What does access control installation involve for a Santa Monica business?
Access control replaces or supplements a metal key with a credential: a code, a card, a fob, or a phone-based credential. The door still has a lock, but the decision to open it comes from a reader or keypad and a controller that knows who is allowed in. For a business, that changes a few things you probably feel every week. You stop re-keying after someone leaves. You stop wondering how many copies of the back-door key exist. You can let a cleaner in on certain days and not others.
The work itself is more than mounting a keypad. Every electronic door is a small system with four parts: the credential reader, the controller that makes the decision, the power supply, and the locking device that actually holds the door shut, usually an electric strike or a magnetic lock. If any one of those is mismatched to the door, the system is annoying at best and unsafe at worst. A strike that does not suit the frame, or a maglock on a door that people need to leave in a hurry, causes real problems.
That is why we start with the door, not the gadget. Our job is to look at what you have, listen to how your people actually use the entrance, and then recommend hardware that suits both. Sometimes the right answer is a single keypad lock. Sometimes it is a multi-door card system with separate permissions for staff, managers, and vendors. We will tell you which one fits, and we will tell you when a simpler option is enough.
Which type of access control fits your door?
There is no single correct system. The choice depends on how many people use the door, how often credentials change, whether the door is exterior or interior, and what kind of frame and glass you are working with. Here is how the common options break down.
- Keypad access control: a code entered at the door. It is the simplest form of keyless entry for business and works well for small teams or low-traffic doors. The tradeoff is that codes get shared, so it is best when you can change them readily.
- Card access system or key card entry system: each person carries a card that the reader recognizes. You can disable one lost card without touching anyone else's. This suits offices, clinics, and shops with regular staff.
- Key fob access control: the same idea in a small fob that rides on a key ring. People tend to keep a fob with their keys, which means fewer forgotten credentials.
- Electric strike installation: the strike replaces the standard strike plate in the frame and releases the latch when the reader approves. It keeps the door locked from the outside while normally allowing free exit, and it is a common choice for fire-rated and egress-sensitive doors.
- Magnetic lock installation: a maglock holds the door with an electromagnet and releases when power is cut or a valid credential is presented. It works well on certain glass and aluminum doors, but it must be paired with proper egress devices.
- Multi-door access control: several doors managed from one controller, so permissions live in one place instead of on each door separately.
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Call (213) 577-1366How we install access control, step by step
Whether it is one door or a full building, we follow the same order of work. It keeps surprises off your schedule and keeps the final system easier to maintain.
- Walk the doors. We look at the door material, frame, hinges, closer, existing hardware, and how close the nearest power source and ceiling or wall access are.
- Talk through how people use the entrance. Who comes and goes, at what hours, whether deliveries arrive, and who needs to be locked out of which areas.
- Recommend a configuration. We explain the reader type, the strike or maglock, the controller, and the power setup, along with the reasoning behind each choice and what the alternatives would mean.
- Prepare the door. Frames may need routing for a strike, reinforcement for a maglock, or cable paths for the reader. We prep carefully so the door still closes and latches cleanly.
- Install and wire. Readers, controllers, power supplies, and locking hardware go in, with wiring routed so it is protected and not exposed to tampering.
- Program credentials and schedules. We enroll the cards, fobs, or codes you need and set any time-of-day rules for staff groups.
- Test the full cycle. We check normal entry, exit, power loss behavior, and how the door acts with the closer. A door that fails open or fails locked should do so on purpose.
- Walk you through it. You or your manager learn how to add and remove credentials, and we point out what to check periodically.
What affects the cost of access control installation?
We do not quote a figure without seeing the door, because the same-looking job can vary a great deal. What moves the cost is fairly predictable once you know what to look at.
- Number of doors. Each door needs a reader and a locking device, and a shared controller spreads some of the cost across several openings.
- Type of locking device. An electric strike, a maglock, and an electrified lockset each involve different parts and different prep work.
- Door and frame condition. Older wood doors, warped frames, or tired hinges may need attention before electronics will work reliably.
- Wiring difficulty. Running cable through finished walls, concrete, or tight ceilings takes more time than an open hallway.
- Credential type and volume. A keypad is simpler than a system managing many cards or fobs with separate schedules.
- Power and backup. Battery backup and properly rated power supplies add to the equipment list but protect you during outages.
- Integration. Tying into an existing alarm, intercom, or door closer arrangement can change the scope.
- Whether this is a new install or an upgrade. Reusing sound existing hardware can reduce cost, while replacing failed parts can raise it.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for access control?
We have been in business since 1987, and access control has become a regular part of what commercial customers ask us to do. We are one company, not a call center passing your job to whichever contractor is free. The person who answers the phone is part of the same operation that sends the technician, and David, our owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
We also keep a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, about five miles from Santa Monica, plus mobile service vans. That combination matters for access control, because the job often needs both: parts and hardware you can look at in person, and a technician who comes to your door. You can reach us by phone at (213) 577-1366 at any hour, any day of the year.
One more honest point: we are a locksmith first. We understand the mechanical side, including latches, strikes, frames, and closers, which is where many electronic installs go wrong. If your project grows into a broader hardware question, our commercial locksmith service page covers the rest of what we do for businesses, and we will give you a straight answer on what is a good fit for us and what is not.
Access control in Santa Monica: coastal air, older buildings, and busy storefronts
Santa Monica has a true coastal microclimate, and it shows up in electronics hardware. Persistent marine layer and salt air corrode exterior locks, hinges, and gate hardware faster than inland, and wood doors near the beach swell in damp months. For access control, that means we pay close attention to where a keypad or reader is going. An exposed exterior reader near Ocean Park, for example, should be a weather-appropriate unit, mounted so moisture does not collect behind it, and the strike or hinge hardware around it should be in good shape. Corrosion is routine maintenance here, not an emergency, but it is the reason we check the whole door and not just the new device.
The city's building mix also shapes the work. Mid-century apartment buildings are common, and many residents rent. Those properties often have older doors and hardware, so a landlord looking at a card or fob system for a shared entry in Wilmont or Mid-City needs the door and frame assessed first. Our locksmith for landlords page covers the property-management side of that work.
On the commercial side, storefronts along Third Street Promenade and Main Street have heavy foot traffic and staff turnover that make credential-based entry attractive for back doors, stockrooms, and offices above. Office areas near Bergamot Station and Water Garden often have a different need: several suite doors, shared corridors, and tenants who change. A 90404 office could want a multi-door card system, while a small shop in 90401 might be well served by a single keypad at the rear entry. We treat each as its own situation.
Our storefront lock repair page is worth a look if the front door is the weak link before you add electronics.
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Call (213) 577-1366Does your system need fire code and egress attention?
Yes, and this is where an experienced installer earns the job. The basic rule is that people must be able to leave a building quickly and without special knowledge. Electronic locks must be configured so that exit is never trapped. A maglock, for example, should be paired with approved release devices so the door opens when someone needs out and when power is lost. Electric strikes are often easier to fit into egress-sensitive situations because the exit side is handled by the lockset itself.
Egress hardware often comes up alongside access control. If your door needs a crash bar or other exit device, our panic bar installation page explains how that works, and our commercial door hardware page covers closers, hinges, and related parts that affect how the electronic lock behaves.
Requirements for specific buildings can depend on the occupancy type and on your local fire authority, so we will tell you what we can confirm on the door and what you may want to verify with the building owner or inspector.
A related point: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith you consider for that license number, including us. Our license number is being added to this site; if you want it before you decide, call (213) 577-1366 and ask.
Can you repair or upgrade an existing access control system?
Often, yes. Many Santa Monica businesses already have a keypad that sticks, a reader that works only some of the time, or a system installed years ago by a company that is no longer around. An access control repair visit starts with finding the actual cause. Common ones include worn strikes, misaligned latches, failing power supplies, loose wiring at the door hinge, corroded connections near the coast, and readers damaged by weather or wear.
An access control upgrade is different. This is where you keep the door and frame but move from, say, a basic keypad to a card or fob system, or add a second and third door to the same controller. We look at what can be reused and what should be replaced. If a controller is obsolete or the manufacturer no longer supports it, we will explain that plainly, because patching a system that cannot be maintained tends to cost more over time.
If you are mixing mechanical and electronic control, a master key system can sit alongside electronic doors so that certain interior doors stay on keys while main entries use credentials. For homes or small offices that only want a battery-powered electronic deadbolt, our smart lock installation page is the more fitting place to start.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What if you are locked out of an access-controlled door?
Electronic doors can fail in ways a plain key lock does not: a dead power supply, a controller that has lost its settings, or a reader that no longer recognizes anyone. If you cannot get into your business and the door is part of an electronic system, our business lockout service is the right route, and we answer the phone at (213) 577-1366 around the clock.
Once you are in, we can look at why it failed. A one-time failure may be a simple fix, while repeated failures point to an aging component or a design problem. Either way, you leave with an explanation instead of a mystery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an electric strike and a magnetic lock?
An electric strike replaces the strike plate in the door frame and releases the latch when a valid credential is presented, while the door's own lockset still does the mechanical work. A magnetic lock holds the door shut with an electromagnet and lets go when power is cut or a credential is read. Strikes tend to fit more doors cleanly, while maglocks suit certain glass or aluminum doors but must be paired with proper egress release devices.
Can you add keypad access control to the door I already have?
Often we can, depending on the door and frame. We check the door material, the existing lockset, the frame condition, and where power and wiring can run. If the door is warped or the hardware is worn, we may recommend fixing that first so the electronic lock works reliably. A site visit gives us the details to answer for your specific door.
Can one system control several doors at once?
Yes. Multi-door access control uses a shared controller so permissions for each person are managed in one place. You can allow some employees through the front and rear doors but keep the stockroom or office limited to specific people. We design the layout around how your team actually moves through the building.
How do I remove access for an employee who leaves?
With a card or fob system, you disable that person's credential and nobody else is affected. With a keypad, you change the code, which means telling everyone else the new one. That difference is a major reason businesses with regular turnover move from keypads to credential-based entry. We show you how to manage credentials when we hand the system over.
What happens to the door if the power goes out?
It depends on how the system is configured. Some locks are set to unlock when power fails and others to stay locked, and the right choice depends on the door and life-safety requirements. Exit must always remain possible. We talk through power-loss behavior with you, and we test it before we call the job done.
Will the salt air in Santa Monica damage an exterior keypad or reader?
It can shorten the life of unprotected hardware. Salt air and the marine layer corrode exposed metal, hinges, and connections faster than inland. We choose weather-appropriate devices for exterior doors, mount them to limit moisture, and inspect surrounding hardware. Corrosion is a routine maintenance concern here, and it is easy to plan for when the install is done thoughtfully.
Do you install access control for apartment buildings and landlords?
Yes, for shared entries and common doors, depending on the building. Older doors and original hardware are common in Santa Monica apartment buildings, so we look at the door and frame first. Our landlord page covers the property-management side, and we can walk through your building in person before recommending anything.
How do I find out the price of access control installation?
We do not give a figure without seeing the doors, because cost depends on the number of doors, the type of locking device, wiring difficulty, door condition, and the credential system you choose. Call (213) 577-1366 and describe your situation. We will tell you what will drive the cost and arrange a visit so you get an accurate answer.
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Access Control Installation near Santa Monica
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.