What does lock installation actually involve in Van Nuys?
Installing a lock sounds simple: a hole, a latch, a couple of screws. In practice, the work is making sure the new hardware suits the door it is going into. Doors differ in thickness, bore size, backset, edge preparation, and the condition of the frame around them. A lock that is a little out of alignment will bind, rattle, or leave the bolt pressing on the strike plate instead of sliding cleanly into the jamb. That is the difference between a lock that is on the door and a lock that is installed.
Van Nuys has a wide mix of doors. The flats are dominated by postwar bungalow and ranch tracts from the 1940s and 50s, and along corridors like Sepulveda, Kester, and Victory you find a heavy mix of 1960s-80s garden apartments and dingbat-style multifamily buildings. Many of those older apartment buildings still carry their original knob-and-deadbolt hardware. Add the storefronts and offices, and almost no two installation calls look alike.
People call us for new lock installation for a handful of reasons: a door that never had proper hardware, a remodel or new door that arrived without a lock, a worn-out set that has been patched too many times, a move-in where the old lock is simply not trustworthy, or a decision to step up the level of security on an entry door.
One note on scope. This page is about fitting new locks. If the lock you have is fine and you only want different keys to work in it, that is a different job, and if a lock is broken and needs to come out, that is another. We cover how to tell them apart further down so you pay for the right work.
How do we install a new lock, step by step?
Whether we come to you in one of our mobile vans or you stop by the storefront with a door or a question, the sequence is the same. We do it in this order because skipping the early steps is how a lock ends up in the wrong place on the wrong door.
- Look at the door first. We check material (solid wood, hollow-core, metal, glass), thickness, and whether it has existing bores or a mortise pocket.
- Check the frame and jamb. A new lock is only as secure as the wood or metal it bolts into, so we look for splits, loose hinges, and worn strike areas before we drill anything.
- Agree on the hardware. We talk through what you want the lock to do, who needs keys, and how the door gets used every day, then match a lock grade and style to that.
- Mark and prepare. We lay out the bore and edge positions using the correct template for the lock, so the latch and bolt land where the strike plate will be.
- Cut and fit. We drill or chisel to size, set the latch or case, and mount the lock body, trim, and cylinder without forcing anything.
- Install and tighten the strike. The strike plate is set to the bolt, and where the jamb allows, we use longer screws that reach the framing rather than only the thin trim.
- Test it under real use. We run the lock repeatedly with the door open, then closed, then locked from both sides, and we hand you the keys and explain how the lock operates.
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Call (213) 577-1366Which kinds of locks can we install?
Most installs fall into a few families. Here is how we think about each, so you know what to ask for.
- Front door lock installation: the main entry usually gets a deadbolt plus a knob or lever, or a combined set. We make sure both line up with the same strike area and that the door closes without needing a shove. If you mainly want a standalone bolt, see our page on deadbolt installation in Van Nuys.
- Mortise lock installation: a mortise lock sits in a deep pocket cut into the edge of the door. It is common on older and heavier doors and on many commercial entries. Fitting one means chiseling accurately, and we will tell you plainly if a door is too thin or too weakened to carry one.
- Lever lock installation: lever handles are easier on the hand than round knobs, which matters for anyone with arthritis, limited grip strength, or an arm full of groceries. They are also standard in many commercial settings.
- Security lock installation: this means choosing a stronger-grade lock, reinforcing the strike and door edge, and using proper fasteners. For pick-resistant or restricted-key options, read about high-security locks.
- Electronic and keypad locks: these involve batteries, boards, and sometimes an app, so they are a separate conversation. We cover that on our smart lock installation page.
How is residential lock installation different from commercial?
Residential lock installation is mostly about the door in front of us and the people who live behind it. Questions are practical: how many people need keys, whether the door sticks in summer, whether you want one key for the front and back, and whether a landlord or HOA has rules about hardware.
Commercial lock installation adds layers. A shop, office, or suite door often has to meet certain life-safety expectations: exit doors generally need to open from the inside without a key, and some doors are fire-rated, which limits how and where they can be drilled or modified. Commercial doors also tend to be heavier, are used far more often, and may be tied to a master key plan so staff and management carry different levels of access.
That is why we ask about the type of business, the type of door, and how the door is used before suggesting hardware. For a view of what is typically installed on business entries and back doors, see our page on commercial door hardware.
On the residential side, the same care applies. A hollow-core interior door and a solid-core exterior door are not interchangeable, and a good installer will say so rather than put a heavy lock on a door that cannot support it.
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We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of lock installation in Van Nuys?
We do not quote numbers on a web page because the honest answer depends on the door. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so there are no surprises when we give you a figure on the phone or at your door.
- The lock itself: a basic grade, a mid-grade, and a high-security cylinder are different products with different costs, and so are electronic models.
- How many locks: one door is a single job; several doors on matching keys involve more hardware and more time.
- Door condition: an existing, correctly bored door is the simple case. If we must drill new holes, chisel a mortise, or repair a damaged edge, the labor changes.
- Frame and strike work: reinforcing a weak jamb or fitting a longer strike is added work, and in our view it is worth doing.
- Door material: solid wood, steel, hollow-core, and glass-panel doors each need different tools and technique.
- Commercial requirements: fire-rated doors, exit hardware, and master keying plans take more planning than a standard residential entry.
- Timing and location: an after-hours call or a longer drive can affect the total. Because we run mobile vans plus a storefront, we can often handle planned installs during regular hours, which is usually the more economical route when nothing is urgent.
- Keying needs: matching existing keys, adding keyed-alike sets, or setting up a restricted keyway all change the job.
Should you install, rekey, or replace?
Choosing the wrong service is the most common way people spend more than they need to. Here is how we sort it.
If the door has no lock, or has a lock you want to add alongside the existing one, you need a new installation, which is what this page covers. If you like the lock and the door but simply want old keys to stop working, you probably want lock rekeying, which changes the internal pins without swapping the hardware and is often the lighter-cost option. If the existing lock is damaged, loose, worn out, or mismatched, taking it out and putting in something new is covered under lock replacement.
In reality, jobs blur. We may start a replacement and find the door was never bored properly, which turns it into a small installation job. We will tell you before we change the scope, explain why, and let you decide. If the cheaper path is the right path, we say so.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should lock installation look like around Van Nuys?
Local conditions shape the work. Interior San Fernando Valley heat runs well above Westside temperatures in summer, and that heat can swell wood doors and frames until latches bind. When we install on a wood door in Van Nuys, we leave the right clearance and test the latch at the door's real fit, not only on a cool morning, so a good lock does not turn stiff in August. Corrosion is a lower worry this far from the coast, so finish choice is more about looks and budget than salt air.
Take the apartment buildings along the Sepulveda Boulevard corridor and the garden complexes in the Kester Avenue area. These are the kind of older multifamily buildings where original knob-and-deadbolt sets are still common. In the Kester area, tenant turnover is a typical trigger for lock work, and a unit that has an aging set, or a door where a previous tenant removed one, needs proper new hardware before the next resident moves in. Property managers who handle many units can read more on our locksmith for landlords page.
Near the Van Nuys Civic Center, security screen doors are a common sight on denser blocks. That affects installation more than people expect: the handle on the main door has to clear the screen door's frame and swing, and a lever or a mortise trim that looks fine on its own can end up scraping the screen. We check that clearance on site before we pick the final style.
Commercial work in town runs along Van Nuys Boulevard, where small businesses fit and refit entry hardware as tenants change, and around the Van Nuys Civic Center government complex, where offices need controlled keying. Residents and businesses across ZIP codes 91401, 91405, 91406, and 91411 reach us the same way, by phone or at our Westwood storefront.
Van Nuys is about 12 miles from our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, which is why we send a mobile locksmith van to you rather than asking you to bring the door to us. If you are working on a planned project, such as a remodel, a new tenant, or a set of new doors, call ahead and we will plan the hardware and the visit around it.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a new lock installation?
We have been in business since 1987, and that history shows up in small ways: we have seen what happens to cheap hardware on a busy door, and we know which fitting mistakes come back as callbacks. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, so Van Nuys is a familiar part of the map, not a one-off.
We are a single company with a storefront in Westwood and our own mobile vans. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are not reaching a call center that sells your job to the nearest available stranger. The same company that answers your phone sends the technician, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That is how we keep the process consistent.
The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Most installations are planned and do not need to be done at midnight, but if a door will not secure after a break-in, a bad lock failure, or a move-in with no working lock, we can help right away.
One more point. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Before you let any locksmith work on your door, ask for that license and check it. It is a reasonable request, and anyone doing this work properly should expect it.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you have ready before you call?
You do not need to be an expert. A few details let us give you a clearer answer on the phone and bring the right hardware the first time.
- Which door: front, back, garage entry, unit door, or storefront.
- Door material and rough thickness, if you can tell, or a photo of the door edge and existing holes.
- What is on the door now: nothing, a knob, a deadbolt, or a mortise lock.
- What you want: deadbolt, lever handle, mortise, or a security upgrade, and how many keys you need.
- Whether you rent. If you are a tenant, check what your lease or landlord allows before changing hardware.
- Whether the door is an exit door or may be fire-rated, if it is a commercial or shared-building door.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a new lock installation take?
It depends on the door. A straightforward install on a door that is already bored is quick. A door that needs new holes, a mortise pocket, or frame repair takes longer. We give you a realistic sense of the job once we have seen the door or a photo of it.
Can you install a lock on a door that has never had one?
Yes. We measure and mark the door, cut the bores and edge preparation, and set the lock and strike. We first check that the door is thick and solid enough to carry the hardware, and we tell you if it is not.
What is the difference between a mortise lock and a regular deadbolt?
A regular deadbolt or knob set fits into round holes drilled through the face and edge of the door. A mortise lock sits inside a rectangular pocket cut into the edge, which makes it a larger, more involved installation. It is common on older, heavier, and commercial doors.
Do lever handles cost more to install than knobs?
The install itself is similar. Any difference comes from the hardware, because lever sets come in many grades. Levers are easier to use with limited grip strength, so many people choose them for that reason.
I rent an apartment in Van Nuys. Can I install my own lock?
That depends on your lease and your landlord. Many leases require permission before hardware is changed, and the landlord or manager usually needs a key. Check first, then we can help with the installation.
Can you install locks on a business door?
Yes. We install commercial entry, office, and storefront hardware, and we ask about exit requirements and fire ratings first, because those limit what can be drilled or replaced. If you need several doors keyed to a plan, tell us on the first call.
Will a new lock work with my security screen door?
Usually, but not always. The handle on your main door has to clear the screen door frame and swing. We check the clearance on site and choose a style that works with both doors.
Do you install locks at night or on weekends?
Our phone line at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Planned installs are usually scheduled in regular hours, but if a door cannot be secured, call and tell us what is happening.
More locksmith help in Van Nuys
Lock Installation near Van Nuys
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.