What does deadbolt installation involve for a Mission Hills door?
Most deadbolt calls start the same way. An exterior door has only a spring latch, the kind a firm shove or a flexible piece of plastic can defeat, or the existing deadbolt is loose, sticking, or worn out. Sometimes someone has just moved in and wants a solid lock on every exterior door, not only the front one.
In a neighborhood where so many houses date to the 1950s, we expect to find original hardware: a cylindrical knob lock with a thin latch, and either no deadbolt at all or an old one that has been painted over a few times. A real deadbolt changes the picture. The bolt is a solid piece of metal that extends into the door frame, and it does not slide back when someone pushes on it the way a spring latch does.
But a deadbolt is only as good as its installation. A well-made lock set into a sloppy bore, with short screws holding a thin strike plate to soft framing, can fail as easily as a bargain lock. That is why we put as much attention on the door, the bore holes, and the frame as on the lock itself. Installing a deadbolt is a precision job, and the precision is what you are paying for.
- Your exterior door has a knob lock only and no deadbolt
- The deadbolt turns only if you lift or push on the door
- The bolt does not fully extend, or it rubs the frame
- The lock body spins or wiggles in the door
- You just moved in and want every exterior door to match
- A door has glass nearby and you want to choose the cylinder type carefully
Single-cylinder or double-cylinder: which deadbolt is right?
A single-cylinder deadbolt has a key slot on the outside and a thumb-turn on the inside. It is the standard choice for most homes, because anyone inside can leave quickly without hunting for a key. If you are having a deadbolt installed on a typical solid door, this is what we usually recommend.
A double-cylinder deadbolt takes a key on both sides. People ask for double-cylinder deadbolt installation when a door has a glass panel or a sidelight within arm's reach of the lock. With a thumb-turn, someone who breaks the glass can reach in and open the door. With a keyed inside cylinder, they cannot.
The tradeoff is real, and we will explain it plainly. A double-cylinder deadbolt that is locked needs a key to get out. In a fire or any emergency, a person who cannot find the key quickly can be trapped. Fire and building codes limit or restrict these locks in some situations, and rules differ between single-family homes, rentals, and multi-unit buildings. If you rent, check with your landlord or property manager before asking for one.
Where a double-cylinder makes sense, the usual advice is to keep a key in a consistent, reachable spot near the door and make sure every adult in the home knows where it is. Where it does not make sense, there are other ways to deal with a glass-adjacent door, such as a security film on the glass, a different door, or a thumb-turn with a shield. We would rather talk it through than sell you the wrong lock.
- Solid door, no glass nearby: single-cylinder is almost always the better fit
- Glass within reach of the lock: consider double-cylinder, but weigh the exit issue and check code and lease rules
- Doors that are your main way out in an emergency: favor the thumb-turn
- Rental unit: get your landlord's approval before changing the lock type
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install or replace a deadbolt, step by step
Whether it is a first-time deadbolt installation or a deadbolt replacement, the sequence is similar. We can work at your door with our mobile vans, or you can bring a door or hardware by our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd if that suits a particular job.
- Look at the door. We check the material, thickness, condition of the edge, and whether the door already has a bore for a deadbolt. A hollow-core or thin door may need reinforcement, and we tell you that up front.
- Choose the hardware. We go over single or double-cylinder, finish, and security grade, and match the backset (the distance from the door edge to the center of the bore) to what your door needs.
- Prepare the door. For a new installation we mark and drill the face bore and the edge bore with a proper hole saw and guide, so the lock body sits straight. For a replacement we use the existing bores where they are sound.
- Fit the lock. The latch is set flush in the door edge, the cylinder and thumb-turn or second cylinder are connected through the door, and the through-bolts are tightened evenly so nothing binds.
- Prepare the frame. We chisel the strike mortise to the right depth and install a strike plate with long screws that bite into the framing behind the door jamb, not just the thin jamb itself.
- Test and align. We run the bolt with the door open, then closed, until it throws fully with no rubbing or lifting. If a door has sagged or swollen, we correct the alignment rather than forcing the lock to cope.
- Hand over the keys. We cycle the lock with you, confirm the keys work smoothly, and can set the new deadbolt to match your other locks if you want one key for the house.
Installation, replacement, or rekey: what do you actually need?
These three jobs get mixed up often, so it helps to separate them. Installation means adding a deadbolt where there is none, which involves drilling the door and preparing the frame. Replacement means swapping an existing deadbolt for a new one, which is usually faster because the bores are already there. A rekey changes only the internal pins so old keys stop working, and the lock itself stays on the door.
If your deadbolt works fine but you are worried about who has keys, rekeying the lock is often the more economical route. If the deadbolt is worn, bent, or damaged, or if you want a stronger grade, replacement is the answer. For a broader swap across several doors, our lock replacement service covers that.
We do not push the bigger job when a smaller one solves your problem. If a deadbolt only needs a strike plate adjustment or the door needs planing, we will say so.
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Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of a deadbolt installation?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because honest pricing depends on the door in front of us. Here is what moves the cost up or down, so you know what to expect when you call (213) 577-1366.
Describe the door when you call, and we can usually tell you which of these apply before we arrive.
- New installation or replacement: drilling a fresh bore takes more labor than swapping into an existing one, so replacement is generally the lighter-cost job
- Lock grade and brand: residential deadbolts are rated in grades, and higher grades use heavier internal parts and tougher bolts
- Single or double-cylinder: the hardware differs, and the double-cylinder has a second keyed cylinder
- Door condition: a thin, cracked, or hollow door may need reinforcement, and a damaged bore or edge may need repair first
- Frame and strike work: rotted or split jambs, or a misaligned frame, add time
- Number of doors and whether they are keyed alike
- Finish and style, including matching existing hardware
- Time of day: after-hours and emergency visits cost differently than scheduled daytime work
- Extras, such as upgrading to a high-security lock with restricted keys
Deadbolts across Mission Hills: ranch tracts, apartments, and townhomes
Mission Hills has a mix of housing, and the right approach changes with the building. Here is how that plays out for deadbolt work in ZIP code 91345.
In the 1950s ranch tracts around the Mission district near San Fernando Mission, and through the streets off Brand Park, original postwar door hardware is still common in homes that have not been remodeled. Those doors often carry a knob lock with a thin latch and a weak strike. When a house changes hands, a common local scenario is a home rekey after the sale, and that is also the natural moment to add or upgrade a deadbolt on the front, back, and garage-side doors. We can do both in one visit, and set everything to the same key if you like.
Along the Sepulveda Boulevard corridor, apartments make up much more of the housing. Deadbolt work there is usually replacement: worn deadbolts on unit doors, or a tenant turnover where the owner wants fresh hardware. If you manage rentals, see our page for landlords and property managers. If a resident is locked out of an apartment in the meantime, that is a separate job covered under apartment lockout.
Near Rinaldi Street, newer townhome development has different doors: often a steel or fiberglass entry with a factory-prepared bore. Those are usually straightforward deadbolt swaps, but the association may have rules about finish and style, so check before you buy hardware. Along Devonshire Street and the I-405/SR-118 interchange area, we work with a mix of homes and small businesses, and if you are securing a business entrance rather than a house door, a deadbolt may be only part of the picture. Our commercial door hardware page covers the rest.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Does Mission Hills weather affect how a deadbolt fits?
It can. Mission Hills sits in the north valley, where summers run hotter than the basin, and the area near the 118 corridor sees periodic Santa Ana winds. That hot, dry air dries out door seals and weatherstripping. Wood doors and frames can also move slightly as their moisture content changes through the seasons, and a bolt that slid easily in spring may start to catch or rub in a different season.
We account for that when we install. We leave the right amount of clearance between the bolt and the strike so the lock does not bind when the door shifts a little, and we look at the weatherstripping, since a door that has lost its seal often gets pushed or pulled out of true. If your door sticks or the bolt rubs in certain weather, tell us. Often the fix is an alignment adjustment, not a new lock.
One honest note: a new deadbolt will not fix a door that is badly warped or a frame that has dropped. If that is what is happening, we will tell you, and we can discuss whether to correct the door or choose a different approach.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your deadbolt?
We have been in business since 1987, and deadbolts are basic work for us. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood plus mobile vans that come to your door in Mission Hills and across 140 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. For help getting to you, see our mobile locksmith service.
When you call, you reach us, not a call center that passes your job to whoever is available. We do not use dispatch middlemen. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, so the standards for how a bore is drilled, how a strike is set, and how a door is left do not change from job to job.
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. If your door will not lock tonight, you do not have to wait for a business day. If you are planning an upgrade, we are happy to talk it through with no pressure.
If you are considering a keypad, app, or electronic deadbolt instead of a mechanical one, that is a different installation; see smart lock installation.
Before you hire anyone: ask about the BSIS license
California requires locksmith companies to hold a Locksmith Company (LCO) license issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as BSIS. Ask any locksmith you are considering for their license number and check it with the state before they start work. That is good advice whether you call us or anyone else.
Also ask for the work to be described before it begins: which deadbolt, which grade, whether the door needs preparation, and what the total will include. A reputable locksmith will be able to explain those clearly. Be cautious about anyone who refuses to describe the job until they arrive, or who changes the story once they are at your door.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install a deadbolt?
A replacement into an existing bore is usually a short job. A new installation takes longer because the door has to be drilled and the frame prepared. A door that needs reinforcement or frame repair adds time. We can give you a sense of it when you call, after you describe the door.
Can you install a deadbolt on a door that does not have one?
Yes, in most cases. We check the door's thickness, material, and edge. Solid wood, solid-core, steel, and fiberglass doors generally take a deadbolt well. Thin or hollow doors may need reinforcement, and we will tell you before we start if that is the case.
Is a double-cylinder deadbolt a good idea for my home?
It depends on the door. It makes sense where glass is within reach of the lock. The downside is that you need a key to leave when it is locked, which can be dangerous in a fire. Codes and lease rules may limit them, so check yours. If the door has no nearby glass, a single-cylinder is usually the better choice.
What is the difference between deadbolt replacement and rekeying?
Replacement removes the old deadbolt and installs a new one. Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work, and the lock stays on the door. If the lock is in good shape and you only need new keys, rekeying is often the lighter-cost route.
Do you install deadbolts in apartments and rental units?
Yes. If you rent, get approval from your landlord or property manager first, especially for double-cylinder deadbolts or changes to the door's appearance. Property owners and managers can also call us about doing several units at once.
Can all my doors use the same key?
Usually, yes. We can set new deadbolts to match your existing locks, or key several new ones alike so one key works across the house. Tell us which doors you want included when you call.
Why does my deadbolt not line up with the strike plate?
Doors and frames move over time. Hinges loosen, wood shifts with the seasons, and weatherstripping dries out. Mission Hills summer heat and Santa Ana wind can contribute. Often the fix is adjusting the strike, tightening hinges, or relieving the mortise, rather than replacing the lock.
Can you come out at night or on a weekend?
Yes. Our phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Cost can differ for after-hours work, and we explain what applies when you call.
Do I need a locksmith license check before you start?
You should ask any locksmith for their California BSIS locksmith company (LCO) license number, and you can verify it with the state. It is a reasonable request on any job, and it is worth doing before work begins.
More locksmith help in Mission Hills
Deadbolt Installation near Mission Hills
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.