hardware, especially near The Strand and in the Sand Section. We choose hardware and finishes suited to coastal conditions and suggest simple upkeep, but no finish lasts forever in direct exposure, so we won't claim otherwise.
Do you install locks for businesses in downtown Manhattan Beach?
Yes. We handle commercial lock installation for shops and offices, including mortise locks, lever sets, and exit hardware. We will want to know the door type and how it is used day to day. Call (213) 577-1366 to discuss the door and the hardware.
How do I know what my lock installation will cost?
It depends on the lock chosen, the door material and condition, how much prep the door needs, frame reinforcement, the number of doors, keying, and the time and access involved. We explain these factors on the phone and confirm the scope once we see the door, so the estimate matches the actual work.
Can I schedule an installation outside regular business hours?
Yes. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. Planned installations can be scheduled at a time that suits you, and urgent situations, such as a damaged door that won't secure, can be handled through the same number.
More locksmith help in Manhattan Beach
Lock Installation near Manhattan Beach
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.