Not so long ago the idea of suggesting a multi-point lock system for the entry door seemed … well, a bit risky.

The idea of three latch points certainly makes sense. What homeowner doesn’t want that kind of security? For contractors, three latching positions reduces callback worries from deflection or leaky weather-sealing, especially on large, 8-0 doors.

It’s a logical upgrade and a smart way to differentiate your service with any project involving entry door replacement. A win-win for everyone.

Yet, a good idea can also present thorny issues, reports Adam Kendall, product development engineer for Endura, a building products manufacturer.

“When multi-point locks were first introduced, they were finicky. If there was any imperfection, say a door slightly out of plumb, you were inviting a callback. They were also expensive. They quickly earned a bad rap,” Kendall says. Homebuilder and industry personality, Matt Risinger, seconds the verdict. “For years the builders I worked for avoided multi-point locks. Too many callbacks and hassles, along with limited hardware and high costs,” he recalls.

So what’s changed?

In a word, everything.

Call it a revolution, transformation, or makeover. The bad old days of multiple locking point frustration are over, Kendall and Risinger agree. A few reasons why:

  • Forgiving -installation. “A modern multi-point lock system is affordable, installer-friendly, and play well with off-the-shelf hardware,” explains Kendall. For Risinger, the innovation comes down to “… the way the lock works, particularly the bolts and strikes.” For example, tapered shark-tooth-shaped bolts now engage strikes with embedded rollers. The door is pulled tight to the frame, correcting imperfections up to 3/16” in three directions. Out of square? Out of plumb? It’s hardly an issue with a modern self-correcting latch assemblies.
  • Off-the-shelf hardware compatibility. What good is a pricey entry door if the latch system forces unfair hardware compromises? And that about electronic deadbolts?

Kendall knows entry door hardware is usually one of the last decisions made in new home or remodel construction. Asking a homeowner to select the handset hardware early “… isn’t normal,” Kendall says.

That’s why Kendall and the product engineering team at Endura made universal handset compatibility a central focus of the company’s new PanoLock+ Multi-Point Lock set. Today the patented lock set works with more than 1,300 hardware styles (and counting) from Schlage, Kwikset, Gatehouse, Baldwin, Brinks, and Defiant. That includes electronic lock sets, as well.

  • Universal design. Pre-hanging door shops will appreciate other adaptability. No left-swing, right-swing, in-swing, or out-swing specification is required. “Your local door supplier won’t have to inventory different lock designs and configurations,” says Kendall. “The assembly anticipates any entry door condition.”

Given all this, it may not surprising why PanoLock+ earned the Best Window & Door Product award at the 2022 IBS Show. “This is serious engineering wizardry,” Risinger observes. It’s also another way for you to differentiate your business with a touch of innovation, multiple locking point security, and off-the-shelf peace of mind.

Learn more about how modern multi-point lock systems can add more value to your projects.