We will beat any price for the same service!
Provides Local Locksmith in the Twin Cities Area!

Fresh installation wood and metal doors

A fresh lock installation refers to the process of cutting the housing for a lock on a brand new wood or metal door. It requires planning, precision, and expertise in order to ensure that your home or office is properly protected. 

Here at Reliable Locksmith in Minneapolis, we’ve installed new deadbolts, mortise locks, and smart home locks in a variety of different settings. In this article, we’ll talk about different kinds of fresh lock installations, lock grades, and when to call in a professional locksmith.

Reliable LocksmithExcellentReliable Locksmith4.8 Based on 836 reviews fromAnnette CoffinAnnette Coffin ★★★★★ Very happy, thank you!John CrissingerJohn Crissinger ★★★★★ We had an old broken down lock on our commercial double door that Mike was able to find parts and fix good as new. Great work. Thank you.Paul MahonPaul Mahon ★★★★★ Wow..... called to get a rough estimate. 30 min later, I had a working 7-button working key fob. Excellent response, super professional service from the technician. The hidden internal key for the door was carved on site and opened door perfectly. A++Tess JacobsonTess Jacobson ★★★★★ Changed locks in our home to keypads. Incredibly thorough. Did not try to upsell and made sure product worked before leaving.Jim LesinskiJim Lesinski ★★★★★ Mike is truly a lock expert. Other locksmiths said they didn’t have the expertise. Mike got it done, was professional, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend.Sharyn GroneSharyn Grone ★★★★★ Mike arrived promptly to change out my brother’s door lock. He made us as many keys as we needed. Nice guy and we will definitely use his company in the future!Love supporting small businesses!Andrew KlecknerAndrew Kleckner ★★★★★ Needed a new key to be cut and the technician arrived 25mins after I called. Would highly recommendTerri StammTerri Stamm ★★★★★ I had originally called another locksmith to help me but they never called me back or showed up. I called reliable the next morning and they responded right away and the technician was here when he said he would be. They were quick, professional, and extremely courteous. I recommend calling reliable first so you don't waste time with anyone else.Zain HunterZain Hunter ★★★★★ I can’t say enough good things about Eli! He’s hands down the best locksmith I’ve ever worked with. I’ve used his services twice now, and both times he went above and beyond. Most recently, my kids and I were stranded at a gas station with a problem that even the dealership couldn’t solve—but Eli figured it out quickly and got us back on the road. His professionalism, skill, and kindness made a stressful situation so much easier. I’m incredibly grateful for his help, and I’ll be recommending Eli to all of my friends and family. If you need a locksmith you can truly count on, Eli is the one!Thank you so much Eli!Erik SkutnickErik Skutnick ★★★★★ Mike did a great job replacing the locks on my house. The service was very quick and professional. Previously, the old deadbolt had trouble closing but now it’s smooth as silk. Would use Reliable Locksmith again forsureSteph WaltersSteph Walters ★★★★★ Mike was great from the SLP location, easy to talk to, helpful, gave ideas without pushing more than we needed. New front door lock and everything works better.Jeannette WyattJeannette Wyatt ★★★★★ Mike was at our new home today installing all new lock sets and re-keying (with our names on the keys! 🙂 He was awesome!Wes PedersenWes Pedersen ★★★★★ Mike with Reliable Locksmith was fantastic to work with! He listened to me, helped guide me through my choices, and got it all done in a very timely manner. He went above and beyond to ensure that all of my needs were taken care of. I would highly recommend Mike and Reliable Locksmith to everyone!Walter MiguelWalter Miguel ★★★★★ Ely was nothing short of amazing. Came and gave me a new key fob and cut me a new emergency key. Super fast and reliable.Sharon GarberSharon Garber ★★★★★ We couldn't open our door. I called Reliable Locksmith and Mike arrived the same day. He kept us informed about timing and when he arrived he quickly fixed the lock. The work was excellent, reasonably priced and Mike was very personable. I will definitely choose him again if I have any other locksmith needs.Steven StreitenbergerSteven Streitenberger ★★★★★ in my opinion it is really hard to find trustworthy reliable businesses today. I used chatgpt to ask who the highest rated locksmith in my area is and it stated Reliable Locksmith was the highest rated due to technicians Mike and Eli's excellent customer service. I called them and within a few hours Mike was at my door to change out my locks and door handles. The level of customer service Mike showed from start to finish was unmatched in any business I have walked into in recent memory. He went above and beyond several times when it was not necessary as he took great pride in his work and the level of detail to make it perfect. I HIGHLY recommend them for any locksmith needs one may have and will be returning and recommending them to all my friends and family. Thank you again Mike!Susan GottliebSusan Gottlieb ★★★★★ Mike did a great job installing new locks and rekeying another. He worked quickly and was very friendly and professional. Highly recommend!Rob BerrellRob Berrell ★★★★★ Great serviceRae Lee WebsterRae Lee Webster ★★★★★ Reliable Locksmith to the rescue again! Second door that we needed repairs. Timely response, very knowledgeable! Bonus Mike also helped me with our safe that needed attention. Highly recommend! Thank you!!Patrick HarriganPatrick Harrigan ★★★★★ Mike was very friendly and very knowledgeable. He showed me how to change the battery and the code. Highly recommend himCurt FlemingCurt Fleming ★★★★★ Good experience. He arrived to my house within 20 min of calling and was finished within the hour. Got a second auto key and two backup door keys that store inside the fob for a reasonable priceJeff ShottsJeff Shotts ★★★★★ We have a 2011 Toyota Sienna that somehow had tripped the anti-theft immobilization system, so the van would not start and locks and doors were immobilized. Reliable Locksmith was very helpful, I had a call back from a technician (Eli) within half an hour. After that initial call, Eli arrived within the hour, diagnosed the situation, and reprogrammed our keys and fobs within twenty minutes. The van starts, keys and fobs work, as do the locks and doors. The cost of service plus tip did feel high for what was involved ($300), but the speed and service were greatly appreciated. Thank you!Samdella SworrSamdella Sworr ★★★★★ Eli was pretty fast with the job and was very helpfulResponse from the ownerThank you Samdella! We appreciate your feedback. Solomon FarrSolomon Farr ★★★★★ Eli gave me a fair price and great service. I highly recommend.Response from the ownerThank you Solomon! We appreciate your feedback. Michelle RosasMichelle Rosas ★★★★★ When I needed my house locks changed quickly due to a security issue, Mike was at my house within a couple of hours. He replace my locks, rekeyed all the locks for one key, and expertly resolved issues with my doors. He was also charming and kind and a delight to work with. The price was very reasonable, and I now feel safe. What a great experience!Response from the ownerThank you Michelle, For your kind review! We're very glad to hear you're happy with the lock service Mike provided. Spencer KuboSpencer Kubo ★★★★★ MIke was simply fantastic! Prompt, courteous and confirmed appointments. He also was able to fix the lock on our 80 year old door using parts no longer available - a MASTER locksmith!Response from the ownerThank you Spencer, For a great review! We're happy to hear you were pleased with Mike's service. - especially with an older lock. Ashante HartAshante Hart ★★★★★ Fast and friendly. Will definitely recommend.Response from the ownerThank you Ashante! Mary BorowskiMary Borowski ★★★★★ I’m sorry I can’t get the photo to work on my phone but wanted to give Mike the excellent review he deserves. I had trouble with my back door deadbolt. I called and got an appointment right away. On the day of service, Mike called in advance to let me know he was on his way. He arrived right on time, quickly assessed my issue and replaced both the deadbolt and handle in about 1/2 an hour. He even paid attention to the style and color of the original hardware and made a nice match. In addition, he took the time to make sure I was able to use the new hardware. Quick, easy and attention to detail at an affordable price. ThanksResponse from the ownerThank you Mary, We're glad we could help with your locks! Marina OnchanuMarina Onchanu ★★★★★ Mike was very efficient, professional and quick. We called him out to fix our office lock and to duplicate a key.We were very impressed with the service and end result!We added Reliable Locksmith to our contact list if any other locksmith related issues come up in the future.Response from the ownerThank you Marina, for your kind review! We're glad Mike could help. Kim WestgaardKim Westgaard ★★★★★ Mike was knowagable and efficient. I would highly recommend him!Response from the ownerThank you Kim, We appreciate your feedback. Bella AvilaBella Avila ★★★★★ Arrived quickly and worked with me on pricing. Would definitely recommend.Response from the ownerThank you Bella! Lanae ArnesonLanae Arneson ★★★★★ Needed locks changed in a hurry, Alec showed up within the hour. Very professional, tried to keep costs as low as possible for us, and was just great to work with. Highly recommend.Response from the ownerThank you Lanae, Your feedback is greatly appreciated! Tory BrownTory Brown ★★★★★ Mike was excellent, fast and a nice guy. Will use again.Response from the ownerThank you Tory, We appreciate your feedback! AngelaAngela ★★★★★ Response from the ownerThank you B WaltB Walt ★★★★★ These guys are awesome. Locked myself out of my house on Easter Sunday evening and they picked up my call, had the tech call me very quickly and was out at my home in 30 mins. Once they arrived they had me in my house within a few minutes. Considering it was a holiday and a Sunday the pricing was very reasonable. Can’t thank them enough!Response from the ownerThank you B, Your feedback are greatly appreciated! Magda EddlemanMagda Eddleman ★★★★★ Mike with Reliable Locksmith was amazing, he fixed and replaced all the locks in our home. Customer service was excellent! Will be recommending to all my friends!Response from the ownerMagda, Thank you so much for the awesome review! We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with Mike. Dustin ChristenDustin Christen ★★★★★ Mike was great, extremely knowledgeable and committed to his craft. "I don't make good keys, I make perfect keys" sums it up perfectly. Looking forward to utilizing them more in the future at our multifamily properties.Response from the ownerDustin, Thank you for sharing your great experience with Mike! We appreciate your time. ZachZach ★★★★★ Mike was fantastic! Solved multiple problems quickly and efficiently, educating me along the way. He is highly recommended, he even added a great personal touch!Response from the ownerThank you Zack! We're happy Mike could help out. And appreciate your honest feedback. Alan LAlan L ★★★★★ Mike found a way to repair a complicated lock that I was told probably had yo be replaced, which would have cost a lot more. Great service!Response from the ownerThank you Alan, We're thrilled you had such a positive experience! Gail SpeckmannGail Speckmann ★★★★★ Today I locked myself out of my house and contacted Reliable Locksmith. Mike arrived in a very timely manner, did a great job on getting me back in. He also took care of replacing a front door lock pad and did a beautiful job. He was very personable, fair in his pricing, and I highly recommend using him for these services. We even got engraved personalize keys. Now we can tell who has lost their key. :-).Response from the ownerGail, Thank you for the amazing review, We're happy Mike was able to assist. Kevin ChaseKevin Chase ★★★★★ Stupid car lockout situation, simple problem. It’s so simple that my inattentive adhd self didn’t realize my keys slipped out of my pocket.Unnecessarily humbled by a dopey moment, Mike was available, told him my situation. He arrived on his promised time fast, surprisingly fast. I think I may have slowed him down introducing myself and being appreciative of the help, but he got the door opened up in a blink of an eye.Thanks for making my end of day dumbass moment as stress free as you did. Very much appreciated.Response from the ownerThank you Kevin, We're happy we could quickly help you out. Cole FeriancekCole Feriancek ★★★★★ Mike was phenomenal. Professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Would recommend to anyone and will definitely use Reliable Locksmith again.Response from the ownerCole, Thank you for the amazing review! We're happy to hear that Mike was able to provide you, A great experience with Reliable locksmith js_loader

Residential lock installation

Wondering what kind of lock to install in your home or guest house? Take a look at these common types of new lock installations for residential settings:

  • Rim cylinder lock. Rim cylinder locks are one of the most basic styles of locks for residential settings, and are most appropriate for internal doors, such as master bedrooms and storage closets. They require a housing to be cut in the door as well as in the door frame. 
  • Deadbolt or door knob. Installing a deadbolt or door knob on your home’s external doors can increase your security significantly! A standard mechanical deadbolt is typically easy to install, requiring your locksmith to cut a housing into the wood or metal door above the knob or lever to hold the deadbolt lock.
  • Mortise lock. Mortise locks are a traditional style of lock that you may see on older homes here in Minneapolis. While they may look similar from the outside of the door to a knob and deadbolt combo, they utilize a unique design that takes up a larger area within the door. As such, they may not be appropriate for all doors, as they require sufficient width and strength to house the lock.
  • Smart home system. Smart locks are incredibly popular these days. And while the installation of the hardware may be similar to a mechanical lock or deadbolt, your locksmith will also be tasked with installing and testing the software.

Commercial lock installation

The world of commercial fresh lock installation is broader than the residential side simply because there are so many different kinds of security systems for businesses! Here are a few typical lock installations that we see regularly in Minneapolis:

 

  • Electric strike installation. Electric strikes are a type of device that allows for the lock to be engaged and disengaged with a buzzer, alarm system, access card, passcodes or central control system. Not only do they require a housing for the hardware to be installed but they will also require electrical wiring to power the device. 
  • High security locks. If your commercial space gets a lot of traffic or has high security needs, you’ll need high grade locks that are built to last, such as commercial-grade mortise locks or deadbolts. Typically, high security locks are best-suited for strong metal doors.
  • Fire rated or panic hardware installation. Fresh lock installations on fire doors or exit doors for commercial spaces will need to comply with local building codes. Installation for these special kinds of doors will require the lock or crash bar to be precisely mounted onto the door in order to align with accessibility laws and emergency protocol.

 

Lock grades

When searching for locks to install on your metal or wood door, you’ll have your choice between Grade 1, 2 and 3 locks. This grading system refers to the longevity and durability of the lock. 

Grade 1 locks offer the highest level of security and are typically only installed on high strength doors such as metal doors. Grade 2 locks are appropriate for many residential and commercial settings and can be installed on both wood and metal doors. Finally, Grade 3 offers the lowest level of security and durability, but can still be suitable for many residential security needs.

Fresh lock installation step-by-step

Wondering what a fresh lock installation looks like from start to finish? Here’s the rundown for installing a new lock on a wood or metal door:

Step one: Measure and mark the door and frame

In a commercial setting, this will mean referring to local building codes to ensure that door handles are installed at the appropriate height for accessibility laws.

Step two: Carve out the housing

Fresh installations require you to create the holes in the door where the lock will be housed, and where the latch or deadbolt will extend, as well as in the door frame where the strike plate will be mounted. This can be done with a hole saw drill bit and chisel. 

Step three: Install the lock housing and strike plate

Now the lock hardware can be placed in the newly cut holes in the door. The strike plate can also be secured to the shallow housing in the door frame. 

Step four (for electrified locks): Connect the lock to power

For electric strikes, this will be the time to wire the lock to the power source and hide the wiring within the door frame.

Step five: Test and troubleshoot

Before packing up the tools, it’s important to test the lock to make sure everything turns smoothly and closes securely. Anything that wiggles or is misaligned needs to be addressed.

Smart locks will also need to be programmed and tested to ensure proper installation!

Can you install a new lock by yourself?

If you have the tools and know-how to do most home improvement projects, you can probably install a basic lock yourself. Installing locks on fresh doors requires careful measuring to ensure that the housing perfectly aligns with the strike plate. But, if you’re confident with your drilling skills, this can be a DIY project.

That being said, for commercial projects, electric strikes, panic hardware, or anyone who simply would rather leave their security in the hands of a professional, we would definitely recommend calling in a trusted locksmith. Our team here at Reliable Locksmith in Minneapolis can oversee fresh lock installation for all kinds of security needs.

Our Services

We wanted to let you know that we offer the best services in Minneapolis Metro. We have a lot of fun here, which means our employees are happy. And we cost less than the other guys.

We provide a comprehensive range of locksmith services in Minneapolis. Serving Hennepin County, we can help you combat broken locks, install new locks, access homes and business premises when you’re locked out, and even provide replacement car keys on the spot.

We care for every one of our clients, and we’ll always do what we can to put you at ease. We’re a friendly team and enjoy our work – nothing makes us happier than solving your problems.

Plus, we provide cost-effective quality solutions. Our low prices will certainly be a pleasant surprise.

Emergency Locksmith

Residential Locksmith

Commercial Locksmith

Auto Locksmith