Door Lock & Smart Lock Installation in Ottawa
Most lock problems are alignment problems wearing a disguise. A deadbolt that needs a shoulder behind it, a smart lock that jams intermittently, a handle that feels loose within a month — in nearly every case the bore, the latch and the strike are not square to each other, and the hardware is being blamed for the frame.
$130–$265 per lockset installed and aligned
Common problems we fix
What actually turns up on these calls in Ottawa homes, and what each one really means.
The deadbolt only throws if you pull the door
The strike is not aligned to the bolt. Under load, the bolt binds. This is the single most common lock call and it is the one people live with longest.
A new smart lock keeps jamming
Smart locks are less forgiving than a mechanical deadbolt because the motor has limited torque. A misalignment a manual bolt would push through will stop a smart lock cold. The fix is the door, not the lock.
The handle has gone loose
Spindle or set screws backing out, often because the bore was slightly oversized on install. Re-set properly rather than tightened again in six weeks.
You want the same key for every door
Keyed-alike sets for front, side and garage entry doors. Worth deciding before buying hardware rather than after.
A rental or purchase needs re-keying
New place, unknown number of keys out there. Cylinders re-keyed or locksets swapped — usually the fastest peace-of-mind job on this list.
How the work is done
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1
Check the door hangs true
A lock installed in a dropped door will fail. Hinges get corrected first if needed.
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2
Bore and mortise
Clean bore, latch mortised flush so it does not hold the door proud.
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3
Set the strike
Aligned to the thrown bolt, with a long screw into framing on exterior doors.
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4
Cycle test
Locked and unlocked repeatedly with the door both open and closed, because those are different tests.
What it costs
A standard deadbolt or handleset is $130–$200 installed, hardware supplied by you. Smart locks run $180–$265 because alignment and setup take longer. Re-keying an existing cylinder is quoted per lock and is usually the cheapest option.
See the full Ottawa rate card →Frequently asked — Door Lock Installation Ottawa
Can you install a smart lock on my existing door?
In most cases yes, provided the door has a standard bore and the frame is square. If the door has dropped, that gets corrected first — otherwise the lock will work when tested and fail in February.
Do I supply the lock?
Usually, and it is the cheaper route. If you would rather we source it, we will quote the hardware separately so you can see what it costs.
Is a handyman allowed to install locks?
Yes — locksmithing on residential hardware is not licensed work in Ontario the way electrical is. Anything involving access control wired into a building system is a different trade and we will say so.
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Part of Doors, Locks & Hardware · Serving Kanata, Stittsville, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orléans, Gloucester and all of Ottawa.
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