What does lock installation actually cover?
Lock installation is the work of fitting a lock onto a door so that it lines up, latches and locks every time. Sometimes the door has never had a lock. Sometimes the old hardware is the wrong kind for the job and a different type has to go in. Either way, the lock is only half of it. The other half is the door: how it was drilled, whether the frame is square, and whether the strike plate is screwed into something solid.
It helps to know where installation ends and its neighbors begin. If you are swapping a worn lock for a like-for-like one, that is closer to lock replacement. If the lock is sound but you are worried about who else holds a key, rekeying is usually the more economical route, and we will tell you so rather than sell you hardware you do not need. This page is about putting new hardware onto a door properly.
- Front door lock installation: deadbolts, handlesets, knobs and levers on entry doors
- Door lock installation on side, garage-entry, patio and interior doors
- Mortise lock installation, including cutting or reworking the pocket in the door edge
- Lever lock installation for homes, offices and shop doors
- Security lock installation: reinforced strikes, longer screws, higher-grade cylinders
- Residential lock installation for houses, condos and apartments
- Commercial lock installation for storefronts, offices and back-of-house doors
Why do new locks fail when they are fitted badly?
Most of the complaints we hear about a brand-new lock are not about the lock. The bolt rubs the strike because the door has dropped slightly. The key turns stiffly because the latch hole was bored a little off. The deadbolt only throws halfway because the frame is out of true. A strike plate held by short screws will let go with one good shove, no matter how expensive the cylinder behind it.
Pasadena adds its own wrinkle. Summers here run hotter than coastal Los Angeles, and sun and dryness are the main stress on wood doors. Wood shrinks, swells and shifts with the season, and a door that closed cleanly in spring can start to bind or gap by late summer. Santa Ana wind events slam doors harder than normal, which punishes loose hardware. Along the northern foothill edge there is also more wind-blown dust than on the flats, which is another reason a cylinder should be fitted cleanly and operate without force.
So we fit with the door's movement in mind. We check that hinges are tight, that the door sits where it should in the frame, and that the bolt has room to travel. A lock installed on a door that is already misaligned will only be as reliable as the worst part of that door.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How do we install a new lock, step by step?
The process is the same whether it is one front door or a row of office doors. Only the amount of detail changes.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us about the door: material, whether it is already drilled, what kind of lock you have in mind, and whether it is a home or a business. Photos help if you can send them.
- We explain what the job involves and what will drive the cost, so you know where you stand before anyone drives out.
- On site, we inspect the door and frame first: thickness, condition, hinge tightness, existing holes, and how the door sits when closed.
- We confirm the lock suits the door. If a door cannot carry the hardware you picked, or the hardware is not right for the use, we say so and suggest something that is.
- We prepare the door. That means marking with the right template, boring the face and edge holes, and for a mortise set, cutting or adjusting the pocket so the body sits tight.
- We fit the lock body, cylinder, trim and strike, using screws long enough to reach the framing behind the jamb rather than just the thin trim.
- We test it properly: bolt fully extended and retracted, key and thumb-turn from both sides, door open and closed, and several times over so any binding shows up while we are still there.
- We hand over the keys, show you how everything works, and clean up. If you want the old hardware back, just ask.
Which type of lock belongs on which door?
Choosing the wrong kind of lock is a more common problem than choosing a poor brand. Here is how we think about the main options.
Front doors usually need two things working together: a latch that holds the door shut in daily use and a deadbolt that resists force. For front door lock installation we often pair a handleset or lever with a separate deadbolt. If you only want the deadbolt, we cover that in more detail on our deadbolt installation page. If you want keyless entry, app control or codes, see smart lock installation, because those locks have their own battery, fit and door-prep considerations.
Mortise lock installation is a different job from fitting a standard bored lock. A mortise body slides into a deep pocket cut in the edge of the door, and the lock, latch and often the deadbolt live in that one case. They are common on older homes and on many commercial doors, and they are sturdy when properly fitted. They also demand more careful cutting. One honest caution: if an existing mortise lock still works and its body is sound, replacing the whole thing is not always necessary. Sometimes a new cylinder or a rekey is the lighter-cost fix.
Lever lock installation is popular because levers are easy to operate with a full hand or an armload of groceries, and they are standard on a lot of commercial and interior doors. The lever itself matters less than the quality of the lock behind it and the correct fit to the door's thickness and bore.
Security lock installation covers the upgrades that make a door harder to defeat: reinforced strike plates, longer screws, better-grade deadbolts and cylinders with more pick and drill resistance. When a door needs the next step up, we walk through options on the high-security locks page. A strong lock on a weak door or frame is wasted money, so we look at the whole door.
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 a lock installation?
We do not publish numbers here because a lock job is not a fixed-price item. Two doors on the same street can need very different work. These are the things that move the cost:
- The lock itself: grade, brand, finish, and whether it is a deadbolt, handleset, lever, mortise set or smart lock
- How many doors are involved and whether you want them keyed alike
- The state of the door: a fresh, solid door that is already drilled is simpler than a worn or warped one that needs to be bored, reinforced or shimmed
- Mortise work, which takes more labor than standard bored locks, especially if the pocket has to be cut or reshaped
- Frame condition: a cracked or loose jamb may need repair for the new lock to hold
- Commercial requirements such as exit hardware, door closers or a keying system that has to fit your existing set
- Time of day, since after-hours work is a different proposition than a daytime visit
- Travel: Pasadena is about 23 miles from our Westwood storefront, so distance is part of the picture
What affects the choice between a lighter-cost option and a bigger upgrade?
A quality bored deadbolt on a sound, solid door is usually the more economical route to a real security improvement. A full mortise set or a smart lock makes sense when the door, the building or your daily habits call for it, but they are not automatically better for every door. We would rather fit the right lock for the job than the most expensive one, and we will explain our reasoning so you can decide.
If you supply your own hardware, we can often install it, though we will tell you plainly if it does not suit the door. Our aim is a lock that works properly and keeps working, not just one that is on the door when we leave.
How does lock installation work across Pasadena's neighborhoods?
Pasadena is not one kind of building, and the door tells you quickly what the job will be. In Bungalow Heaven, Craftsman bungalows often have original early-1900s hardware still in service. The city has numerous designated historic landmark districts, so if your home sits in one, it is worth asking whether any rules apply before changing visible hardware. In those homes we aim to add security without disturbing what makes the door look right. Often that means a discreet deadbolt, a reinforced strike or a rebuilt mortise setup rather than a full strip-out, depending on the door.
Up in Oak Knoll and San Rafael, grand estates tend to have large, heavy entry doors, side doors and service entries, each with different hardware needs. Heavy doors need good hinges and careful alignment as much as they need a good lock. In Hastings Ranch and Linda Vista, ordinary single-family doors, garage-entry doors and sliding patio doors tend to be the common requests, and the wind and dust exposure along the foothill edge is a good reason to be careful with finish and fit.
Around Old Pasadena and the Playhouse District, the building mix shifts to mid-rise condos and apartments, and controlled-access buildings concentrate along the Metro A Line corridor. Installation here comes with constraints: many buildings have rules about which locks and keyways can go on unit doors, and you may need approval from your HOA or property manager. We suggest checking that before you buy hardware. People around Old Pasadena and the Playhouse District also call us after a lockout, when they realize their door hardware is tired or a key is unaccounted for. A lock fitted soon afterward closes that gap for good.
Whether you are in 91101, 91104, 91106, 91107 or any other Pasadena ZIP, our approach is the same: look at the door first, then choose the lock. For the full picture of what we do here, see our Pasadena locksmith services overview.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What about commercial lock installation on Colorado Boulevard and South Lake Avenue?
Storefronts have different priorities than homes. The door gets opened hundreds of times a day, staff share keys, and the hardware has to hold up to constant use. Along Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena and in the South Lake Avenue shopping district, we see storefront lock and door-closer service as a regular part of a business owner's year, and the best time to get a lock right is at installation.
Commercial lock installation usually involves more than a cylinder. It can include lever sets, mortise locks, deadlatches, exit hardware and closers that need to be matched to the door and to how your staff use it. Egress and fire rules apply to many commercial doors, so a lock that suits the front entrance may not suit an exit, and we recommend confirming your occupancy requirements with the city if you are unsure. For the broader range of hardware we fit on business doors, see our commercial door hardware page.
If you manage rental buildings rather than a storefront, we also work with property owners on installing and standardizing hardware across units. Details are on our locksmith for landlords page.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a new lock?
We have been in business since 1987, serving 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and our mobile service vans bring the work to your door. You are dealing with one company, not a call center that hands your job to whoever is free. When you call (213) 577-1366, any hour, any day, you are reaching us.
David, who owns the company and is its lead technician, oversees the work. That matters on installation, where small details like bore alignment and strike placement decide whether a lock is a pleasure or a nuisance to use for the next twenty years.
One more thing worth knowing whoever you hire: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you are entitled to ask any locksmith about it before they touch your door. A reputable company will not mind the question.
What should you have ready when you call?
A little preparation makes the job faster and the advice more accurate.
- Which door or doors the lock is for, and whether they are interior, exterior, or commercial
- The door material and, if you can see it, whether it is already drilled
- Photos of the door edge, the frame and any existing hardware
- Whether you rent or belong to an HOA, in case permission is needed first
- How many keys you want and whether doors should be keyed alike
- Any hardware you have already bought, so we can check it suits the door
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a lock on a door that has never had one?
Yes. We prepare the door by marking and boring the holes, then fit the lock, strike and trim. We also check the door's thickness and condition first, because some doors, especially thin or hollow ones, need reinforcement or a different lock type to be secure.
Will you install a lock I bought myself?
Often, yes. We will look at the lock and the door first and tell you plainly if it is a poor match. Fitting a lock that does not suit the door is not a good outcome for either of us.
How long does a lock installation take?
It depends on the door. A standard bored lock on a sound, already-drilled door is typically a short visit. Mortise work, multiple doors, damaged frames or commercial hardware take longer. We will tell you what to expect when you call.
What is the difference between installing, replacing and rekeying a lock?
Installation puts new hardware on a door, sometimes a door that had none. Replacement swaps an existing lock for another. Rekeying changes the inside of a working lock so old keys stop working. If you are unsure which you need, describe the situation and we will point you to the lighter-cost option that solves it.
Can you add a deadbolt to an old Craftsman door in a historic district?
Often we can, and in a way that leaves the original hardware visible. It depends on the door's thickness and condition. If your home is in one of Pasadena's designated historic districts, ask whether any rules apply to visible hardware before work begins.
Do you handle commercial lock installation for Pasadena businesses?
Yes. We fit lever sets, mortise locks, deadlatches and related hardware on storefronts, offices and back doors. For exits and fire-rated doors, check what your building and occupancy require, and tell us so the hardware matches.
Do I need permission before changing locks in my condo or apartment?
Often you do. Many buildings, especially controlled-access ones, set rules about what can go on unit doors, and renters should check their lease. Ask your HOA or property manager before you buy hardware.
Can new locks be keyed to work with my existing keys?
In many cases, yes. If you want several doors on one key, tell us up front and we can match or key them alike where the hardware allows. Some locks cannot be combined, and we will tell you which.
Do you install locks at night or on weekends in Pasadena?
Our phone, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, so you can call any time. Installations are planned around the situation, and we will explain what is possible when you reach us.
More locksmith help in Pasadena
Lock Installation near Pasadena
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.