Multipoint locks: what they are and when to replace them
A multipoint lock, in Dutch a meerpuntssluiting, is a lock that secures the door at three or more points along its edge at once, usually by lifting the handle and turning the key, so the door is held top, middle and bottom instead of at a single bolt.
Lift the handle, turn the key, and you hear several bolts slide into the frame at once. That is a multipoint lock, and more and more Amsterdam doors have one, from new build apartments to replaced front doors in older houses. It is a strong lock, but it is also a mechanism with more parts, and parts wear.
How a multipoint lock works
Inside the door edge runs a long strip with a gearbox in the middle and rods above and below it. Lifting the handle pushes hooks or bolts out at several heights; turning the key locks them in place. Because the door is held along its full length, it cannot be forced open at one spot. The cylinder works as on a normal lock, so the advice on anti snap cylinders applies here too.
Signs that it is wearing out
- You have to lift the handle harder than before, or pull the door towards you to get the key to turn.
- The handle feels loose or drops down on its own.
- One of the hooks no longer reaches the frame, so the door rattles even when locked.
- The key turns but the bolts stay in, or they come out and refuse to go back.
Most of these start as an alignment problem: the door has dropped on its hinges or the frame has moved, as happens in many older Amsterdam buildings. Adjusting the hinges and the keeps often solves it. Keep forcing it and the gearbox breaks.
Repair or replace?
A stiff multipoint lock on a door that still closes well is usually a job for our lock repair service: realign, lubricate, replace a worn handle spring. A broken gearbox or a lock that has failed with the door shut means replacement. The strip is replaced as a unit; the door, the handles and usually the cylinder stay. Our lock replacement service fits a new mechanism in the same size.
What to think about when replacing
The technician checks the backset, the centre distance and the length of the strip. This is also the moment to look at the cylinder and the security plate, because a strong multipoint lock with a weak cylinder is still a weak door. The lock security page explains what belongs together.
What we do
Locksmith Amsterdam repairs and replaces multipoint locks on front doors, back doors and balcony doors. Describe the problem on the phone; the price is confirmed before we start.
Frequently asked questions
What is a multipoint lock?
A lock that secures the door at three or more points along its edge with one action, usually by lifting the handle and turning the key. In Dutch: meerpuntssluiting.
Why do I have to lift the handle so hard?
Usually because the door has dropped or the frame has moved, so the bolts no longer line up with the keeps. Adjustment often solves it.
Can a multipoint lock be repaired?
Often yes, if the problem is alignment, lubrication or a worn handle part. A broken gearbox means replacing the mechanism.
Do I need a new door for a new multipoint lock?
No. The mechanism is replaced as a unit in the existing door; handles and usually the cylinder stay.
Is a multipoint lock safer than a normal lock?
Yes, as long as the cylinder is also protected. The door is held along its full length and cannot be forced at one point.
Multipoint lock stiff, loose or stuck? Call Locksmith Amsterdam on +31 (0)20 210 1986. We repair or replace it in one visit and confirm the price before we start.
