What is lock replacement, and how is it different from other lock work?
Lock replacement means we take out a lock that is damaged, worn out, or no longer right for the door, and fit new hardware in its place. You get new keys, the old lock leaves with us, and the door latches the way it is supposed to. It is the right job when the lock itself has failed, not only when you are worried about who holds a key.
People search for this under many names: door lock replacement, front door lock replacement, house lock replacement, replace a broken lock. At the bench it is the same work. We pull the old hardware, check how the door was prepared, and fit something solid that suits the door. What changes is the building and what the lock has to survive. In Marina del Rey, that second part matters more than in most places.
Rekeying is a different job. It keeps the existing lock body and changes the internal pins so old keys stop working. If your lock is healthy and your only concern is key control, rekeying the lock is usually the more economical route. We will tell you plainly which one you actually need, even when that means selling you less.
Should you replace the lock, repair it, or rekey it?
Not every sticky lock needs to be thrown out. Here is how we sort it when we look at a door.
After that, the decision is simple. A lock that still works but looks tired often needs cleaning, lubrication or a strike plate adjustment, and we would rather say so than sell hardware you do not need.
- Replace it when the bolt will not fully extend or retract, the key turns but nothing moves, the cylinder is cracked or spinning, the finish has corroded through, or the lock has been forced or tampered with.
- Replace it when the lock is old, low-grade builder hardware and you want a real security lock upgrade, not a like-for-like swap.
- Repair it when one part has failed, such as a loose handle set, a misaligned latch or a worn strike. Our lock repair work covers those cases.
- Rekey it when the lock is in good shape and you only need old keys to stop working, for example after a move or a lost key.
How does a lock replacement visit work, step by step?
The process is the same whether it is one front door or a row of doors in a building. Nothing about it is complicated, but the details are where a good install is separated from a rushed one.
- Call (213) 577-1366. Someone answers at any hour. Tell us what kind of door it is, what the lock is doing, and whether you own, rent or manage the property.
- We come to you in one of our mobile vans, carrying a range of common hardware so many jobs finish in a single visit.
- We confirm you are the person entitled to have the lock changed. That may mean ID, a lease, or a note from the property manager.
- We inspect the lock and the door: bore holes, backset, door thickness, the edge, the strike plate and the frame. A good lock on a damaged door still fails.
- We go over the options and agree on the scope and the cost before any work starts.
- We remove the old hardware, fit the new lock, align the strike and test it repeatedly with the door open, closed and under normal pressure.
- We hand over the keys, show you how the lock operates, and take the old hardware with us unless you want it.
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 replacement in Marina del Rey?
We do not publish numbers on a web page because the honest answer depends on the door in front of us. What we can do is tell you what moves the cost, so a quote makes sense when you get it.
We quote before we begin. If the door needs more than we expected once the old lock is off, we stop and explain before going further.
- Hardware grade and type: a basic knob set, a Grade 1 deadbolt and a restricted-keyway lock are very different products.
- Finish and material: solid brass or stainless hardware that stands up to salt air costs more than plated steel, and usually lasts much longer by the water.
- Number of locks: several doors, a keyed-alike set, or a whole building changes the job.
- Door and frame condition: a damaged bore, a split edge or a worn strike area may need extra work for the new lock to seat properly.
- Electronic features: keypads and smart hardware add complexity compared with a mechanical lock.
- Time of day: a middle-of-the-night call is different from a scheduled daytime visit.
- Distance: Marina del Rey is roughly nine miles from our Westwood storefront, and travel is part of any mobile job.
Front door, apartment or business: what changes?
The steps stay the same, but who decides, and what the lock needs to do, changes with the door.
For a front door lock replacement, the priorities are a solid latch, a deadbolt with a proper throw, and a strike plate fixed into the framing, not just the thin door jamb. In a unit inside a larger complex, building rules sometimes limit what you can fit on the entry door. Check with management first if you are unsure.
Apartment lock replacement depends on your arrangement. Tenants generally need the landlord's or manager's agreement before changing a lock, and many leases ask for a key copy. Managers who need locks refreshed across several units can look at our page for landlords and property managers, which covers that kind of work.
If you want more than a straight swap, a high-security lock adds drill and pick resistance plus key control that is hard to copy without authorization. That is the upgrade worth considering on a main entry door.
Business lock replacement and commercial lock replacement are a different category. Doors see heavy daily use, staff come and go, and the hardware often has to meet fire and egress requirements. For offices and shops, a business security upgrade often starts with replacing worn locks with commercial-grade hardware and thinking about who holds which keys. Our commercial locksmith service covers the wider picture.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What does lock replacement look like around the Marina del Rey harbor?
Marina del Rey is an unincorporated community of Los Angeles County with a single ZIP code, 90292, and it is almost entirely multifamily. Large apartment complexes from the 1960s and 1970s, waterfront condominium towers and newer luxury rentals ring the harbor basins, with very few single-family homes. Most of the doors we replace locks on here belong to a unit in a bigger building, and many sit behind controlled-access lobbies and parking-garage gates.
The bigger issue is the air. Right on the water, exterior deadbolts, gate latches, hinges and padlocks corrode noticeably faster than they do inland, and the marine layer keeps hardware damp on many mornings. The signs are familiar: a key that grinds, a bolt that drags, rust streaks below the lock, or a green or white crust on brass. At that point cleaning rarely helps for long, and replacing with corrosion-tolerant hardware is the sensible fix.
Replacing corroded deadbolts and gate hardware on waterfront condo buildings is a typical job here. Around the Via Marina corridor, the Admiralty Way corridor, Mariners Village and Villa Marina, older exterior hardware that has spent decades in salt air is often long past its life. Near the Fisherman's Village area and the harbor, the same goes for dock gates and dry-storage latches. For those, our gate lock repair page explains when a repair is enough.
Shared mailbox rooms are another pattern in high-density buildings. When a cluster box lock is damaged, who may authorize the change depends on the building and the box type, so we sort that out first. Details are on our mailbox lock replacement page.
If you are in the adjacent Marina Peninsula or Oxford Triangle, which fall inside the City of Los Angeles, call us as well. Our van serves the whole area.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a replacement?
We have been in business since 1987, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That means a lock replacement is judged by someone who has seen decades of failed hardware and knows the difference between a lock that is worn out and one that only needs adjusting.
We run a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile service vans. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are calling our company, not a national call center that sells your job to whoever is available. There are no dispatch middlemen between you and the technician at your door.
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. A broken lock does not pick a convenient hour, and a door that will not secure at night is a problem you want handled that night. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and Marina del Rey is one of them.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you check before hiring a locksmith for a replacement?
Ask for the license. California requires locksmith companies to hold a Locksmith Company license, known as an LCO license, issued by the state Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Any locksmith, including us, should be willing to give you that number when you ask.
Ask for the scope and cost before work starts, not after. Be wary of anyone who will not describe what they plan to fit, or who quotes one figure on the phone and a different one at the door. You are entitled to know the hardware grade, the number of keys, and what is included.
Finally, ask what happens to the old lock and whether the new one is keyed to you alone. A professional installer will explain who else, if anyone, holds keys to the new hardware.
What should you have ready when you call?
A few details let us arrive with the right hardware and avoid a second trip.
- The type of door: wood, metal, glass, or a gate, and whether it is interior or exposed to the weather.
- What the lock is doing: sticking, spinning, broken, corroded, or simply outdated.
- Whether you want the same key on more than one lock.
- Your building situation: owner, tenant or manager, and whether building rules apply.
- Any photos of the lock and the edge of the door, if you can send them.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a lock replacement take?
One lock on a sound door is usually a short visit. It runs longer when the door needs repair, when the bore does not match the new hardware, or when we are replacing several locks. We tell you what to expect once we have seen the door.
Can I replace the lock on my rented apartment myself?
Most leases require the landlord's or manager's permission, and many require a key copy for emergencies. Check the lease and ask the property manager first. We may ask for proof of authorization before doing the work.
I lost my keys. Do I need a new lock or just a rekey?
If the lock is in good condition, rekeying is usually the more economical way to make the lost key useless. If the lock is worn, damaged or poor quality, replacement makes more sense. We look at the lock and tell you which fits.
My deadbolt is rusty from the sea air. Can it be cleaned?
Sometimes surface corrosion can be cleaned and lubricated if the lock still moves freely. If the bolt drags, the key grinds, or the finish has pitted through, replacement with more corrosion-tolerant hardware is the better long-term answer near the harbor.
Can you replace a mailbox lock in my building?
Yes, though who can approve the change depends on the building and the type of mailbox. Some are controlled by management or the postal service. Tell us what kind of box it is when you call and we will sort out authorization first.
Do you replace locks on business doors and offices?
Yes. We handle business lock replacement for offices and shops, including marina-adjacent commercial buildings. Commercial doors often need heavier hardware and a plan for who holds keys, so we look at both.
Will my new lock work with my current key?
It can, if we match the new lock to your existing keyway, but a replacement usually comes with new keys. If you want several locks on one key, tell us up front so we can plan the hardware.
Do you come out at night in Marina del Rey?
Yes. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will arrange a visit. If you are locked out as well, our apartment lockout page explains that service.
More locksmith help in Marina del Rey
Lock Replacement near Marina del Rey
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.