Lock Installation and Deadbolt Installation in San Francisco
A new lock only works if the door, bore and strike plate all line up. Many lock problems come from a poor install: a deadbolt that has to be forced, a latch that misses the strike, or a door that has to be pulled hard to lock. This page covers mechanical, non-electrical locks.
Lock installation jobs included
- Installing new deadbolts, including boring new holes in a door that has none
- Replacing existing knobs, levers and entry handle sets
- Keyed and keyless mechanical locks (push-button models that need no wiring)
- Privacy and passage locks on interior doors
- Strike plates adjusted, moved or reinforced with longer screws
- Chain locks, door guards and sliding-door security bars
- Swapping out battery-powered smart locks that fit a standard deadbolt bore
San Francisco doors and rental units
Older San Francisco homes often have thick, solid wood doors and mortise locks built into the door edge. Replacing a mortise lock with a standard deadbolt may mean filling the old pocket and boring new holes, or finding a mortise replacement that fits. Doors in older homes may also be out of square from settling, so the strike plate often needs adjusting to get a clean throw.
If you rent, California law requires landlords to provide working deadbolt locks on main swinging entry doors, and many leases limit lock changes or require giving the landlord a key. Check your lease before changing locks. Changing locks between tenants is also a standard handyman job for landlords.
What to prepare
- Buy the lock ahead or tell us the brand and model you want
- Measure the door thickness and the backset (edge to center of the existing hole)
- Note whether the door is wood, metal or fiberglass
- Keep all keys for the new lock together
When you need a locksmith or electrician
Rekeying cylinders, master-key systems, lockouts, safes and high-security locks are locksmith work. Electric strikes, access-control systems, intercom door releases and any lock that must be wired into the building need an electrician or access-control installer. For standard lock and deadbolt installation across San Francisco and the Bay Area, book 24/7 and ask about same-day appointments when a slot is open.
