Multi-point lock problems

Lock maintenance




In previous blogs I have mentioned the importance of regular lock maintenance. This has been highlighted recently, as I seem to be going through a series of cases where doors with multi-point locking systems seem to be causing problems. This is especially true when the doors have shoot bolts at the top and bottom of the doors.

The bolts themselves are never particularly strong, so if the system is engaged without the door being properly closed first, it is very easy to push these bolts out of shape, which then causes them to wear as they do not fit properly into the holes in the frame. I do see this happening a lot with French doors. UPVC doors are usually easier to correct as there are often adjustments that can be made, but wooden doors that warp, expand and contract with the weather, can be very tricky.

If your door handles are hard to raise, or you need to hold them up to turn the key, then there is likely to be a problem. Stand back and look to see if the doors are straight and even. Check they fit into the frame properly. Look for signs of wear caused by bolts scraping woodwork. If there are signs of damage, call your local locksmith while there is a chance the problem can be rectified.

Should you have any questions regarding this or any other issues mentioned in my blogs, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin May 29, 2016

double glazed door problems / Double Glazed Wooden Doors / multi-point locking mechanisms /

Double Glazed Wooden Doors

I have noticed a steep rise in the number of wooden doors with multi-point locking mechanisms this year, and I am noticing them because they are having problems. These problems tend to stem directly from the wood holding water and causing rust to the metal moving parts. The problem is compounded if the mechanism has shoot bolts because water collects in the bottom shoot bolt hole and rusts the bolt itself  – causing problems. Wooden doors are also less easy to adjust than their UPVC counterparts and therefore, if anything comes out of alignment the problems start, remember these doors are wood so they will swell in the winter and dry out in hot weather.

So what can we do about these problems? 
Firstly, if you are thinking about installing wooden double glazed doors, consider the potential problems for the future. Yes it is true that you get more window space than a UPVC door but things are a lot harder to correct with wood and often more expensive. In my travels, I have seen only one set of double glazed wooden French doors with hinges that were adjustable to make the doors fit better, however these adjusters were extremely fiddly and without going into technical detail, I wouldn’t expect them to make too many adjustments. Therefore the customer has a finite life on this door. If you really must have wood over UPVC then see if your installer can provide a door that has a mortice lock rather than a multi-point mechanism. Multi-points are still being fitted with standard locking cylinders which means the intruder can gain entry in less than a minute. So unless you are sure your installer is going to fit a BSI 3621 or better cylinder, then a mortice lock is safer anyway. Always seek independent advice before committing your money to these doors.

If you already have these doors in place, then make sure they are oiled regularly. With the door open, lift the handles and inspect all the hooks, rollers, etc for any signs of wear. Even if there are no obvious signs of wear, the handles should lift nearly as easily with the door closed as they do with the door open. If they do not, then there is probably an alignment problem and if this is the case, get your local locksmith to take a look. A small cost now will save a greater cost in the future. Just in case you glossed over the first instruction; oil regularly! Rust is more likely to appear at the bottom of the door, so concentrate your oil here. If the mechanism has shoot bolts top and bottom, make sure the bolt holes are free of water and debris. I see these doors a lot on holiday let homes so if you own a holiday cottage take the time to do the maintenance yourself as many management companies work reactively when the damage is already done.

Should you require any more information about this topic or any of the other lock related matters, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin July 31, 2014

Double Glazed Wooden Doors / Home maintenance / Home security /