What does professional lock installation involve?
A lock is only as good as the door it is fitted to. Proper door lock installation means matching the hardware to the door's thickness, drilling the bore and edge holes to the right size and position, setting the strike plate so the latch seats fully, and checking that the frame behind it can take a hard push. When any one of those is off, the lock sticks, rattles, or is far easier to defeat than it should be.
That is why we treat new lock installation as fitting work, not a part swap. Some jobs are simple: a clean door, a standard bore, a matching latch. Others need a door prepared from scratch, a frame reinforced, or an old mortise pocket cleaned up before anything new goes in. We tell you which kind of job yours is before we start cutting or drilling.
It also helps to know what this page covers. Installation is for doors getting a lock they never had, doors getting a different type of lock, and new doors or entries. If a working lock has simply worn out and you want the same kind back, that is closer to lock replacement. If the hardware is fine and you only want different keys, a rekey is usually the more economical route.
Which locks and doors can we install?
We handle residential lock installation and commercial lock installation on doors of most types, including solid wood, hollow-core, steel, fiberglass and aluminum-framed glass doors. These are the requests we hear most:
- Front door lock installation: an entry lock set, usually paired with a deadbolt, fitted so the door closes and latches without being lifted or pushed.
- Lever lock installation: lever handles for entry, office and interior doors. Many people choose them because a lever is easier to operate than a round knob when your hands are full or hard to grip with.
- Mortise lock installation: the heavier lock body that sits in a pocket cut into the door edge. It is common on older residential doors and many commercial doors, and it needs a door thick and sound enough to take the pocket.
- Security lock installation: higher-grade deadbolts and cylinders for doors that need more than builder-grade hardware. Our page on high-security locks goes into the options.
- Commercial lock installation: keyed entry sets, back-door hardware and exit hardware for shops and offices, covered further under commercial door hardware.
How does a lock installation go, step by step?
Every door is different, but the sequence stays the same. Here is how a typical job runs when you call us.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and describe the door: what it is made of, roughly how thick it is, what is on it now, and what you want it to do. A person answers at any hour. If photos would help, we will say so.
- We tell you what is likely to fit and what could complicate it, then send a mobile van to the door.
- On site we inspect the door and frame: thickness, condition of the wood or metal, any old bore holes, hinge wear, and how the door sits in the opening.
- We confirm the hardware and the work with you before cutting or drilling, including anything that will change the cost.
- We prepare the door. That may mean reusing existing bores, drilling new ones, cutting a mortise pocket, or setting and reinforcing the strike area on the frame.
- We fit the lock and test the latch and bolt with the door open and closed, adjusting until it throws fully without binding.
- We cut and test the keys, show you how the lock operates, and tell you what to watch for as it ages.
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 lock installation in Santa Monica?
We do not put numbers on a web page, because the same job can look very different from one door to the next. What moves the cost is mostly this:
- The hardware itself: a basic lever set and a high-security deadbolt or mortise lock are different products at different grades.
- Door preparation: reusing existing holes is lighter work than drilling new ones or cutting a mortise pocket.
- Door material and condition: solid wood, steel and glass doors each take different tools, and a swollen, warped or damaged door may need correction first.
- Frame and strike: a weak or split frame may need reinforcing so the new lock actually protects the door.
- Number of locks and keying: several doors keyed alike take more time than a single lock.
- Commercial requirements: storefront and office doors can need specific hardware for the door type.
- Timing: an after-hours call can be priced differently from a scheduled visit.
- Old hardware: corroded or seized parts that must be removed first add labor.
What is different about lock installation in Santa Monica?
The first thing is the air. Santa Monica has a true coastal microclimate, with a persistent marine layer and salt air that corrode exterior locks, hinges and gate hardware faster than inland. Wood doors near the beach also swell in damp months. For installation, that means two practical things: we talk through finish options for exterior hardware before you buy, and we check whether a door rubs or binds before fitting anything new, because a lock in a swollen door only moves the problem to a different spot. These are routine maintenance issues, not emergencies, so you have time to do the job properly.
Replacing salt-air-corroded exterior locks on beach-adjacent Ocean Park buildings is a typical example. Older wood doors with original hardware are common there, and the old bore holes may be oversized, irregular or soft. We look at the wood around the latch and the strike before deciding whether the new lock can use the existing holes or needs the door prepared more carefully. Sunset Park, with its 1920s to 1940s bungalows and Spanish-style homes, brings similar questions: original hardware, old mortise pockets, and doors that have been painted many times.
North of Montana, the large Craftsman and traditional homes tend to have more exterior doors than a typical apartment: front, side, back and garage entries. If you are installing several new locks, ask about keying them alike so one key covers them. Whether you are in 90401, 90402, 90403, 90404 or 90405, the questions are the same: what is the door made of, what shape is it in, and how exposed is it to the ocean air?
Our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood is about 5 miles from Santa Monica, and our mobile vans bring the tools to your door.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Renting in Santa Monica: who decides on new locks?
Most Santa Monica residents rent, and a very large share of the housing is mid-century apartment buildings, many under the city's rent-control rules. If you are a tenant in a building in Wilmont or Mid-City, get your landlord or property manager's agreement before installing a new lock on your unit's entry door. Your lease and the building's own rules decide what you may change, and we cannot give legal advice about your lease or the city's rules. A written okay from the manager saves everyone trouble later.
Condominium buildings along the Ocean Avenue and Wilshire corridors are a similar case. Associations sometimes have rules about the appearance of unit entry doors, so check before ordering hardware.
If you manage rental units, consistency is the useful part: the same lock family across doors makes keying, spares and future turnovers simpler. Our page for landlords and property managers covers how we work with building owners.
What about commercial lock installation on Third Street Promenade and Main Street?
Storefront lock service along Third Street Promenade and Main Street is a regular type of work in Santa Monica. For a new shop, a change of tenant or a door that never had proper hardware, commercial lock installation starts with the door itself. Aluminum-framed glass doors often have narrow frames that limit which lock bodies fit, while older wood or steel back doors can take heavier hardware.
Offices work differently. In the Bergamot Station and Water Garden office area, a typical request is an office rekey, which is a separate service from installing a new lock. When an office door has no lock or the wrong type, we install new hardware, and we can do the work after closing so your space is never left open during business hours. With a line that is answered 24 hours a day, that is easy to arrange.
How can you tell a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith for it before they start work, and check it yourself. Hold us to the same standard.
A few other signs are worth watching for. A legitimate company gives you a clear description of the work before it starts, explains what could change the cost, and has a real local address. Be wary of a company that cannot tell you where it is based or who will actually come to the door.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for lock installation?
Here is what you get when you call us:
- In business since 1987, with decades of doors behind us, from original bungalow hardware to modern commercial entries.
- A storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd plus mobile locksmith vans, so the work comes to you.
- One company, no dispatch middlemen. The people who answer the phone are the people who do the work.
- David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
- A phone line answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366, serving 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Ready for a new lock?
If you want a door fitted properly, call (213) 577-1366 and describe what you have. We will tell you what fits, what could complicate it, and what will affect the cost before we start.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a lock installation take?
It depends on the door. Fitting a standard lock into an already-prepared door goes quickly. New bore holes, a mortise pocket, a reinforced frame or several doors take longer. After we inspect the door, we tell you what to expect.
Can you install a lock on a door that has never had one?
Yes. New doors, gates and entries need holes drilled, a strike set and often some edge work. We inspect the door and frame first so the lock suits the material and sits properly.
Can I buy my own lock and have you install it?
Often yes. We check that the lock suits your door's thickness, preparation and use. If it will not fit well or is a weak choice for that door, we say so plainly before starting.
Can you do mortise lock installation on an older door?
Often, as long as the door is thick and sound enough for the pocket. Some old doors are too thin, split or heavily worn, and a different approach works better. We tell you after we see the door.
Is a lever handle better than a knob?
A lever is easier to operate, especially with full hands or limited grip. For security, the deadbolt matters more than the handle style, so choose the handle for comfort and the deadbolt for protection.
Do I need a deadbolt as well as a front door lock?
A handle set's latch keeps the door closed but is not designed to resist force. A deadbolt adds a solid bolt into the frame. For most entry doors we recommend pairing the two.
Will salt air damage my new lock?
Coastal air corrodes exterior hardware faster than inland air, so we talk through finish options for exterior doors before you choose. Signs of trouble later include a stiff key, rough surfaces and rust staining.
Do I need my landlord's permission to install a new lock?
If you rent, get your landlord or property manager's agreement first. Your lease and the building's rules decide what you can change. We cannot give legal advice, but a written okay avoids problems.
Can you install locks at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. After-hours work can affect cost, and we explain that before we begin.
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Lock Installation near Santa Monica
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.