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Crenshaw Lock

Deadbolt Installation in Los Angeles · 24/7 mobile

Deadbolt Installation in Los Angeles

Crenshaw Lock Company installs and replaces single- and double-cylinder deadbolts throughout Los Angeles, from Leimert Park and Baldwin Hills to Koreatown and Downtown. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, so the work happens at your door, on your schedule. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your door and the right deadbolt.

  • Mobile to your Los Angeles location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Deadbolt bolt extended into a reinforced strike plate
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A deadbolt is the lock that actually holds a door shut when someone pushes on it. A spring latch in a knob can be slipped or forced with little effort. A properly installed deadbolt throws a solid bolt deep into the frame, and when it is paired with a reinforced strike plate and long screws that reach the wall stud, it changes how a door stands up to a kick or a pry bar. In Los Angeles, where a single block can hold a 1920s Craftsman, a dingbat apartment and a brand-new multifamily building, getting that installation right depends on the door in front of us.

We have been doing this work around Los Angeles since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar has seen a lot of older doors. Many homes near our 90008 base still run original 1920s mortise locks, with thin stiles, old boreholes and decades of paint. Some doors were never drilled for a deadbolt at all. Others have a deadbolt that was installed crooked years ago and now has to be lifted or shoved to lock. We handle fresh installations on undrilled doors, straight replacements in existing holes, and the in-between jobs where an old mortise pocket or mismatched holes need to be worked around carefully.

Because we are a mobile-only locksmith with no storefront, we bring the drilling jigs, hardware and tools to you. We will explain the difference between single-cylinder deadbolts (key outside, thumb turn inside) and double-cylinder models (key on both sides), including the fire-egress concerns with double-cylinder locks in a home, so you can make an informed choice rather than a rushed one.

How it works in Los Angeles

  1. 1

    Talk through the door and your goals

    When you call (323) 997-8867, we ask about the door material, whether it is already drilled, what lock is on it now, and whether you want the deadbolt keyed to match other locks. If there is a wrought-iron security screen in front of the door, we note that too, because it affects how the lock and key will be used day to day.

  2. 2

    Inspect the door, frame and existing hardware

    On site, we check the door thickness, backset, stile width and the condition of the jamb. On older Spanish Colonial and Craftsman doors we look for an original mortise lock, past repairs, rot or splits near the edge, and whether the frame can take a solid strike. This step decides whether a standard bored deadbolt fits or whether a different approach is needed.

  3. 3

    Recommend the right deadbolt

    We explain options plainly: single- versus double-cylinder, grade ratings, keyway choices, and whether rekeying to match your existing keys makes sense. For a door that has already been forced, we usually suggest a heavy-duty, Grade-1 style deadbolt with a reinforced strike. You decide; we do not push hardware you do not need.

  4. 4

    Drill, mortise and fit cleanly

    For new installs we use a jig to bore the face and edge holes square, then chisel the latch and strike mortises so the plates sit flush. On replacements we adapt to existing holes where possible, and fill or cover old openings neatly. The goal is a bolt that slides fully into the strike with no binding.

  5. 5

    Reinforce the strike side

    A strong deadbolt is only as good as what it locks into. We set the strike with longer screws into the framing where the jamb allows, and we can add reinforcement plates on weakened or previously pried frames, which is common after a break-in.

  6. 6

    Test, key and walk you through it

    We test the bolt with the door open and closed, check that it throws smoothly from both sides, confirm every key works, and show you how to keep it operating well. If you also had a lock rekeyed or matched, we verify those keys at the same visit.

Need deadbolt installation in Los Angeles?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Whether the door is already drilled for a deadbolt or needs new boreholes and mortises cut
  • The door and frame material and condition, such as solid wood, hollow-core, metal, or an older door with prior damage or repairs
  • The deadbolt you choose, including single- or double-cylinder, security grade, finish, and any smart or keypad features
  • Extra work like strike reinforcement, frame repair, or adapting around an original mortise lock pocket
  • Keying requests, such as rekeying to match existing locks or setting several new deadbolts on one key
  • Timing of the visit, since after-hours, overnight and holiday calls can affect the cost

Why Los Angeles chooses us

  • Serving Los Angeles since 1987, with owner David Shar still doing hands-on work
  • Experience with the older doors common around 90008, including 1920s mortise locks, thick original paint and doors never drilled for a deadbolt
  • Fully mobile and available 24/7, so installation happens at your home or building rather than a shop counter
  • Straight talk on single- versus double-cylinder deadbolts, including egress safety, so you choose what fits your household
  • Attention to the strike and frame, not just the lock body, since reinforcement is what helps a door resist forced entry
  • Comfortable working around wrought-iron security screen doors and bars common across South LA homes

Deadbolt Installation across Los Angeles

Our home base is in the 90008 ZIP code, close to Leimert Park Village and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, so a good share of our deadbolt work is on the Spanish Colonial Revival and Craftsman homes that line the streets off Crenshaw Blvd and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. A typical job here might be a 1920s Craftsman duplex in Leimert Park where a tenant has moved out: we rekey, then replace a worn original mortise lock with a modern deadbolt that fits the old door without wrecking its character. Up in View Park-Windsor Hills and Baldwin Hills, near Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, the period-revival and mid-century estates often have heavier doors and wider frames, and owners frequently want several entries keyed alike.

In West Adams, around 90018 and 90016, older bungalows sit behind wrought-iron security screen doors. One call we know well is the emergency re-secure after a break-in: straightening a pried security screen and installing a Grade-1 deadbolt with a reinforced strike so the main door is no longer the weak point. Closer to Exposition Park and USC in 90007 and 90037, we see many rental units and courtyard apartments where landlords need durable deadbolts that stand up to frequent tenant turnover.

We also travel throughout the city along I-10, I-110, La Brea Ave and Slauson Ave to Koreatown (90006, 90019), Hollywood (90046, 90027) and Downtown near Union Station and Walt Disney Concert Hall (90012). That covers dingbat and mid-century apartments as well as newer multifamily buildings, each with different door standards. Wherever you are, there is no shop to visit; we come to your door.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other Los Angeles locksmith services

See all of our Los Angeles services, or our citywide deadbolt installation page.

Deadbolt Installation in Los Angeles — FAQs

Should I get a single-cylinder or double-cylinder deadbolt for my Los Angeles home?
Most homes do best with a single-cylinder deadbolt: a key outside and a thumb turn inside, so anyone can get out quickly in an emergency. Double-cylinder deadbolts need a key on both sides and can slow an exit during a fire, and local codes may restrict them in some homes. They are sometimes considered when there is glass near the lock. We will talk through your door and household before recommending either. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss it.
Can you put a deadbolt on an old 1920s door that still has its original mortise lock?
Often, yes. Many doors around Leimert Park and West Adams still have original mortise locks. Depending on the door's thickness and the space left in the stile, we can add a deadbolt above or below the existing lock or replace the old mortise hardware entirely. We inspect first so we do not weaken an older door by cutting where wood is too thin.
My door has never been drilled for a deadbolt. Can you still install one?
Yes. We bring the jig and bits to bore the face and edge holes and chisel the mortises on site. We check that the door is solid enough and that the frame can hold a strong strike before drilling.
Do you install deadbolts after a break-in?
Yes, and we are available 24/7 for exactly that. After a forced entry we look at the door, frame and any pried security screen, then install a heavy-duty deadbolt and reinforce the strike so the door can be locked securely again. Call (323) 997-8867 any time, day or night.
Can my new deadbolt use the same key as my other locks?
In many cases, yes. If your existing locks share a compatible keyway, we can key the new deadbolt to match, or rekey everything to a new single key. This is popular with landlords between tenants and with homeowners who are tired of carrying several keys.
Do you have a shop I can bring a door or lock to?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile with no storefront. We come to your home, apartment or rental property anywhere across Los Angeles, from Baldwin Hills and Crenshaw to Hollywood and Downtown.
How much does deadbolt installation cost?
It depends on the door and the hardware. Whether the door is already drilled, its material and condition, the deadbolt grade and type, any strike reinforcement or frame repair, keying requests, and the time of the call all play a part. We explain what affects your job before work starts so there are no surprises.
Will a deadbolt work with my wrought-iron security screen door?
Yes. Many South LA homes have a security screen in front of the main door, and the two locks work independently. We make sure the deadbolt's key and thumb turn are easy to reach and that the screen closes without interfering with the new hardware.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7