Why do Rolling Hills Estates homeowners call us for a deadbolt?
Most deadbolt calls start with one of a few situations. A home has just been bought and the previous owner's hardware is a question mark. A door has only a knob lock and no real deadbolt. An old deadbolt has started to stick, spin loosely or refuse the key. Or something has happened, a break-in attempt or a lost key, and the household wants a stronger lock on the door tonight rather than next week.
A deadbolt is different from the latch in a doorknob. The latch holds the door closed, but a spring-loaded latch bolt can often be pushed back with a thin tool or a hard shove. A deadbolt has a solid steel bolt that does not move until the cylinder or thumbturn turns it. That bolt goes into the door frame, and how well it is installed matters as much as the lock itself. A good deadbolt in a badly aligned door, or held by short screws into soft wood, is a weaker door than it looks.
That is the work we do on this page: new deadbolt installation on doors that do not have one, deadbolt replacement where one is worn or outdated, and the choice between single and double-cylinder models. Our phone, (213) 577-1366, is answered around the clock, so you can reach us when the problem is urgent.
Deadbolt installation or deadbolt replacement: which one do you need?
The two jobs sound similar, but the work on the door is different, and knowing which one you need helps you describe it when you call.
Installation means the door has no deadbolt today. We have to drill into the door, so we check that the door is thick and solid enough, that there is enough room between the existing knob and the new hole, and that the frame can take a proper strike plate. Replacement means a deadbolt is already there. The holes already exist, which usually makes the job quicker, but we still look closely at what the old hole sizes allow and whether the frame is in good shape.
- Choose installation if your entry, garage-access or back door has only a knob or lever lock, or if you want a deadbolt on a side door, utility room door or detached building.
- Choose replacement if the key sticks, the cylinder turns freely without moving the bolt, the finish has corroded, the bolt no longer lines up with the strike, or you simply want a better grade of hardware.
- If the lock itself still works and your only worry is who has keys, rekeying the existing lock is often the lighter-cost route, and we will tell you so rather than sell you a new deadbolt you do not need.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Single-cylinder or double-cylinder deadbolt: how do you choose?
A single-cylinder deadbolt has a keyway on the outside and a thumbturn on the inside. It is the standard choice for most front and back doors, because anyone inside can open the door quickly without a key.
A double-cylinder deadbolt has a keyway on both sides. You need a key to lock or unlock it from inside as well as outside. People ask for double-cylinder models for one practical reason: a door with a glass panel, sidelight or decorative window nearby. If a burglar breaks the glass and reaches in, a thumbturn is easy to turn. A keyed interior cylinder is not.
The tradeoff is real, and we explain it plainly. In a fire or other emergency, everyone in the home has to find a key to get out. If the key is not in the lock or within reach, that can cost seconds nobody has. Some local building and fire rules limit keyed-both-sides locks on residential exit doors, so check with your city or fire authority if you are unsure. When a customer wants a double-cylinder deadbolt, we talk through where the key will live, who in the household can reach it and whether a single-cylinder lock paired with a different fix, such as a laminated glass upgrade or moving the lock farther from the glass, would solve the problem with fewer downsides.
There are also deadbolts with a keyed cylinder outside and a thumbturn inside that locks out the key from within, or lock-from-the-inside-only variants. Which style suits you depends on the door, the glass and the people living behind it. We would rather help you pick the right one than install exactly what you first asked for.
How does a deadbolt installation work, step by step?
Every door is a little different, but the process we follow is consistent. It is built around the fact that most failures come from bad alignment and weak mounting, not from the lock body.
- Look at the door and frame. We check the door material and thickness, the existing holes, the condition of the frame, and whether the door closes squarely before we touch a drill.
- Talk through the lock choice. We confirm single or double-cylinder, the finish you want, the grade of hardware that suits the door, and whether you want keys that match other locks on the property.
- Prepare the door. For a new installation we mark and bore the face hole and the edge hole to the dimensions the lock requires, measuring the backset so the bolt lands in the middle of the frame. For a replacement we check the existing bores and fix any damage.
- Fit the bolt and cylinder. We install the latch assembly, the exterior cylinder and the interior piece, and tighten them so nothing wobbles or binds.
- Set the strike plate. We mortise the frame so the plate sits flush, and drive long screws that reach through the jamb into the framing behind it. This step does more for real-world resistance than most people expect.
- Test it. We cycle the lock repeatedly with the door open and closed, make sure the bolt extends fully into the strike without dragging, and test every key.
- Walk you through it. We hand over the keys, show you how the lock operates, and tell you what to watch over time, such as stiffness or a bolt that starts to rub.
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 deadbolt installation?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because a fair figure depends on your door and your hardware, and the honest way to give one is after we know what the job involves. Here is what moves the cost up or down.
If you call (213) 577-1366, we will ask a few questions about the door and tell you what the job is likely to involve before anyone drives out.
- New installation versus replacement. Drilling a new door costs more labor than swapping a lock into holes that already exist.
- Hardware grade. Deadbolts are rated in grades for strength and durability, and a heavier-duty model costs more than a basic one. For doors that face the weather, the finish and internal materials matter as well.
- Single versus double-cylinder. Double-cylinder hardware is a different product, and the choice can add steps if the door or frame needs adjustments.
- Door and frame condition. A cracked jamb, a split edge or a door that has swelled and no longer closes squarely may need repair before a new lock can do its job.
- Matching keys. Keying several locks alike takes extra setup compared with a single standalone deadbolt.
- Number of doors. Doing several doors in one visit usually uses our time more efficiently than separate trips.
- When you call. Service in the middle of the night is a different situation from a scheduled daytime job, and travel to your location from our Westwood base is part of the picture for any address.
Deadbolts for ranch homes, townhomes and horse properties in Rolling Hills Estates
Rolling Hills Estates has a housing mix that shapes how we approach deadbolts. Much of the city is single-story ranch homes from the 1950s and 1960s on large lots, many with horse-keeping and the white three-rail fencing the city is known for. Many of those homes still have original midcentury hardware. In neighborhoods like Dapplegray Lanes, Rollingwood and Hillcrest Manor, that can mean a front door with a worn knob lock, an aging deadbolt or no deadbolt on the side and back doors at all. A long single-story house has plenty of doors that a person can approach out of view of the street, so we often suggest looking at the whole door list, not just the front.
Closer to Peninsula Center and along the Silver Spur corridor, there are townhome and condominium clusters. Deadbolt work there is different: entry doors may be shared-style or governed by association rules about hardware appearance and keying, so we ask about that before ordering anything. A townhome resident who has just been through a lockout may be calling for a deadbolt afterward, and our house lockout service is there for the first problem while the deadbolt solves the second.
The scenario that sets this city apart is outbuildings. Horse properties often have barns, tack rooms and pasture gates, and a tack room holds saddles and equipment that are worth protecting. A deadbolt on a solid tack room or barn door can make sense, as long as the door is sturdy and the hardware suits an outdoor setting. Before we fit one, we look at how the door is built, because a deadbolt in a thin plank door gains little. For pasture gates and the latches on them, that is a different kind of hardware, and our page on gate lock repair covers it.
We work across the 90274 ZIP code, including the Montecillo and Empty Saddle area, and we also cover addresses near Westfield on the unincorporated Palos Verdes Peninsula. Our base is on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, about 28 miles from Rolling Hills Estates, and our mobile vans bring the hardware to your door.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How does the coastal air affect a deadbolt here?
Rolling Hills Estates sits on the Palos Verdes Peninsula a few miles from the ocean, so marine-layer fog and salt-laden moisture show up often. Exterior locks and gate hardware here weather somewhat faster than in inland suburbs. For a deadbolt, that shapes the choice in a few practical ways.
We pay attention to the finish on the parts that face outside, because a weak plating can pit and dull over time and a cylinder that has taken on moisture can get stiff. We also look at how exposed the door is. A front door under a deep overhang lives a gentler life than a side gate door or barn door facing the open air. Where the exposure is heavy, we may steer you toward a sturdier build instead of a basic model, and we will explain what that does and does not buy you.
If a deadbolt you already have is getting stiff or gritty, that is often the first sign of moisture and wear. A lock replacement before it jams on a bad day is easier than being locked out of your own home.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a deadbolt?
We have been in business since 1987, and deadbolts are everyday work for us. The reasons we think you should call us are simple ones.
We are one company, not a dispatch service. When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach us, and the people who answer are the people who run the jobs. There is no middleman handing your address to whoever is free. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, so we are not working out of a car trunk with whatever happens to be in stock.
David is the owner and lead technician, and he oversees how we work: how we measure, what we recommend and how a finished door is checked. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.
If you want a broader view of what we offer for homes, our residential locksmith page lists it. If your question is about a lock that is not strictly a deadbolt, our general lock installation page may fit better.
What should you ask any locksmith before they start?
Whoever you hire for a deadbolt, a few questions protect you. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, which is the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services company license. Ask for it and for the license number, and check it with the state. A company that will not give it to you is telling you something.
Ask what the work will involve, what hardware they plan to use and what grade it is. Ask whether the price covers the hardware, the labor and any door or frame repair. Ask who will actually come to your home and whether the company is local. A clear answer to each of those is a good sign, and we are glad to answer them for you when you call.
If you want a lock you can control from your phone instead of a plain mechanical deadbolt, that is a separate product with its own setup. Our smart lock installation page explains it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a deadbolt on a door that doesn't have one?
Yes, as long as the door is solid and thick enough. We check the thickness, the spacing from the existing knob and the condition of the frame first. If the door is hollow, cracked or thin at the edge, we tell you what the options are before drilling.
What is the difference between a single-cylinder and a double-cylinder deadbolt?
A single-cylinder deadbolt uses a key outside and a thumbturn inside. A double-cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both sides. The double version is aimed at doors with glass nearby, but it can slow your exit in an emergency, so we go over the tradeoffs with you before installing one.
Is a double-cylinder deadbolt legal and safe for a house?
Rules vary by jurisdiction, and some limit keyed-both-sides locks on residential exit doors. We cannot give you a legal ruling, so check with your city or local fire authority. From a safety standpoint, the key must always be reachable from inside, and for many doors a single-cylinder lock is the better choice.
Do you replace old deadbolts as well as install new ones?
Yes. Deadbolt replacement is a regular part of our work. If the lock only needs different keys, rekeying may be the more economical route. If it is worn, corroded or poorly aligned, replacing it makes more sense, and we will tell you which applies.
Will a new deadbolt fit my older ranch home's door?
Usually, yes. Midcentury doors are often solid and well suited to a deadbolt, though the existing holes and the condition of the frame vary. We measure and check the door first. If the old bore sizes or the frame need attention, we handle that as part of the job.
Can you put a deadbolt on a barn or tack room door?
We can, if the door is sturdy enough to hold it. A deadbolt in a thin or loosely built door adds little. We look at how the door is made, the weather exposure and the frame, and recommend hardware that suits an outbuilding. For gates, see our gate lock repair page.
Can I get a deadbolt installed at night or on a weekend?
Yes. Our phone line, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. If the door is urgent, such as after a break-in or a lost key, tell us that when you call so we can plan the visit accordingly.
Should I just rekey instead of replacing the deadbolt?
If the deadbolt works smoothly and your only concern is who holds keys, rekeying is often the lighter-cost option. If the lock is worn, stiff, outdated or not a grade you trust, replacement is worth it. We will give you an honest recommendation rather than push the bigger job.
How do I know a locksmith is properly licensed in California?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith for the license number and verify it with the state before work begins. Ask us too, and we will talk it through when you call.
More locksmith help in Rolling Hills Estates
Deadbolt Installation near Rolling Hills Estates
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.