New front door - only locks with the key?

[daz]

Got a new composite front door installed by Everest last week, and I was under the impression that the door should lock when I lift the handle up from the outside, and that when I use the key it will 'double lock'?

As it stands, I can only lock the door when I actually use the key to lock it. Whilst not the biggest pain in the world - it's something else to remember and I would prefer for it to lock automatically in some way.

Going to give Everest a call to find out what the deal is, but is it expected/normal?

 

[daz]

Not sure if its normal, but its how the front door of my parents' house works.

If you are outside and the door is just closed on, pushing the handle down will open it.

If you lift the handle it lowers the latches in the door into the frame and you can only open from inside / need a key to open from the outside.

If you then lock with a key (which you can only do after lifting the handle) the door cannot be opened from either side.

This sounds like what I thought was the system, maybe there is a switch or latch to change that hidden somewhere. I just wanted to sanity check before calling them.

 

[daz]

I don't understand the concern?

It's GOOD it's not so simple to lock the door and you need a key.... A) you keep the key safe and B) you don't lock yourself out.

I can see that but it means I need to lock the door with the key when I come *in* to the house as well. I always lock the door with the key at night when I go to bed but if I'm at the other end of the house during the day or doing something in the garden then having the door locked whilst it's closed is just good practice, isn't it?

 

[daz]

You make a good point. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

 

[daz]

I'd love to know how much Everest charge for a composite door?

It was £1550 all in.