What does a lock installation actually involve?
Installing a lock sounds like a ten-minute job, and sometimes the hardware part is. What decides whether the lock works for years is everything around it: whether the bore holes are the right size, whether the latch lines up with the strike plate, whether the door has swollen or sagged, and whether the lock suits what that door is asked to do. A good lock bolted into a misaligned door will bind, wear out early and eventually fail.
Lock installation is the right service when there is no lock yet, or when the door needs a different kind of lock than the one it has. That covers a new door hung without hardware, a deadbolt added above a knob, a lever set replacing a round knob, a mortise lock on a door built for one, or a business door being fitted for the first time. If the lock works and you only want different keys, that is a lock rekey. If an existing lock is worn out or damaged and has to come out, that is closer to lock replacement.
We will tell you honestly which of these you actually need. Sometimes the more economical route is not a new lock at all, and we would rather say so on the phone than sell you hardware you do not need.
Which types of lock installation do we handle in Redondo Beach?
Most calls fall into a handful of categories. Here is how we think about each one, so you can describe what you want when you call.
- Front door lock installation: an entry handle set or knob with a keyed deadbolt, matched to the door's thickness, the backset and the direction the door swings. This is the most common request we get for homes.
- Residential lock installation on other doors: back doors, garage service doors, side gates with a latch, patio doors and the occasional bedroom or office door that needs a keyed lock.
- Deadbolt work: adding a deadbolt where there is only a spring latch, or upgrading one that is loose or poorly aligned. We cover this in more detail on our deadbolt installation page.
- Lever lock installation: lever handles in place of round knobs, which are easier to operate with full hands, a stroller or a bad wrist.
- Mortise lock installation: the lock body sits inside a pocket cut into the edge of the door. It is common on older doors and on many storefronts.
- Security lock installation: higher-grade cylinders, reinforced strike plates, longer screws into the framing and hardware chosen to resist forced entry, not just to look good.
- Commercial lock installation: storefront, office, back-of-house and stockroom doors, where the hardware has to take heavy daily use.
- Electronic and keypad hardware: if you want to go keyless, we handle that on our smart lock installation page.
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Call (213) 577-1366How does a lock installation go, step by step?
There is no mystery to how we work. This is the order we follow on almost every job, whether it is one front door or a row of doors.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and describe the door: material, approximate thickness, what hardware is on it now, and what you want it to do. A photo of the door edge and frame helps if you can send one.
- We talk through the hardware that suits the door. That means the right security grade, the right backset, the correct handing for the door swing, and a finish that will hold up to where you live.
- We come to you. Our base is the Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, and Redondo Beach is about 20 miles from there, so most installs here are done by one of our mobile service vans with the hardware already on board.
- Before drilling anything, we inspect the door and frame: the bore and edge holes, the strike plate area, the hinges, any sagging or swelling, and any rot or old damage that would keep a new lock from working properly.
- We prepare and fit the lock. If the existing holes are the wrong size we correct them cleanly, set the latch and deadbolt flush, reinforce the strike where needed and mount everything square so there is no strain on the mechanism.
- We test it the way you will use it: with the door open and closed, with the key and the thumb turn, repeatedly. The bolt should throw fully into the frame without you lifting or pushing on the door.
- We hand you the keys, show you how the hardware works and clean up the work area. If anything about the door itself needs attention, we tell you plainly before we leave.
Mortise and lever lock installation: what is different?
Most people have only ever seen cylindrical locks, the kind where a round bore goes through the face of the door and a smaller one through the edge. A mortise lock is a different animal. It uses a rectangular steel case that slides into a deep pocket cut into the door's edge, and the handle, cylinder and bolt all connect to that one case. It is sturdy, it has been used for a very long time, and when it is fitted well it feels solid every time you turn it.
The catch is that a mortise pocket is cut to a particular size. Swapping one mortise lock for another is usually straightforward if the case dimensions match. Fitting a mortise lock into a door that was never cut for one is real carpentry work and takes time, because the door has to be mortised without weakening the stiles. We will tell you up front if your door is a good candidate or if a different style of lock would serve you better.
Lever lock installation is usually simpler. Lever handles fit the same standard bores as many knobs, so converting is often quick. What matters is choosing the right lever for the job. A lever on an entry door should be paired with a separate deadbolt, and a lever on a business door may need a specific function, such as storeroom or classroom, depending on how the door must lock and unlock from each side. We pick the function with you, not for you.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of lock installation in Redondo Beach?
We do not quote numbers in an article, because a fair price depends on your door and the work involved. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so a quote makes sense when you get it.
- The hardware itself: a basic keyed knob, a heavy-duty grade deadbolt, a mortise lock set and a commercial lever set sit at very different points on the cost range.
- Whether the door is already prepared: a door with standard bores is quicker to fit than one that needs enlarging, re-cutting or filling and re-drilling.
- The condition of the door and frame: a soft or split frame needs reinforcement, and a sagging door may need hinge work before any lock will behave.
- Quantity and keying: several doors done in one visit are usually the more economical way to go, and keying them all alike or on a master system changes the work involved.
- Security level: reinforced strikes, longer screws and higher-grade cylinders add parts and time.
- Finish and exposure: marine-grade or corrosion-resistant finishes for doors close to the water cost more than plain brass or satin finishes meant for sheltered interiors.
- Timing: a late-night or weekend call involves different scheduling than a planned daytime appointment.
- Travel: we serve Redondo Beach from our Westwood base and our mobile vans, and the distance is part of the picture on any job.
Lock installation in Redondo Beach: what the local housing and salt air mean
Redondo Beach is not one kind of place when it comes to doors, and the right lock depends on which part of town you are in. South Redondo mixes 1950s and 1960s single-family homes, beach homes in The Avenues, and condo buildings near the pier and Esplanade. On an older house, the front door might be original, so we check the bore sizes and edge thickness before choosing hardware rather than assuming a modern standard. The Hollywood Riviera, with its Spanish and mid-century styles on hillside streets, often calls for hardware that suits the look of the door as well as the security need. A decorative entry handle set with a properly fitted deadbolt behind it is a typical request.
North Redondo, in the 90278 ZIP, is known for dense two-on-a-lot townhome development, including the tall, narrow townhomes of Golden Hills. These units usually have an entry door and a separate garage or patio door, and they often need new or upgraded locks when a unit changes hands. We can install matching hardware across every door of the unit in one visit so the keys work consistently, though HOA rules on exterior finishes are worth checking before you buy. Brookside Village is a large gated condominium community, and a condo owner there may be changing a front door lock or a mailbox lock. Our mailbox lock replacement page covers that side of it, and we are happy to handle the front door in the same trip.
Then there is the air. Coastal exposure along the Esplanade, the pier and King Harbor brings steady salt-air corrosion to exterior hardware. A standard plated lock on a door facing the water can pit and stiffen well before it wears out from use. For those doors we recommend corrosion-resistant finishes and, for any lock with moving parts exposed to the weather, regular cleaning and lubrication. Inland North Redondo is slightly more sheltered, but it still sits in the marine layer belt, with damp mornings much of the year, so exterior hardware there benefits from the same care.
We serve both Redondo Beach ZIP codes, 90277 and 90278, and every neighborhood in between. If you are somewhere in Redondo Beach not named here, call anyway. The work is the same.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Commercial lock installation near the pier and in Riviera Village
Businesses have different needs from homes. A boutique in Riviera Village wants a front door that locks securely, opens smoothly for customers all day and still looks right to the street. A restaurant near the Redondo Beach Pier has a different set of doors: a front entrance, a kitchen or back exit, a storeroom, sometimes a staff door with a keypad. Each one needs a lock function suited to how that door is used.
For exit doors in places where people gather, the hardware may need to be panic hardware that lets people leave quickly without a key. We cover that on our panic bar installation page, and the broader range of commercial hardware, from door closers to heavy-duty lever sets, on our commercial door hardware page. Fire and building codes govern some of these choices, and we will point out where you should check with the building department or your landlord rather than guess.
Near the water, marina and dock hardware is a separate category. Gates, dock boxes and similar equipment at King Harbor live in the harshest environment in town. If that is what you need, mention it when you call so we bring corrosion-resistant parts.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for lock installation?
We have been in business since 1987. That is a long time to see how locks fail, how doors move with the seasons and how a rushed installation comes back as a callback. We operate a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and run mobile service vans across 140 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Redondo Beach among them. When you call (213) 577-1366, which is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, you are dealing with one company, not a dispatch service that sells your job to whoever is closest. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. You should ask any locksmith you hire for that license number, and you should expect a straight answer. We encourage that question because it protects you from the unlicensed operators who work this market.
What you can expect from us is simple: a clear explanation of what your door needs, hardware matched to it, installation that is tested before we leave, and honest advice about whether a new lock is the right answer. If a rekey or a repair would solve your problem, we will say so.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How to prepare, and when installation is not the right service
A few minutes of preparation makes the visit go faster. Know how many doors you want done, and whether they are interior or exterior. Note whether the door is wood, metal or glass, and roughly how thick it is. If the door sticks, rubs or does not latch properly now, mention it, because a new lock will not cure a door that is out of alignment. Photos of the edge and the frame are helpful. If you rent, check with your landlord first. If you are a property owner with several units, our page on locksmith for landlords explains how we handle multi-door work.
Some situations call for something else. If you are locked out, that is an emergency and not an installation, and you should call right away. If you think a former tenant or roommate still has a key, a rekey is often the quicker and more economical fix. If your lock is simply worn, replacement is closer to what you want. In every case, one call to (213) 577-1366 gets you straight advice. If it makes sense for us to come to you, our mobile locksmith service brings the tools and hardware to your door.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lock installation and lock replacement?
Installation means fitting a lock where there is none, or adding a different kind of lock the door does not have, like a deadbolt above a knob. Replacement means taking out a worn or damaged lock and putting in a new one. The skills overlap, and we will tell you which description fits your door when you call.
Can you install a deadbolt on a door that only has a knob?
Usually yes. We check the door's thickness and edge, drill the proper holes, fit the bolt and reinforce the strike so the bolt goes into solid framing. Very thin or hollow doors, or doors with damaged edges, may need extra work or a different approach, and we will say so before starting.
Do you install mortise locks in Redondo Beach?
Yes. If your door already has a mortise pocket, a like-for-like swap is generally straightforward. If the door was not cut for one, we will explain whether a mortise lock is a sensible choice or whether another type of lock would serve you better.
How much does lock installation cost?
It depends on the hardware, the condition of the door and frame, how many doors are involved, the security level you want and the timing of the call. We explain what is driving the cost when we quote, and doing several doors in a single visit is often the more economical way to go.
Will salt air damage a new lock near the beach?
It can. Doors near the Esplanade, the pier and King Harbor face steady salt-air corrosion. Corrosion-resistant finishes, and occasional cleaning and lubrication, slow it down. Mention how close you are to the water when you call so we can choose suitable hardware.
Can you install locks on commercial and restaurant doors?
Yes. We fit storefront, office, storeroom and back-of-house locks, and we can also help with panic hardware and door closers where the door and the use call for them. Some choices are affected by fire and building codes, and we will flag those.
Do I need to be home during the installation?
Someone should be present, or at least reachable, so we can confirm which doors to work on, test the lock and hand over the keys. If you rent or live in an HOA community, check whether your landlord or association needs to approve the change first.
Is your company licensed by the state?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for that number before work begins. Call (213) 577-1366 and ask us directly. We would rather you ask than assume.
Can I get a lock installed at night or on a weekend?
Yes. Our phone line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. For a non-urgent installation, a daytime appointment is usually simpler, but if you need a door secured after hours, call (213) 577-1366 and we will work out what makes sense.
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Lock Installation near Redondo Beach
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.