What does deadbolt installation involve for a Van Nuys door?
A deadbolt is the lock that does the real work on an entry door. Unlike the spring latch in a knob or lever set, the bolt is a solid piece of metal that moves only when a key or thumbturn moves it, so it can't be slipped back with a credit card or pushed in with a screwdriver. Installing one properly takes more than drilling a hole. The bolt has to line up with the strike in the frame, the door has to close without being slammed or lifted, and the screws have to bite into something solid instead of a thin strip of jamb.
Our job at Wilshire Lock & Key is the fitting work: the lock turns freely with one hand, the full bolt goes into the frame, and it keeps doing that through a Valley summer. We put new deadbolts on doors that have none, replace worn or damaged ones, and swap a single-cylinder for a double-cylinder when the door and the building allow it. If you're also adding other hardware around the property, our general lock installation service covers that. This page is about the deadbolt itself and how it plays out in Van Nuys.
Do you need a new deadbolt, or would something lighter do the job?
Not every deadbolt problem needs a new deadbolt. People often call for installation when another fix is the lighter-cost option, so here is how we sort it, by symptom:
- Your door has only a knob or lever latch and no deadbolt: this is a true installation job, and the rest of this page applies.
- Your deadbolt works fine but you don't know who has keys: rekeying changes the internals so old keys stop working, and it is usually the more economical route.
- The bolt sticks, drags, or won't extend all the way: often it's an alignment or strike problem, which may be a lock repair and not a new lock.
- The deadbolt is bent, forced, loose in the door, or the cylinder is worn out: that's lock replacement, and we'll match it to the existing holes where we can.
- You want a keypad or phone-controlled lock: that's a different product and a different install, covered under smart lock installation.
When does double cylinder deadbolt installation make sense?
A single-cylinder deadbolt has a key on the outside and a thumbturn on the inside. That is what we install on most entry doors, because you can leave quickly without searching for a key. A double-cylinder deadbolt takes a key on both sides.
The reason to choose double-cylinder is glass. If your door has a window in it, or sits beside a sidelight, a burglar can break the pane, reach through, and turn a thumbturn. With a keyed cylinder inside, that reach-through doesn't work. That's the entire case for it, and it only applies when the glass is within arm's length of the lock.
The tradeoff is real. In a fire or any emergency, you need a key in your hand to get out. Many buildings and fire authorities restrict keyed-both-sides locks on exit doors, especially in multifamily housing and commercial spaces, and the rules differ by building type. Check with your landlord, building manager, or local fire authority before you commit. We'll walk through it with you, and we won't install a double-cylinder where it clearly doesn't belong.
If you do end up with one, the usual household compromise is a hook near the door, out of reach of any glass, where everyone knows the key lives. A key left in the lock defeats the purpose, and a key nobody can find defeats the safety.
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Call (213) 577-1366How does deadbolt installation work, step by step?
Every door is a little different, but the sequence is the same whether it's a bungalow front door or an apartment unit.
- Look at the door. We check the material (solid wood, hollow-core, metal, or fiberglass), its thickness, the condition of the edge, and the frame, and we see what's already drilled.
- Choose the hardware with you. Residential deadbolts commonly use a 2-1/8 inch face bore and a 1 inch edge bore, with a backset that suits your door. We match what's there or set up new holes, and we settle single or double cylinder and the grade of lock.
- Prep the door. On a door with no deadbolt, we mark and bore with a hole saw and guide so both holes are square. On a replacement, we remove the old lock and check the holes for damage or wear that would let the new lock wobble.
- Fit the bolt in the door edge. The faceplate sits flush in its mortise so it doesn't catch or rattle.
- Mount the cylinder and the inside piece, connect them through the tailpiece, and fasten the assembly so nothing shifts when the key turns.
- Set the strike. We mark exactly where the bolt lands, cut the mortise, and drill the bolt hole deep enough for a full throw. We use long screws that reach the framing behind the jamb, because short screws in thin jamb wood are where forced entries usually win.
- Test it properly. We run the key and the thumbturn repeatedly with the door open and closed, confirm the bolt extends fully without dragging, and check that the door still closes smoothly.
- Hand over the keys and explain how the lock operates. If we noticed something else that affects the lock, such as a loose hinge or a sagging door, we tell you plainly and leave the decision to you.
What affects the cost of deadbolt installation?
We don't quote numbers on a web page because the work genuinely varies from door to door. What moves the final cost:
- Whether the door is already bored. Replacing a deadbolt in existing holes is simpler than boring a new door from scratch.
- Door material and condition. Solid wood, hollow-core, steel, and fiberglass all need different handling, and a door with split or enlarged holes needs extra prep.
- The grade and type of hardware. A basic residential deadbolt and a higher-security unit with hardened inserts and a more pick-resistant cylinder are different products.
- Single versus double cylinder.
- Frame and strike work. A solid door on a weak jamb needs reinforcement to be worth anything, and that takes added time and materials.
- How many doors, and whether you want them keyed alike so one key works every lock.
- Time and distance. After-hours calls and travel distance can factor in, and we'll explain how before we start.
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Call (213) 577-1366What should Van Nuys homeowners and renters know before adding a deadbolt?
Van Nuys is largely postwar. The flats are filled with 1940s and 50s bungalow and ranch tracts, and corridors such as Sepulveda, Kester, and Victory carry a heavy mix of 1960s to 80s garden apartments and dingbat-style multifamily buildings. We work across ZIP codes 91401, 91405, 91406, and 91411, and those housing types shape the deadbolt jobs we see.
Renters make up a high share of the area, and many older apartment buildings still have their original knob-and-deadbolt hardware. After decades of use, those cylinders wear, the bolts loosen in the door, and the strike sits in a jamb that has been repainted many times. Think of the Kester Avenue area: when a garden apartment turns over between tenants, the old deadbolt is often worn enough that a rekey alone won't make it feel right. A fresh deadbolt in the existing bore, aligned to the strike, solves both the key question and the worn-lock question in one visit.
On denser blocks near the Van Nuys Civic Center, security screen doors are a common sight. They're a useful first layer, but they don't replace a solid deadbolt on the main door behind them. They also limit clearance, so we check the swing and the space around the door before choosing hardware and handle style.
Heat matters here too. Interior San Fernando Valley summers run well above Westside temperatures, and that heat can swell wood doors and frames until latches bind. A deadbolt that moves smoothly in spring can start dragging in August if the fit is too tight. We leave sensible clearance when we set the strike and bolt, and if your existing deadbolt binds only on hot days, that is usually a fit problem and not a failing lock. On the plus side, corrosion risk is low this far from the coast, so finish choice comes down to looks and wear instead of salt air.
Van Nuys is about 12 miles from our Westwood storefront, and our mobile locksmith vans bring the hardware, drill, and chisels to your door, so the work gets done on site.
Deadbolts in rental units: what landlords and tenants should sort out first
With so many Van Nuys homes rented, the first question is often who is allowed to change the lock. Lease terms vary, so read yours and talk to the landlord or property manager before altering hardware on a rental door. A tenant who installs a lock without permission can create problems, including a lock the owner can't open in an emergency.
For owners with several units, consistency saves headaches: the same deadbolt model, a keying plan that fits how you manage turnover, and records of what was installed where. We cover that approach on our page for locksmith services for landlords. If you manage a building where double-cylinder deadbolts are being considered, check the exit and fire rules for that building before ordering anything.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How do you choose a deadbolt grade and style?
Residential deadbolts are commonly rated by ANSI/BHMA grade, from Grade 3 up to Grade 1, with Grade 1 being the most demanding. A higher grade generally means heavier materials, better resistance to force, and longer service life. For most front doors, a well-installed Grade 2 or Grade 1 deadbolt is a solid choice, and we'll tell you honestly when a step up is worth it and when it isn't.
A few things matter more than the label on the box:
- Bolt throw: a full 1 inch bolt into the frame resists kicking better than a shallow one.
- A reinforced strike with long screws into the framing, not just the jamb.
- A hardened steel insert in the bolt, which resists sawing.
- A cylinder with better pin or key design if picking or bumping worries you. Our high-security locks page explains those options.
- A door that is solid enough to hold the lock. A strong deadbolt in a weak door or split frame only moves the failure point.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a deadbolt in Van Nuys?
We've been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans that serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. When you call (213) 577-1366, at any hour, any day of the year, you reach our company directly. We don't pass your job through a dispatch middleman who then sends whoever's closest.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That means the person setting standards for how a strike gets mounted or when a door needs reinforcement is the same person who answers for the result.
California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), a locksmith company, or LCO, license. Ask any locksmith who shows up at your door for their license number, and check it with the state before they start work. You should be able to get a straight answer to that question from anyone you hire.
If you're locked out and need in first, that's a separate call, and we'll take care of it first. The deadbolt can wait until you're back inside.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a deadbolt installation take?
It depends on the door. Replacing a deadbolt in holes that are already bored is the quickest job. Boring a door that has never had a deadbolt, then cutting the strike and reinforcing the frame, takes longer. We'll look at the door and tell you what to expect before we start.
Can you add a deadbolt to a door that only has a knob lock?
Usually yes. If the door is solid enough and thick enough, we bore the face and edge holes, fit the bolt, and set the strike in the frame. Very thin hollow-core doors and some metal or fiberglass doors are limited in what they can hold, and we'll tell you if that applies to yours.
Is a double-cylinder deadbolt allowed in my Van Nuys apartment?
We can't answer that for every building, because rules differ by building type and use. Keyed-both-sides locks on exit doors are often restricted, especially in multifamily housing. Ask your landlord, building manager, or local fire authority before you choose one. If it's allowed and your door has glass nearby, we can install it.
Should I replace my old deadbolt or just rekey it?
If the lock works smoothly and the only concern is who has keys, rekeying is usually the more economical route. If the cylinder is worn, the bolt is loose or damaged, or the lock has been forced, replacement makes more sense. We'll check and tell you which fits.
My deadbolt sticks when it's hot out. Do I need a new one?
Often not. Valley summer heat can swell wood doors and frames until the bolt drags in the strike. That's usually an alignment or clearance fix, not a bad lock. If the lock itself is worn, we'll say so.
Can I install a deadbolt myself?
Some people do it successfully. The common mistakes are crooked holes, a bolt that doesn't line up with the strike, and short screws that don't reach the framing. If you start and run into trouble, call us and we can finish the job or correct it.
Can you key several deadbolts alike?
Yes. We can set multiple deadbolts to use one key, which is handy if you have a front door, a back door, and a side entry. Tell us how many doors and we'll plan the keying with you.
What if my door frame was damaged in a break-in?
We'll look at the damage first. If the strike area can be reinforced or repaired, we can often do that as part of the installation. If the jamb or door is badly split, you may need a carpenter to repair the wood before any deadbolt will hold, and we'll tell you honestly.
Do you install deadbolts at night and on weekends?
Yes. Our phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, and our mobile vans can come to your Van Nuys address.
More locksmith help in Van Nuys
Deadbolt Installation near Van Nuys
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.