Residential locksmith ยท Birmingham, AL

Lock Installation in Birmingham & Jefferson County, AL

Express Key Locksmith installs residential locks throughout Birmingham and Jefferson County: replacing tired hardware, upgrading builder-grade locks, adding deadbolts to doors that never had one, and fitting keypad and smart locks. Installation includes the parts that determine whether a lock actually resists force: the strike, the screws, the alignment and the door prep.

Call (205) 259-8892 Request service
  • Licensed & insured
  • Serving Birmingham since 2018
  • Fully mobile, we come to you

A high-grade deadbolt fitted into a sloppy hole with short screws is not a secure door. Getting the boring, the backset, the strike pocket and the fasteners right is what makes the difference, and it is where most self-installed locks fall short.

Call (205) 259-8892 to talk through your doors and what you want.

What this service includes

  • Deadbolt installation, including new holes in doors with no deadbolt
  • Knob and lever handle sets installed or replaced
  • Keypad, push-button and smart lock installation
  • High-security and pick-resistant cylinder upgrades
  • Reinforced strike plates and long screws into the framing
  • Door and jamb prep, plus alignment adjustment so bolts seat fully
  • New locks keyed alike to your existing keys where compatible
  • Locks for storm doors, patio doors, garage entries, sheds and gates

Signs you need lock installation

  • A door has a knob lock but no deadbolt
  • The existing hardware is worn, loose, corroded or builder grade
  • You want a keypad or smart lock instead of a key
  • The finish, style or handing of the current lock is wrong for the door
  • You want a higher security grade on exterior doors
  • A break-in or attempted break-in damaged the door hardware

How the job goes

  1. 1

    Look at the door, not just the lock

    Door material and thickness, backset, existing bore, frame condition and how the door hangs all determine what can be fitted and what needs adjustment.

  2. 2

    Choose hardware that suits the opening

    Grade, function and finish are matched to the door and how it is used. We install hardware you supply or provide suitable options.

  3. 3

    Prep and install

    Bores and strike pockets are cut cleanly to the correct dimensions, the lock is set square, and the bolt is checked for full extension into the strike.

  4. 4

    Reinforce the strike

    Reinforced strike plates and three-inch screws anchored into the framing behind the jamb, because that is where forced entry actually fails.

  5. 5

    Key it into your system

    Where compatible, new locks are keyed to match your existing keys, so you do not add another key to the ring.

What makes a lock installation secure

Forced entry rarely defeats the lock cylinder. It defeats the door, the jamb or the screws. So a good installation focuses there:

  • Bolt throw. A deadbolt should extend at least one inch into the frame. Anything less is easily levered or kicked.
  • Strike reinforcement. A thin strike plate held by short screws tears out of soft pine on the first hard kick. A reinforced strike with three-inch screws into the stud behind the jamb spreads the load into structure.
  • Alignment. If you have to pull the door or lift the handle for the bolt to turn, the bolt is not fully seated. Doors settle over the years: the fix is adjusting the strike or the hinges.
  • Correct bore and backset. An oversized or off-center hole lets the lock move, wears the mechanism, and lets the bolt bind.
  • Grade. Grade 1 and Grade 2 hardware withstands far more cycles and force than the Grade 3 hardware typical of new-build packages.

Adding a deadbolt where there is not one

Plenty of Birmingham homes still have back doors, side doors, garage entries and basement doors with nothing but a knob lock. A knob latch is a spring bolt: it can be shimmed with a card, it retracts under force, and it offers almost no resistance.

Adding a deadbolt means boring the door face and edge, cutting a strike pocket in the jamb and installing to the correct backset. Done properly it is clean and permanent. See deadbolt installation for detail on grades and options.

Choosing between keyed, keypad and smart locks

Keyed locks are simple, cheap to service, need no batteries and work forever. The downside is key management: copies exist and cannot be recalled without rekeying.

Keypad locks (non-connected) remove keys from the equation. Codes can be changed instantly, which is ideal for cleaners, sitters, contractors and family. No app, no wi-fi, no account.

Smart locks add remote access, temporary codes and an access log, useful for rentals and busy households. They need power and connectivity, so we install them with the mechanical fallback in mind.

Many homes are best served by a mix: a solid keyed deadbolt on the front door and a keypad on the door the family actually uses. See smart lock installation.

Call Express Key Locksmith

(205) 259-8892

Tell us what happened and where you are.

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FAQ

Lock Installation questions

Can you install a lock on a door that has no hole for one?

Yes. We bore the door face and edge and cut the strike pocket in the jamb to the correct dimensions, which is common when adding a deadbolt to a back door or garage entry.

Can I supply my own locks?

Yes. We install hardware you have bought, or supply hardware suited to the door. Either way the fit, alignment and strike are done properly.

Will new locks work with my existing keys?

Where the keyways are compatible, yes, we key new locks to match your current key so you keep carrying one key.

What lock grade should I use on an exterior door?

Grade 1 or Grade 2 for exterior doors. Grade 3 is the minimum builder standard and wears out faster. The strike plate and screws matter just as much as the grade.

Do you install locks on metal doors and glass storefront style doors?

Yes, though commercial style aluminum and glass doors use different hardware. See our commercial lock installation page.

Service areas

Lock Installation across Jefferson County

Fully mobile across Birmingham and all of Jefferson County, Alabama.

All 64 service areas

Need lock installation in Birmingham or Jefferson County?

Call (205) 259-8892. We are mobile, so the work happens where you are.

Call (205) 259-8892 All residential services
Call (205) 259-8892 Request service