Is there an easy-ish way to change how my front door opens

skm1981

Just a key on the outside

Jeepers_Creepers

I think you need to find more info - make of door or of the locks/latches, stuff like that. Any branding on them?

At the moment the key controls everything - lock and latch. Most PVC/composite door handles have separate operation - the handle controls the latch and the key the lock - ie two 'spindles' go through the door and into the locking mechanism.

So either there is a special handle that combines this mech inside it so that both the handle and key turn the one 'spindle', or else you may need to replace the door lock.

I wonder if the existing door lock mech has provision for the 'handle spindle' so would only need a hole drilling through the door in the correct place. So that the handle only pulls in the spring 'latch', and the key still does both - it can pull in the latch when turned one way, but sends out the dead bolt when turned t'other?

I'm afraid I don't have the answer.

The plate down the open edge of the door - what markings are on there?

ic

Looks like an automatic multipoint lock - https://youtu.be/7q55Q4g1o84, this video demonstrates the operation - you can see the trigger in the photo, between the two star heads.  Around 11 mins 25 secs the guy describes that it can be a cylinder both sides, cylinder outside and thumb turn inside, or cylinder outside and handle inside.  Easiest option for op will be the thumb turn, as Grumbler suggested - very easy DIY job.

I haven't watched the video in detail, but I presume the op is still required to turn the key and deadlock the door after the bolts have shot out automatically (fundamentally the automatic mechanism does away with the need to lift the handle).

skm1981

This is starting to sound a bit technical for me now  I thought the thumb turn lock would work, but thinking about it, I'm not sure because I think the key releases the latch part that's level with the door knob, but the lock lower down is what double locks it and the key controls both.  So if I put a thumb turn lock on, that would solve the lower down part of the lock, but not the lock part that's level with the door knob.  I have no idea what I'm talking about, but hopefully that makes sense (probably doesn't).  I'm thinking I'll probably just live with how the door is for now.

Jeepers_Creepers

skm1981 said:

This is starting to sound a bit technical for me now  I thought the thumb turn lock would work, but thinking about it, I'm not sure because I think the key releases the latch part that's level with the door knob, but the lock lower down is what double locks it and the key controls both.  So if I put a thumb turn lock on, that would solve the lower down part of the lock, but not the lock part that's level with the door knob.  I have no idea what I'm talking about, but hopefully that makes sense (probably doesn't).  I'm thinking I'll probably just live with how the door is for now.

In theory, what the thumb-turn would do is exactly what the key currently does - ie, turn it one way and it pulls in the spring latch (the higher one), and turn it the other way and it extends the deadbolt (the 'lock').

The lock mechanism you currently have in that door doesn't require a separate handle in order to withdraw the spring-latch.

From the outside, you'll obviously always need a key in order to get in, even just to pull in the spring latch, and turning the key t'toher way as you depart will deadlock the door too. On the inside, once you've turned the thumb-turn in t'morning to withdraw the deadbolt, it'll then only need a further half-turn at any time to pull in the spring-latch and open the door.

That's my understanding anyhoo. Sounds like what you are after?

skm1981

Yeah possibly.  I think maybe I'll just put up with the door for now.  To be honest, I'd ideally like a door that has windows anyway to brighten the hallway up a bit and make it a bit less like Fort Knox.  So I think maybe we'll just get a new front door at some point instead.  I'll speak to my husband though, if he thinks this is something he can do, then will give it a go.

Sandtree

It certainly looks like a Eurolock as Grumbler already said. 

If you remove the screw below the bolt the thing should slide out but make sure you remember which is the inside and which is the outside and then its a case of measuring on either side of the lever to find out what size you need. After that, just buy one of the right size ensuring the inside dimension is the one with the thumb turn.

The whole is there a handle, what brand etc would only come into play if you were needing to replace the multipoint system itself which you don't need to do to achieve what you want.

Ours broke a few months ago such as the key could only be removed when the door was unlocked. The job to actually replace it was 15 minutes tops but only took longer because I wanted one with all the anti snap, anti bump etc security features and our local shops didn't have one in the right size in stock so had to wait 48hrs for delivery.

Having removed the old broken one it was slightly concerning just how easy it was to snap and therefore would have only taken seconds to get into our property with minimal noise.

Jeepers_Creepers

Sandtree said:

Having removed the old broken one it was slightly concerning just how easy it was to snap and therefore would have only taken seconds to get into our property with minimal noise.

Aren't they designed to snap if tampered with, but still leave the lock mechanism unaffected and impossible to un-deadlock?

Jeepers_Creepers

SKM, for the sake of £20 (or half that if you are a cheapo) isn't it worth buying a thumb-turn Eurolock and swapping them? (Get the length right...)

https://www.screwfix.com/p/yale-6-pin-euro-cylinder-thumbturn-lock-35-35-70mm-satin-nickel/27935

If you draw a line from where the screw hole will be on the eurolock to the front edge of your door, you should be able to ID the securing screw for the lock. Start to undo this. Before you take it all the way out, fit the key into the lock. Remove the screw, and turn the key slowly a quarter-turn each way whilst tugging at it gently - it should withdraw when the 'pin' is within the eurolock body.

Replace with the Thumbturn version.

That's my recollection of this - best look at some vids on YouTube about replacing Eurolocks.

There is every chance you've cracked it - in a good way. The thumb-turn should behave just like the key does currently - one way to deadlock, and t'other to withdraw the latch and open the door.

Sandtree

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Sandtree said:

Having removed the old broken one it was slightly concerning just how easy it was to snap and therefore would have only taken seconds to get into our property with minimal noise.

Aren't they designed to snap if tampered with, but still leave the lock mechanism unaffected and impossible to un-deadlock?

The new one is, so it has a breakpoint before the spinny bit and the bit behind has additional anti-drill bars in it but it is the old one that I snapped and it broke easily at the lever/spinny bit where then you can pull that out and use a screwdriver or such to activate the locking mechanism.

I knew it was an issue, which is why modern ones have the breakpoint but had thought it was exaggerated to drive sales of the more expensive options.