What does a proper lock installation involve?
A lock installation sounds simple until the door pushes back. Doors come in different thicknesses, with different bore holes, different backsets and different amounts of wear. A lock forced into the wrong prep, or screwed into a frame that was never reinforced, will bind, sag or fail the first time someone leans on it. Installing a lock correctly means matching the hardware to the door and the frame, not just getting the key to turn once on the workbench.
People call us for a new lock installation in a handful of situations. A new door has gone in and has no hardware. An old lock came off after a break-in or a move. A builder-grade set has finally worn out. Or an owner wants a higher standard of security than the door has now. Sometimes the job is as small as swapping a knob for a lever handle. Sometimes it means cutting a pocket in the door edge for a mortise body. We do both, and we tell you which one you actually need before we pick up a drill.
If what you really want is the same lock with a different key, that is a different job, and rekeying is usually the more economical route. If an existing lock is simply worn out or damaged, lock replacement may be the better description of the work. We sort that out with you on the phone so you are not paying for the wrong thing.
Which type of lock fits your door?
The right lock depends on the door material, its thickness, who uses it every day and what it protects. Here is how the common categories break down.
- Front door lock installation: usually a deadbolt paired with a knob or lever set, or a combined handle set. We check thickness and backset first, then bore or adapt to suit. If your door only has a knob lock, a separate deadbolt installation is one of the most common upgrades.
- Lever lock installation: levers are easier on the hands because nothing needs to be gripped and twisted, which makes them a good choice for older residents and for doors that need to be accessible. Quality varies a lot between brands, so we look closely at the internal latch and the grade, not just the look.
- Mortise lock installation: a mortise lock body sits in a deep rectangular pocket cut into the edge of the door. It turns up on older residential doors and on many commercial ones. If the door already has the pocket, we match it. If it does not, cutting one is real carpentry plus lock work, and we only recommend it when the door is sturdy enough to take it.
- Security lock installation: higher-grade deadbolts, reinforced strike plates, long screws that reach the framing, and restricted keyways that make unauthorized key copying harder. Our page on high-security locks goes into the options.
- Electronic and keypad locks: these are a different kind of fitting with their own setup steps, covered on our smart lock installation page.
- Residential and commercial installs: commercial doors often need heavier grades, different lock functions and attention to exit rules. We cover that further down this page.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How we install a new lock, step by step
Whether it is a front door on a quiet residential street or a service door behind a shop, the sequence is the same. If the real problem is that you are locked out of the door you want to upgrade, we deal with getting you in first, which is a house lockout job, and then we install.
- You call (213) 577-1366, any hour. We ask what the door is made of, whether it is already drilled, what is on it now and what you want it to do. Photos help, but you do not need them.
- We recommend a lock type and grade for that particular door and explain the trade-offs plainly, including when a lighter-cost option does the job and when it does not.
- On arrival we inspect the door and frame: thickness, bore holes, backset, edge condition, the strike side, and whether the jamb is solid or split.
- We prepare the door. That might mean using the existing bores, enlarging a hole with the correct hole saw, chiseling a latch mortise, or reinforcing a weak edge. We do not force hardware into a door that was not made for it.
- We mount the lockset, align the latch and bolt with the strike, and set the strike plate with long screws that bite into the framing behind the jamb, not just the trim.
- We test the lock with the door open and closed and through its full swing, and confirm the bolt throws fully without rubbing. If the door has swollen or sagged, we deal with that rather than leave it to bind.
- We hand over the keys, show you how everything works, and explain what to do if you want extra keys or a different keying later.
What affects the cost of lock installation in Sun Valley?
We do not put numbers on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the door in front of us. Here is what moves the cost up or down.
- The lock itself: grade, brand, finish and features all vary, and a higher-grade security lock costs more than a basic set.
- Door preparation: a door that is already drilled for the new lock is faster to finish than one needing new holes or a mortise pocket cut.
- Door and frame condition: a swollen, cracked or warped door or a split jamb may need repair or reinforcement before a lock can hold properly.
- Number of doors and keying: fitting several doors is more efficient per door, and keying them alike or on a system adds some setup.
- Electronics: keypad and connected locks take longer to set up and configure.
- Commercial requirements: exit hardware, heavier grades and gate or roll-up door fittings are different work from a standard house door.
- Timing: an overnight or weekend call involves different logistics than a scheduled daytime visit.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Lock installation in Sun Valley: bungalows, apartments and the industrial corridor
Sun Valley, ZIP 91352, is mostly postwar single-family bungalows and ranch houses from the 1940s through the 1960s, with apartment pockets along Glenoaks Boulevard and the other major corridors, and an industrial belt along San Fernando Road. Each calls for a different kind of installation. Our storefront is in Westwood, about 17 miles away, and our mobile vans bring the tools and hardware to you.
In the Stonehurst tract, the 1920s river-rock cottages often still have vintage hardware. Old doors in houses like these may have older preps than a modern lock expects, so a new deadbolt can need the door adapted rather than simply bored. We study what is already there first and try to keep the door's character while bringing the security up to date. Careful fitting matters far more than force on a door that age.
Ranch houses and bungalows elsewhere in the neighborhood usually have standard bored doors, so a front door lock installation is typically a deadbolt and handle set matched to the existing holes. The climate still matters. Hot, dry summers can swell wooden doors and frames, so we check clearances before we make final adjustments. Santa Ana winds carry dust that works into exterior lock cylinders, so we set exterior hardware to move freely and tell you what to do to keep it that way.
Along Glenoaks Boulevard, apartment pockets call for installations that are consistent from unit to unit and easy to maintain between tenants. Further out toward the Shadow Hills edge, horse-zoned lots tend to have outbuildings and long driveways with gates, where hardware needs to stand up to weather and dust.
Down on the San Fernando Road industrial corridor, the work is heavier: yard gates, roll-up doors and commercial padlock hasps for recyclers and auto businesses. Hardware that lives outdoors among dust and traffic needs to be built for it. If you have an existing gate that needs fixing rather than new hardware, see gate lock repair.
Residential and commercial lock installation: how they differ
On a house door, the priorities are usually security, convenience and appearance, in about that order. A good deadbolt, a solid strike and a comfortable handle go a long way. Residential lock installation is mostly about matching standard hardware to a standard door and getting the alignment right.
Commercial lock installation adds layers. A storeroom door, a front entrance and a back exit each need a different lock function. Doors that serve as exits must be able to open from the inside without a key or special knowledge. Heavy daily use means a higher grade of hardware, and many businesses want keying that allows different staff different access. Our commercial door hardware page covers the wider range of fittings we handle for businesses.
If you are not sure which side of the line your door falls on, such as a home office, a rental unit or a workshop at the back of a residential lot, describe it to us and we will say what we would fit and why.
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 new installation?
A new lock is only as good as the person who fits it. Here is what we can honestly tell you about who you would be calling.
- We have been in business since 1987, so we have fitted hardware to just about every kind of door there is, including old ones that do not match modern templates.
- We have a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood plus mobile service vans, so there is a place behind the phone number.
- You deal with one company. We do not pass your call to a dispatch middleman who sends whoever is free.
- David, the owner and lead technician, oversees our work.
- The phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.
- We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including Sun Valley.
How to vet any locksmith before they drill your door
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith, including us, for the license number before work begins, and check that it matches the company name on the van and the paperwork.
Beyond that, ask what lock they are recommending and why, whether the door will need any repair, and how the cost will be worked out before they start. A locksmith who cannot explain the job in plain words is a poor sign. So is one who quotes a very low figure on the phone and then raises it at your door.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a lock on a door that has never been drilled?
Yes. We mark and bore the door with the correct hole saw and edge drill, cut the latch recess, and set the strike plate in the frame. A door that has never been prepared takes longer than one with existing holes, and we check that the door is solid enough to carry the lock before we cut anything.
Do I need a deadbolt as well as a handle lock on my front door?
Most front doors do best with both. The handle set's latch keeps the door closed, but it is not meant to resist force. A deadbolt with a properly set strike gives real resistance. Some handle sets combine both in one unit, and we can go through which suits your door.
Is a lever lock a good choice for a front door?
It can be, if the lever set is a quality one and is paired with a deadbolt. Levers are easy to use with full hands, a bad wrist or a bag of groceries. We look at the internal construction and grade, because looks alone do not tell you how long one will last.
Can you put a mortise lock on an old door?
Often, yes, if the door is thick and sound enough to take the pocket. If the door already has a mortise prep, we match it. If it does not, we explain what cutting one involves and whether another lock type would serve you better. We always look at the door first.
How much does lock installation cost in Sun Valley?
It depends on the lock grade, whether the door is already drilled, the condition of the door and frame, how many doors there are, and the time of the call. We explain the scope and cost before we begin work, and we say so when a simpler, lighter-cost option will do the job.
Do you install locks at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. If a door cannot be secured, such as after a break-in, call any hour and we will work out the quickest sensible fix.
Can you handle commercial locks and gate hardware along San Fernando Road?
Yes. We fit commercial door locks, yard gate hardware, roll-up door fittings and padlock hasps. Because those get hard use outdoors, we recommend sturdier grades and talk through the options for your site.
Can all the locks in my house be keyed to one key?
Usually, yes. We can fit new locks keyed alike so one key opens the front, back and side doors. Tell us how many doors there are and who needs access, and we will advise on the best way to set the keying up.
More locksmith help in Sun Valley
Lock Installation near Sun Valley
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.