What does deadbolt installation actually involve?
A deadbolt is the lock that does the real work on your door. The knob or lever latch in the handle keeps the door closed, but a spring latch can often be slipped with a card or pried with a screwdriver. A deadbolt throws a solid steel bolt into the door frame, and it stays there until a key or thumb turn pulls it back. That is why a properly installed deadbolt is one of the most useful security upgrades a home can have.
Installation sounds simple, and on a fresh, standard door it can be. In practice the quality of the job is in the details: the size and cleanliness of the bore holes, the backset measurement, whether the bolt lines up with the strike plate without rubbing, and whether the strike is anchored into the framing rather than just the thin door jamb. A deadbolt that is slightly misaligned will bind, wear out early, and tempt people to leave it unlocked because it is a hassle. We install them so they throw smoothly with one turn.
This page covers new deadbolt installation, deadbolt replacement when an old one is worn or broken, and double cylinder deadbolt installation for doors where that style makes sense. If your question is really about a general lock fitting, our lock installation service covers the wider picture.
Single cylinder or double cylinder: which deadbolt fits your door?
Most homeowners should start with a single cylinder deadbolt. It takes a key on the outside and has a thumb turn on the inside, so anyone in the house can open the door quickly without hunting for a key. That matters in an emergency, and it matters for ordinary life too, like carrying groceries or letting kids and guests out.
A double cylinder deadbolt takes a key on both sides. People ask for it when the door has glass in it or beside it, because a burglar who breaks the glass could otherwise reach in and turn a thumb turn. The tradeoff is real, though. If there is a fire or other emergency and the key is not in the lock or within reach, getting out through that door becomes slower and harder. Building and fire codes in many places restrict keyed-both-sides locks on residential exit doors, and rental properties may have their own rules. Check with your landlord, property manager or local building department before you commit, and we will tell you plainly if we think a double cylinder is the wrong call for a particular door.
- Single cylinder: key outside, thumb turn inside. The right choice for most solid doors, and the easiest to live with.
- Double cylinder: key on both sides. Worth considering for doors with glass within arm's reach of the lock, but it needs a plan for fast exit, such as a key kept in a known spot.
- Keyless-entry and electronic deadbolts: a different category, covered under smart lock installation.
- Higher-grade and pick- or drill-resistant models: worth a look if the door faces a street or alley, see high-security locks.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install a deadbolt, step by step
Whether we are adding a deadbolt to a door that only has a handle latch or swapping out a tired one, the sequence is much the same. We do not rush the measuring and we do not leave until the door closes and locks the way it should.
- Look at the door and frame. We check the door material, thickness, condition, and whether it already has a bore for a deadbolt. Solid wood, metal and fiberglass doors all take a deadbolt, but each is drilled and handled a little differently.
- Talk through the lock choice. Single or double cylinder, finish, key-matching with your existing locks if you want one key for the house, and what grade of hardware suits the door.
- Mark and drill, or remove the old lock. For a new installation we use a template, mark the height and backset, and bore the face and edge holes cleanly. For a replacement we pull the old hardware and check that the existing holes are the right size and not damaged.
- Install the strike and reinforce it. The strike plate goes into the frame with screws long enough to reach the framing behind the jamb. This step is what lets the lock stand up to a hard shove, and it is the one most often skipped on rushed jobs.
- Mount the lock and check alignment. We seat the bolt, fit both sides, and make sure the bolt extends fully into the strike without catching or rubbing.
- Test it repeatedly. We run the key and thumb turn many times with the door open and closed, and we check how the door behaves when you pull on it. If it sticks, we adjust until it does not.
- Hand over the keys and explain the lock. You get the keys, and we point out how it operates, especially on a double cylinder where the key location matters.
What affects the cost of deadbolt installation in Pico Rivera?
We do not quote a number on a web page because the honest answer depends on the door in front of us. Here is what actually moves the cost, so you can see why one job runs lighter than another and what you are paying for.
When you call (213) 577-1366, describe the door and the lock you have now, and we can usually tell you which of these factors will apply.
- New installation versus replacement. Replacing a deadbolt in an existing bore is generally the lighter job. Drilling a new bore, or enlarging a worn one, takes more labor.
- Door material and condition. Solid wood, hollow metal, fiberglass and older doors with worn edges each need different handling, and some need reinforcement.
- Lock grade and type. A basic residential deadbolt costs less than a higher-grade, pick-resistant or specialty model, and double cylinders usually cost somewhat more than singles.
- Number of locks. Doing several doors in one visit, or matching them all to one key, changes the total on a per-door basis.
- Frame and strike work. If the jamb is split or soft, it may need repair or a reinforced strike before the lock can do its job.
- Timing. Evening, weekend and overnight calls are priced differently from a scheduled daytime visit, and we will tell you that up front.
- Parts and keying. Keying a new deadbolt to match your existing key is usually a small matter, but it is part of the picture.
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Call (213) 577-1366Deadbolt installation, replacement, or rekey: which one do you need?
These get mixed up often, and the lighter-cost option is sometimes the right one. If the deadbolt you have is in good shape and your only concern is who might still hold a key, a lock rekey changes the internal pins so old keys stop working, without replacing hardware. That is common after a move, a roommate leaving, or a lost key.
Replacement makes sense when the lock itself is worn, damaged, stiff, low-grade, or a style you want to upgrade. If you are weighing several lock types at once, our broader lock replacement service page covers that conversation. New installation applies when a door has no deadbolt at all, which is more common than people expect on interior-to-garage doors, side doors, and older back doors.
If you are not sure which category you are in, ask. We would rather explain the difference and fit the right solution than sell hardware you do not need.
What deadbolt work looks like around Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera is mostly post-war single-family housing from the 1950s, built as the old Pico and Rivera communities grew together before the city incorporated in 1958. Owner-occupancy is high, which means people tend to stay put and upgrade a door at a time. Around the Smith Park area and the surrounding tracts, the typical call is a homeowner who has the original handle latch and an aging single deadbolt on the front door, and wants the back and side doors brought up to the same level. Sometimes a rekey is the first step and a deadbolt upgrade follows.
Wrought-iron security doors are common in the El Rancho area, around El Rancho High School, and across the 90660 ZIP code. The thing to remember is that the iron screen door has its own lock and it is not the main protection. The deadbolt belongs on the solid inner door, and the installation has to leave enough clearance for the security door to open and close without clipping the hardware. We check that fit before we drill. If the gate or screen lock itself is the problem, that is a separate repair, and our gate lock repair page covers it.
Along the Whittier Boulevard and Rosemead Boulevard corridors there are small apartment buildings, where deadbolts are a different conversation. Tenants usually need the landlord's approval before changing a lock, and owners often want matching keyed hardware across units. Property owners can read about our work on the locksmith for landlords page.
On climate, Pico Rivera sits on the inland plain between the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River channels, with warm, dry summers and no meaningful salt-air exposure. That is good news for hardware, since finishes do not corrode the way they do near the coast. The seasonal temperature swings cause only minor sticking in older wood doors, and a bolt that suddenly binds is more often a slightly shifted door or a loose hinge than a bad lock. We look at both when we install, so you do not end up blaming the new deadbolt for an old door problem.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a deadbolt?
We have been in business since 1987, working from a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, with mobile service vans that cover 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including Pico Rivera, about 21 miles from our base. When you call, you reach us, not a national dispatch center that sells your call to whoever picks it up. The company that answers is the company that sends the technician.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That matters on a deadbolt job because small decisions, like how deep the strike screws go or whether a door needs reinforcement, are the difference between a lock that feels solid and one that only looks it.
One more thing to know: California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license. You should ask any locksmith for it before they start work, including us. It is a fair question and you are entitled to a clear answer.
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. A scheduled daytime installation and a late-night call after a break-in attempt both get the same care.
What to do before the technician arrives
A little preparation makes the visit go quicker and keeps the job accurate. None of it is complicated.
Know which doors you want done and whether you want them keyed alike. Mention any glass in or beside the door if you are leaning toward a double cylinder. If you rent, get your landlord's okay in writing first. And if the door has a security screen, let us know so we can plan the clearance.
- Clear the area around the door so the technician can work and the door can swing fully open.
- Have your current keys ready if you want the new lock keyed to match.
- If the frame has been kicked, split or damaged, mention it when you call so we can plan for repair work.
- Tell us if the door sticks in warm or cool weather, since that may need adjusting alongside the lock.
- Ask any questions about code or fire exit, especially if you are considering a keyed-both-sides deadbolt.
When a deadbolt problem cannot wait
Some deadbolt jobs are scheduled, and some are not. If a door has been forced, a key is broken off in the lock, or you are shut out because the bolt jammed, that is an urgent situation, and our emergency locksmith service in Pico Rivera is set up for it. If you are simply locked out of the house, the house lockout page explains how we get you back in, and we can then repair or replace the deadbolt while we are there if it was damaged.
For general contact details or to book a non-urgent visit, you can use the contact page or call (213) 577-1366.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a deadbolt on a door that does not have one?
Yes. We measure and mark the door, drill the face and edge bores, install the bolt and strike, and test the door. Most solid wood, fiberglass and metal doors can take one. Very thin or hollow doors may need reinforcement first, and we will tell you before starting if that applies to yours.
Is a double cylinder deadbolt safe for my home?
It can be, but it carries a tradeoff. Because it needs a key on both sides, leaving quickly in a fire or emergency depends on having the key available. Codes and rental rules in many places restrict them on exit doors, so check with your landlord or building department first. For doors without nearby glass, a single cylinder is usually the better fit.
How do I know whether I need a replacement or just a rekey?
If the lock works smoothly and you only want old keys to stop working, a rekey is usually the more economical route. If the lock is worn, stiff, damaged, low-grade or just not what you want, replacement is the better choice. Call us and describe the lock, and we will say which makes sense.
Will a new deadbolt work with my wrought-iron security door?
Usually yes. The deadbolt goes on the solid inner door, and the security door has its own separate lock. We check the clearance so the screen door still opens and closes without hitting the hardware. This is a common setup in Pico Rivera and we plan for it before drilling.
Can all my deadbolts use the same key?
In most cases, yes. We can key new deadbolts alike to each other, or to match an existing lock, so one key covers several doors. Tell us at the start which locks you want matched so we choose compatible hardware.
How much will deadbolt installation cost?
It depends on whether this is a new installation or a replacement, the door material and condition, the lock grade and type, how many doors there are, and the time of day. We do not post numbers online. Call (213) 577-1366, describe the door, and we will explain what applies to your situation.
Do you install deadbolts for rental properties and apartments?
Yes, with the property owner or manager's approval. Tenants should get written permission before changing a lock. For owners with several units, we can match keying across doors. Details are on our landlord page, and you can call to talk through the building.
Can you replace a deadbolt after a break-in attempt?
Yes. We can replace a damaged deadbolt, check the strike plate and frame for splits or cracks, and reinforce them if needed. A forced door often has frame damage that makes a new lock less effective unless it is repaired too, so we look at the whole setup.
Do you ask for the BSIS license, or should I?
You should. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and it is reasonable to ask any locksmith for that information before work begins. Asking is routine and protects you.
More locksmith help in Pico Rivera
Deadbolt Installation near Pico Rivera
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.