Door difficult to open

[frontdoory]

Just had a new composite front door installed. Opted for no handle on inside just an oval thumb turn knob.

The door is really difficult to open stemming from the thumbturn. The door movement when open to closing is fine. But turning thumb turn to open hurts my hands. DH has no issues but it's impossible for both DC to open.

DH tried ringing the company who suggested pushing door in and twisting the thumbturn but that makes no difference. I'm regretting not getting a lever handle on the inside, we went for style without considering all the practicalties (inlcuding exiting the house quickly in the event of a fire).

Has anyone else had been in a similar situation? Is it possible to adjust the door in any way so the thumbturn opens easier? DH asked about retrofitting a level handle but they said impossible. We spent £2K on this door plus installation. 😞

These can be stiff if the flag hinges are not properly adjusted. If its correctly fitted it shouldn't be difficult for an adult or reasonable size child to operate. I think you might need the fitter to come back and adjust alignment. The hinge alignment could appear to fine because the door opens and closes smoothly but the shoot mechanisms also need to be exactly right or its hard to lock and unlock.

When closing a composite door you normally lift the handle which makes the claws engage and pull the door up against the seals.
I should imagine trying to do this with a thumb turn only is quite awkward.🤔

No help but I certainly have never seen a door like this and it would never have crossed my mind to ask for this option.

We also have a new composite door with thumb turn inside - which works OK. If it's stiff then try some WD-40 around the thumb turn and if that doesn't work you need to take the whole lock barrel out and drizzle some WD-40 into that so the mechanism operates more easily, and put it back in. Cheaper than trying to replace it!

“Opted for no handle on inside just an oval thumb turn knob.”

I can’t imagine this
That’s quite a heavy mechanism for just a turn? So you have to turn it and then you have to push it outwards. I’m honestly surprised that that’s even a thing.

The fast exit makes sense, but usually you turn the thumb part and then push a handle.

I got a new composite door put in, I was told by the guy fitting it not to use wd 40 on the door. But to use oil for hinges once a year. Im sure if you look it up you will find one suitable for a composite door. I haven't done it yet but must get round to it.

I have a similar style door - chosen for its looks but I can't open or close it easily - and sometimes it is impossible. I have to use the back door as the fitters say there is nothing wrong with it - just its style - lovely to look at and totally impractical

Do not use WD40 - that is Water Displacement. It is not an oil for lubrication long term.
Also, you can get excellent dry graphite lock lubricant that does not attract dirt and muck like oil can. Search for lock lubricant graphite. I apply it maybe every few years.