A knob lock is a privacy device. A deadbolt is a security device. We install proper deadbolts, bored clean, struck deep, and keyed to match your house.
Lake Forest Locksmith
Run a hand down the edge of most Lake Forest front doors and you will find the truth: a spring latch in the knob, and nothing else. Spring latches yield to a stiff card and a shoulder. A deadbolt throws a solid steel bolt an inch into the frame, and that simple fact changes what a door is. If your home has doors without deadbolts, especially side and garage entry doors, this is the highest-value security hour you can buy.
We install single and double cylinder deadbolts from Schlage and Kwikset, Grade 2 for most homes and Grade 1 where the door earns it: exposed side gates in Foothill Ranch, garage entries in Baker Ranch, rental doors in Tustin. Every install includes a reinforced strike with long screws into the stud, because a strong bolt in a weak frame is a story we refuse to sell.
What's included
Bolt, strike, screws, and alignment: a deadbolt is a system, and we install the whole system.
Honest pricing
| Service | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| Grade 2 deadbolt, supplied and fitted Includes reinforced strike | $110 to $175 |
| Grade 1 deadbolt, supplied and fitted Maximum residential grade | $160 to $240 |
| Keypad deadbolt, supplied and fitted Code setup and teaching included | $180 to $260 |
| Second deadbolt, same visit Back or side door while we are set up | $90 to $140 |
| Labor only, your deadbolt Fitted, struck, and keyed if possible | $65 to $95 |
Steel and fiberglass doors price the same as wood in our book; the work is the work. Doors needing a fresh bore plus a corrected old hole may add a small prep charge, quoted before we drill anything. Every price includes the reinforced strike and long screws. Some shops charge for the strike separately or skip it quietly. Ours is in the photo of every job we finish.
How it works
Material, thickness, existing holes, and how the frame is built decide the right bolt and strike.
Grade, finish, and cylinder type, chosen with samples against your door.
Precise drilling with the door protected, edges crisp on both faces.
Bolt fitted, strike reinforced into the stud, throw tested for a full inch of smooth travel.
New bolt keyed to your house key where possible, keys tested by you, action demonstrated.
Which Lake Forest doors need bolts most
The pattern repeats across the foothills: a front door with a decent deadbolt, and a garage-to-house door with a knob lock from the original build. That inner door is the one that matters after a garage breach, and in Baker Ranch, Portola Hills, and Foothill Ranch it is the upgrade we install most. Side gates and laundry doors run a close second.
Laguna Woods and Laguna Hills homes often have the opposite story: good older deadbolts whose strikes were never more than two short screws into trim. The bolt is fine; the frame gives up first. Our installs fix the whole system, bolt, strike, and screws into structure. In North Tustin and Nellie Gail, estate doors get Grade 1 hardware that matches their weight and looks.
Call now and a licensed Lake Forest tech can be on the way, with the price locked in before we start.
Why choose us
Keep exploring
Lock RekeyingLearn more →Lock Change & ReplacementLearn more →
Lock RepairLearn more →
Smart Lock InstallationLearn more →
Key Duplication & CuttingLearn more →Part of our Residential Locksmith services, or see all locksmith services in Lake Forest.
Where we work
Our mobile techs are based in Lake Forest and cover ZIP code 92630, from Baker Ranch and Portola Hills to the Saddleback foothills and Whiting Ranch, plus these nearby communities:
Inside our coverage, we work every neighborhood, including:
Good questions
Grades rate strength and cycle testing. Grade 1 is the strongest residential bolt, built for heavy use and real force; Grade 2 is a strong, sensible standard for most homes. We recommend by door exposure, not by price tag.
Single cylinder, thumb turn inside, suits most doors. Double cylinder, key both sides, makes sense when glass beside the door could be broken to reach a thumb turn, but it means a key must be handy in a fire. We will talk through your exact door.
Yes. We bore fresh holes cleanly in wood, fiberglass, and steel doors, including the edge bore and the frame strike, all in one visit.
If your existing locks share a compatible keyway, yes, we pin the new bolt to your key during the install at no extra charge. If not, we will explain the options before fitting.
About 30 to 45 minutes per door including the reinforced strike and alignment checks. Multiple doors in one visit price better per door.
A quality keypad deadbolt from Schlage or Kwikset is a true deadbolt with a code instead of a keyway, plus a key backup. For most Lake Forest homes it is an excellent, secure choice, and we install many in Baker Ranch and Foothill Ranch.
Licensed, local, and on call 24/7, Lake Forest Locksmith, at your door when you need us.