Your Side Garage Door Probably Doesn’t Have a Deadbolt — And That’s a Problem
We get calls about this all the time. Homeowner in Van Nuys has a side garage door — the walk-through door, not the big roll-up one — and it’s got nothing but a flimsy knob lock on it. Sometimes not even that. Just a push-button lock that you could open with a credit card.
The side garage door is one of the most overlooked entry points in any home. Burglars know this. Especially in neighborhoods like Lake Balboa adjacent areas, near Vanowen Street, or the residential blocks south of Victory Boulevard — garages connect directly to the house, and that thin door with no deadbolt is basically an invitation.
So let’s talk about what it costs to fix that, and exactly what the process looks like when you call us for a .
What Does a Garage Door Lock Deadbolt Actually Cost?
Here’s the honest breakdown. No “it depends” runaround — just real numbers based on jobs we do regularly across Van Nuys.
Average Cost Range
For a standard deadbolt installation on a side garage door, you’re looking at $120 to $250 total, parts and labor included. That covers a quality residential deadbolt, the drilling and fitting, and a service call to your location.
Most of our Van Nuys garage door lock jobs land right around $150 to $180.
What Pushes the Price Up or Down
- Door material: A standard wood door is straightforward. Metal doors (common in older Van Nuys homes near Sherman Way and Sepulveda) take longer to drill and may need specialized bits. That can add $30–$50.
- Deadbolt grade: A basic Grade 3 deadbolt runs cheaper. We recommend Grade 2 at minimum for garage doors — better kick resistance. A Grade 1 commercial-grade deadbolt costs more but is seriously tough to defeat. The hardware difference is roughly $25–$75 depending on brand.
- Door prep needed: If there’s no existing hole, we’re drilling fresh — standard pricing. If there’s an old lock hole that’s damaged, chewed up, or the wrong size, we may need to patch or use a door reinforcement plate. Add $20–$40.
- After-hours service: Our normal rates apply during business hours. Emergency or late-night calls carry a service fee, typically $25–$50 extra. If you can schedule during the day, you’ll save a bit.
- Additional hardware: Some customers want a reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws (smart move, we recommend it). Others add a door reinforcement kit. These are minor add-ons, usually $15–$30.
The Process: What Happens When We Show Up
Here’s exactly what a typical looks like, step by step.
Step 1: We Assess the Door
Our locksmith checks the door material, thickness, and condition. We look at the door frame too — a deadbolt is only as strong as the frame it latches into. We’ll also check if the door is plumb (hanging straight), because a warped door creates alignment problems.
Step 2: You Pick the Lock
We carry multiple deadbolt options on the truck. We’ll walk you through the differences — finish, grade, key type — and you choose what fits your budget and security needs. No pressure to upsell. If a $35 deadbolt does the job, we’ll say so.
Step 3: Drilling and Installation
We mark the placement (standard is about 6 to 12 inches above the existing knob), drill the bore hole and the latch hole, and mount the deadbolt. The strike plate goes into the frame with long screws that bite into the wall stud — not just the door jamb.
This takes about 30 to 45 minutes on a wood door. Metal doors may take a bit longer.
Step 4: Testing and Adjustment
We test the deadbolt multiple times — open, closed, locked, unlocked. We check for smooth operation and proper alignment. If anything binds or sticks, we adjust on the spot. You get all the keys, and we make sure you’re comfortable operating it before we leave.
Should You DIY This or Call a Locksmith?
Fair question. If you own a drill, a hole saw kit, and you’ve installed a deadbolt before — you can probably handle it on a standard wood door. The hardware itself runs $25 to $80 at any hardware store on Van Nuys Boulevard.
But here’s where people run into trouble:
- Drilling the hole off-center (now your deadbolt doesn’t align with the strike plate)
- Not using long enough screws in the strike plate (defeats the purpose of having a deadbolt)
- Metal garage doors — one wrong move and you’ve got a mangled hole that’s hard to fix
- Hollow-core doors that can’t support a deadbolt at all (we’ll tell you before you waste money)
The cost difference between DIY and professional installation is usually $60 to $100. For that, you get a guaranteed straight hole, proper alignment, and the peace of mind that it actually works as intended.
Why Van Nuys Garages Need This More Than You Think
Van Nuys has a mix of housing stock — 1950s ranch homes near Kester Avenue, apartment complexes along Hazeltine, newer builds around the Van Nuys Civic Center. Almost all of them share one thing: the side garage door was an afterthought when it came to security.
We’ve worked on homes near Van Nuys Recreation Center, along Woodman Avenue, in the neighborhoods around Panorama City border — and the same issue keeps showing up. The main entry has a good deadbolt. The back door has one. The garage? Nothing.
A deadbolt on that side door closes the gap. It’s one of the cheapest and most effective security upgrades you can make.
Ready to Get It Done?
If you’ve been putting off securing your garage door, we make it easy. Our team handles garage door lock installations across all of Van Nuys — from the 405 corridor to the neighborhoods along Balboa Boulevard. Check out our full list of Van Nuys locksmith services or just give us a call at (818) 398-9391 to get a quick quote. We’ll give you a straight answer on price before we even head out.
