[Closed] Key operated only multipoint locking door. Anyone have one?

??!
Could you not have a handle on the inside?
Key only operation does sound a bit like hard work.

The multi point locking system compresses the seals as it closes, the handle gives the force to do this. If the lock is adjusted to be easy to lock with the key I'd be dubious about it sealing properly.

It’s got a knob on the inside sharkbait which increases the leverage by maybe 5mm.. but aye it’s hard work!

Good point Jon. I guess it’s never going to be easy doing it via key alone and achieving a seal..

FFS Why do these things even exist! I was quite happy with this old door.. you could almost buy a set of carbon wheels for what this thing cost.

I've got a fairly cheap multi-point locking steel door on the workshop where the key does all the work throwing the bolts. Very easy to turn.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8048/8399871186_6b2511679c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8048/8399871186_6b2511679c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dNgx4h ]Backdoor trim complete[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

Surely they should make the head of the key larger given the type of locking mechanism.. but nope just a standard sized circle you’d find at the head of any common or garden key. I’m going to have to buy some sort of elderly person key turner thing at the age of 35

Thanks footflaps. That confirms my suspicions something is not quite right.. or it’s just a piece of shit door. **** hell. Absolutely nowt is easy 😂

Our door has 'partway and gently up' to stay closed. Then a 'fully up and see the door compress seals a mm or two' to be able to lock it. Even well adjusted there's some resistance on the handle.

I find candle wax keeps the mechanism really smooth, particularly where the hooks go into the pockets.

If its the seals, would pushing/pulling on the handle release the pressure required at the key?

We've got one of those, half of what should be a proper patio door that pulls out of it's frame and slides back across the fixed pane.
It pays to keep them well lubricated by squirting thin lube in the mechanism where ever there is access because there are a lot of joints and sliding bits inside the frame. Also the rollers and pockets as matt_outandabout said - though I have to admit, never thought of candlewax, that's a good shout.

I'm convinced it'll fail in an expensive way some time, too complicated and inaccessible. I wouldn't replace it with another.

I've no idea what you're describing but based on experience of traditional multipoint locking, my concern would be "if it's this awkward when new, what's it going to be like in ten years?"

he said it would free up a little in the first few weeks

Aye, right. I worked in tech support for a long time, I can smell a fob-off from a different time zone.

"And if it doesn't then you'll be back to fix it for free will you? Before we release the funds for payment?"

Wonder how robust the keys are to withstand a twisting force

Thanks for the responses all. I’m going to set about it with some silicone lube before the fitter gets here tomorrow, see if that makes a difference and then have good old whinge regardless I think.

**** brand new front door and I’m pissing about with silicone lube inside 24hrs.. Form over function.. Was nowt wrong with the old door IMO.. it’s probably on its way to Turkey to get ‘recycled’ into a bastarding river.

I’m going to set about it with some silicone lube before the fitter gets here tomorrow

"well, I would've been able to sort it until you buggered about with it and made it worse"

Seriously, don't touch it. You're paying for it to be fitted correctly, insist on that. If it needs lubricating then let the fitter do it. As soon as you touch it then it'll be your fault for using the wrong type of lube.

Two concepts you need to be aware of. 1) line of demarcation, this bit is your problem, that bit is mine. 2) project acceptance, a project may redefine a line of demarcation once it has been agreed to be good by the customer.

As soon as you start cocking about with it then you muddy the waters and you lose the high ground. You're accepting responsibility. Don't do it. Really, just don't. If this winds up in legal territory and I was the installer I would bury you, you're giving them an open goal.

Aye, good shout, I’m getting a bit carried away just wanting it sorted. I’ll see what he has to say tomorrow.

probably on its way to Turkey to get ‘recycled’ into a bastarding river.

Made me laugh, I’m using that.

Father in law has one, managed to lock himself out after a window was open and it blew the door shut. Had to break a rear window to get in. Not good for a 74yo on all manner of blood thinners, uppers and downers. Got it because he liked the look of it. We hate it. I just do not know why you wouldn’t have a sodding twist handle on a door.

I’m sorry to hear that BB, we’re starting to regret the decision already.. I was just thinking that if the door was fitted next door at my 90 year old neighbours house she’d have absolutely no chance of operating it. Not fit for purpose IMO and I can’t see it being here in the long term. My wife is gutted as she’s wanted a new door since we moved in 7 years ago.. Wish we’d went for a normal twist handle now. Expensive mistake this one 😐

Yeah, we have 2 of them. One works fine without much force and on the final turn you can see the door tightening a little more onto the seals. The other one is a little stiffer and needs the door pulling onto the seals to make the action easier. I might have to look at that one and see if some lube can help.

Is this one of those fashionable big officey looking things with a massive long handle?. This is something I hadn't thought about tbh, we'll be replacing our UPVC in the next few years, thanks for pointing this out.

If turning the key is doing the wok to compress the seals, then I'd expect it to get easier in time as the seals become more compressed.

But anyway, no idea why your wife insisted on that style. Tell her she's wrong. That'll get you a new door (and house...).

Ours is similar in design and operates like brokenbanjo described. The multipoints are spring loaded and fire closed as the door is shut. Key then operates the deadbolts. You get used to either carrying a key, or sticking the deadbolt out if you want to leave the door ajar. It might be a consideration if you have kids that could close the door behind you and lock you out!

The most annoying thing is the wife thinks it needs to be slammed shut and shakes the whole house when you can just give it a little nudge ( I don't think a strong breeze would close it though).

The multipoint retraction force is definitely low enough for operating with the key/thumbturn though.

It did become stiff year after we got it, but a very minor adjustment of the keeps solved it. You need to find the balance between enough seal compression and low operating force. Higher seal compression will make it harder. To be honest I have had more trouble with tuning the back door traditional handle up jobby.

I do.. as of about 3 hours ago.. and I’m quite surprised/annoyed at the force required to lock said door. Does anyone have one of these types of door?

We don't - I wanted one with a handle for the OPs exact reasons. Then yesterday I was walking my daughter to school via her friend's house, they had just had a new door with a key operated lock fitted and she couldn't lock it. It took me a couple of minutes of faffing to sort it. Horrible things, silly design.

We have something similar on a Solidor - I find it pretty easy to lock/unlock but my kids (smaller, weaker hands) do struggle a bit. But, pulling or pushing the door towards the frame helps immensely.

We did change the inside lock from key-only to a thumbturn one - so we could lock/unlock without the key... and to stop us getting locked out, as a key couldn't be inserted from the outside if there was a key in the inside lock. Stupid design.

My only experience of these locks one we have at work... granted it's not the most sophisticated multi-point lock - deadbolt in the middle, 1 hook at either end, no rollers - but it takes literally no extra effort to lock the door. I'm guessing it doesn't have these "compression seal" jobbies which may be why it's easier, what are they all about then?

I was actually toying with the idea of replacing the lock on our garage door at home with one of this style, the reason being that I've retro-fitted a smart lock and obviously it can only automatically lock the door if you've manually lifted the handle, whereas with a key-operated MPL that wouldn't be a factor.

Thank you for the continued responses all. I hadn't even thought about kids using yet.. Daughter is only 2 and I reckon by the time she's old enough to have a key this door will be long gone.. good news on my old door though, the younger of the two fitters is going to spray it and put it on his house - love a bit of proper recycling! No rivers in Turkey just yet..

The fitter has been back round to install remaining trim. I told him I wasn't happy with the locking mechanism, he applied silicone lube and fettled with the keeps I think but noticed the lock barrel itself looks like it had taken a hit at some point and has suggested replacing that first. He said it'll be this afternoon if they have one at the factory otherwise will be a fortnight. I'm not impressed. Still haven't paid yet..