Treasure Coast Locksmith provides lock installation services in Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Jensen Beach, and across the Treasure Coast. Call (772) 758-1322 for mobile service. Treasure Coast Locksmith installs new locks on any residential door across Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Vero Beach, and every Treasure Coast city. Deadbolts, handle sets, smart locks, impact-rated hardware.
Grade 1 brands in stock. Typical job runs 45-90 minutes per door.
Lock installation is the umbrella for any situation where new lock hardware goes onto a door for the first time, or where existing hardware is being replaced with something different. That covers new construction pickups, post-renovation lock installs, upgrading from builder-grade hardware to Grade 1, changing from a knob to a lever for ADA reasons, or installing an entirely new lock on a door that never had one.
Treasure Coast Locksmith handles all of it. We stock Grade 1 and Grade 2 locksets from Schlage, Kwikset Signature Series, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Baldwin, Yale, and Emtek. We have smart locks from every major brand.
And we carry impact-rated hardware for coastal entry doors that meet Florida Building Code.
Every install includes door prep verification, strike plate reinforcement, proper screw penetration into framing, operational testing, and a written workmanship warranty.
What a full lock installation includes
- Grade 1 or Grade 2 hardware - no big-box Grade 3 filler unless specifically requested.
- Strike plate reinforcement - 3-inch screws into framing, not 1/2-inch into jamb.
- Door prep verification - we confirm backset and bore before cutting anything.
- Impact-door compatible - Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade NOA-compliant hardware.
- Coastal finishes stocked - PVD and solid-brass for salt air exposure.
- Operational testing - latch, deadbolt, strike, and thumb-turn verified.
- Two keys provided - matched to other exterior cylinders if desired.
- Workmanship warranty - written, in your hand before we leave.
Typical lock installation situations
The most common reasons Treasure Coast homeowners book a lock installation call.
When to install vs rekey
- New construction in Tradition with cheap builder-grade hardware that needs full upgrade to Grade 1 Schlage.
- Post-renovation in Stuart where the contractor removed the original locks and never reinstalled anything.
- Accessibility upgrade in a Vero Beach retirement home from round knobs to ADA lever handles.
- Impact door replacement in Jensen Beach requires matching NOA-approved deadbolt and handle set.
- New side entry door cut into a Port St. Lucie garage and needs a first-time lock install with full prep.
- Existing hardware damaged beyond repair during a break-in and needs full replacement plus frame work.
- HOA inspection required specific hardware finish that the existing locks don't match.
- Smart lock upgrade from a builder-grade deadbolt to a Schlage Encode with coastal PVD finish.
What separates a good lock install from a bad one
Most homeowners think lock installation is just screwing hardware into a door. A proper installation involves more decisions and verification steps than the average DIY or handyman install accounts for.
Start with door prep. Every residential door has a specific backset (distance from the edge of the door to the center of the cross-bore) of either 2-3/8 inches or 2-3/4 inches. Getting the wrong latch for the wrong backset means the latch doesn't reach the strike, or the deadbolt binds on the cylinder.
We measure and confirm before installing.
Second is cross-bore diameter. Standard residential is 2-1/8 inches but older doors and some European imports use different sizes. We verify before drilling.
Third is strike plate screw length and placement. The factory strike that ships with most Kwikset and big-box Schlage deadbolts uses 1-inch screws that barely bite the jamb wood. A proper install uses 3-inch #10 wood screws that penetrate through the jamb into the framing stud behind.
This is the single most important upgrade and it costs about $3 per strike.
Fourth is the door reinforcement. On fiberglass and hollow-metal doors, the deadbolt body can be pulled straight out of the door face during a pry attack if the door face is not reinforced. We install wraparound door reinforcement plates on vulnerable doors, distributing pry force across a wider area.
Fifth is cylinder orientation and spacing. Grade 1 deadbolts have a specific relationship between the outside cylinder, the inside thumb-turn, and the bolt. Installed incorrectly, the thumb-turn binds or the cylinder wobbles.
Both are failure modes we see regularly on DIY installs and handyman work.
Sixth is finish protection during install. Scratched hardware on day one looks terrible forever. We use felt-lined tools and protective painter's tape during install so the finish arrives with no install marks.
How a lock installation call works
Phone call and scope
Call (772) 758-1322. We discuss the doors, the desired brand and grade, and any finish or HOA requirements.
Onsite prep verification
Technician arrives with the hardware. We verify the backset, cross-bore, and any reinforcement needs before installing.
Installation and reinforcement
Hardware installed with strike plate reinforcement. Door reinforcement plates added where applicable.
Test and handoff
Every lock tested with key, thumb-turn, and door operation. Two keys per lock, written warranty, paperwork left on-site.
Lock installation tips
- Always specify Grade 1 or Grade 2 for exterior doors. Grade 3 is interior-only and a security theater item on an entry door.
- Replace the factory strike plate screws with 3-inch #10 screws. This single $3 upgrade doubles or triples pry attack resistance.
- On fiberglass or hollow-metal front doors, add a wraparound door reinforcement plate. Around $25 of hardware and 15 minutes of labor.
- Within 3 blocks of the beach, spec PVD or solid-brass finish only. Standard zinc fails in 12-24 months.
- Match exterior doors to one key. It costs nothing at install time and saves years of fumbling.
- Photograph the label inside the deadbolt housing before install. The model number matters for warranty and future parts.
Related services
Other Treasure Coast Locksmith services in this cluster.
Lock installation FAQs
Common questions from Treasure Coast homeowners planning new lock installations.
How much does new lock installation cost?
Standard Grade 1 deadbolt installation runs $165 to $265 installed (hardware plus labor). Handle set installation runs $195 to $295 installed. Full-house upgrades (front, back, side, garage, pool gate) typically run $650 to $1,100 depending on brand and finish.
Impact-rated and high-security installations cost more.
Do you install locks homeowners bring?
Yes. We install homeowner-supplied hardware for a flat labor rate of $95 to $145 per lock depending on door type. That said, we often recommend buying through us because our trade pricing on Grade 1 hardware is usually better than big-box retail, so the total job cost is the same or lower.
What brands do you install?
Schlage (all B-series and L-series), Kwikset Signature and SmartKey, Medeco Maxum and M3, Mul-T-Lock Hercular and MT5+, Yale, Baldwin Estate and Prestige, Emtek, Abus, and Assa Abloy. For smart locks: Schlage Encode, Yale Assure SL, Kwikset Halo Touch, August, Level Lock.
Can you install locks on a fiberglass front door?
Yes. Fiberglass is standard on most Treasure Coast new construction. It accepts the same 2-1/8 inch cross-bore as wood doors.
We install the deadbolt and handle set, upgrade the strike plate, and on hollow-core fiberglass we recommend adding a wraparound door reinforcement plate to protect against pry attacks.
Can you install locks on a steel security door?
Yes. Steel doors require specific tooling to prep because standard wood hole saws bind in steel. We use step drills and specialty hole saws.
Installation on a steel door with existing prep is the same 45-60 minutes as a wood door. First-time prep on a steel door takes 90-120 minutes because of the metal cutting.
How long does lock installation take?
A single deadbolt on an existing prep takes 30-45 minutes including strike plate upgrade. A full handle set plus deadbolt takes 60-75 minutes. First-time installs on doors without the prep take 60-120 minutes because of the hole cutting.
A full-house install (4-6 doors) typically takes 3-4 hours.
Will you match my existing lock finish?
Yes. We stock satin nickel, polished brass, oil-rubbed bronze, PVD Life Satin Brass, matte black, aged bronze, polished chrome, antique brass, and antique copper in major brands. Unusual finishes can be ordered within 2-5 business days.
Provide a photo of your existing hardware and we'll match it.
Can you install locks that match the keys I already have?
Yes. We rekey new locks at installation to match your existing key, or rekey all locks to match a new master key. This is standard procedure and costs nothing extra on full-house installs.
For single-door installs there may be a small rekey fee.
Do you install ADA lever handles?
Yes. ADA compliance requires lever handles (not round knobs) on accessible routes, plus operating force of 5 lbf or less on interior non-fire doors. We stock ADA-compliant lever handles from Schlage, Kwikset, Baldwin, and Emtek.
Installation is identical to a standard knob installation.
Are your installations HOA-compliant?
Yes. Most Treasure Coast HOAs specify brand, finish, and style. Common requirements are Schlage B60N in PVD Life Satin Brass (Harbour Ridge, Sailfish Point) or Baldwin Estate in oil-rubbed bronze (John's Island, Orchid Island).
Tell us the HOA and we'll match the approved hardware list before dispatch.
What if my door isn't prepped for a lock?
We can prep doors for first-time lock installation. Standard residential prep is a 2-1/8 inch cross-bore through the door face plus a 1-inch edge bore for the latch. Cutting takes 15-20 minutes on wood and fiberglass, 30-45 minutes on steel.
Prep adds $45 to $85 to the install depending on door material.
Do you install multiple locks on the same door?
Yes. A double-deadbolt install (two deadbolts on one door) is a common high-security upgrade. Also known as a 'police lock' or 'rim deadbolt' configuration.
Installation is straightforward and adds about $95 in labor to the single-deadbolt price.