Coastal stacking doors for Amanzimtoti's salt spray and wind.

Stacking doors fold panels back completely out of the aperture, opening a wall's full width. Sliding doors run on a single track and typically occupy 25–50% of the opening width even when fully open. For Amanzimtoti's outdoor entertaining culture, stacking doors eliminate the obstruction entirely. A 5m opening becomes a complete unobstructed view and flow path; with sliding doors, you'd have 2.5m of door hardware blocking the sightline even when open. Stacking is the only choice for full wall openings.

Yes, with proper specification. Bluminium's Amanzimtoti stacking doors can be specified with 316-grade stainless steel hardware, marine-grade Qualicoat powder coating, and designed for water resistance and air tightness appropriate to exposure. Regular steel hardware corrodes quickly in salt spray; 316-grade stainless is more resistant. Standard aluminium finishes are not suitable for coastal salt spray; marine-grade Qualicoat powder coating is formulated for marine environments. The key is matching the specification to the exposure and location. A coastal specification is critical for beachfront properties; inland systems may not perform as intended in coastal conditions.

Frame specification depends on the opening size, location, and exposure. Amanzimtoti is a high wind area, so coastal specifications are appropriate. Frame specification is confirmed during the site measurement phase to suit the opening's structural requirements and exposure conditions. The mechanical assembly method — corner cleats and high-tensile fasteners — provides structural integrity. Soft-close hydraulics are sized appropriately for the specified wind exposure. Proper specification is important; an undersized or improperly specified door system can experience alignment or performance issues in high-wind locations.

We fabricate and install with our own team — no subcontractors. This matters because installation tolerances on stacking doors are critical: a frame racked 2mm out of square will bind across seven panels. Our installers know the fabrication specs intimately and can diagnose field conditions against our build standards. They're trained to adjust soft-close hydraulics on-site, align rolling hardware, and test full operational sequences. Subcontracted installers follow a checklist; our installers know how a Bluminium stack should feel and operate, and they tune it to that standard.

Regular maintenance helps protect coastal installations. Monthly: Rinse frames and hardware with fresh water after coastal wind events to remove salt spray. Quarterly: Clean tracks and soft-close hydraulics of sand and salt deposits. Annually: Inspect fasteners and hardware for any corrosion signs. Lubricate rolling hardware with silicone-based lubricant (not oil, which attracts salt). Marine-grade Qualicoat powder coating is more durable in coastal environments than standard anodised finishes, but regular maintenance extends the lifespan of all coastal installations. Neglected maintenance can lead to accelerated wear; properly maintained coastal-spec systems typically perform reliably for many years.

Up to 7 full-width panels is the practical maximum for a single stack of any size; beyond 7 the stack becomes too deep when folded, blocking sightlines or access. The limiting factor is not the number of panels but the per-panel width relative to opening height (for wind-load deflection) and the folded-stack depth on-wall. A 4.2m opening might be 4 panels of 1.05m each. The same 4.2m opening could be 7 smaller panels (0.6m each) if stacking depth permits. The first measure is always on-site: we assess the opening, confirm the best panel count, and design the frame configuration to that spec.