Aluminium folding-stack doors fabricated in Durban and installed across Hillcrest, Kloof and the Upper Highway corridor. Marine-grade finishes, SANS 613 wind-load engineering and safety glazing to SANS 10400-N. Configurations up to 7 panels. Free site measure before any quote.
STACKING
Hillcrest sits around 600 metres above sea level on the Kloof escarpment, which puts every opening on an Upper Highway property under a different load case to a coastal Durban home. Winter mornings arrive under dense standing mist, and properties above the mist line see sustained humidity for hours at a time. Ridge elevations take wind straight off the Kloof Gorge with nothing upwind to break it. That combination drives how a stacking door needs to be specified — heavier frame profiles, thicker laminated glass on exposed elevations, double-draft perimeter seals, drainage channels and 316-grade stainless hardware. Our process starts with a site measure, then a written specification, with wind-loading calculated per opening. Fabrication happens in our Durban facility; installation is handled on site by our own teams.
Two different ways to open a wall. The choice is driven by how much of the wall you want to remove.
| Parameter | Sliding System | Folding-Stack System |
|---|---|---|
| Panel operation | Slides on one or two tracks; panels overlap | Hinged panels fold back into a compact stack |
| Clear opening | Usually about half the span | Entire span can be opened |
| Panels in the system | Typically 2 to 4 | Commonly 3 to 7 |
| Maximum leaf width | Commonly up to 2.4m per panel | Commonly up to 900mm per leaf |
| Maximum system height | Varies by system | Custom up to 3000mm |
| Hardware | Rollers on bottom track (or top-hung) | Stainless steel double-bogey rollers; top and bottom rolling; hinges between panels |
| Stacking position | Panels overlap in place | Panels fold to one side or both sides |
| Weather sealing | Double-draft seals on perimeter | Perimeter seals plus inter-panel seals; drainage detailing matters more |
| Security | Standard multi-point locking | Mortice locks and double-action flush bolts typically specified |
| Typical application | Single patio doors, standard openings | Wide entertainment openings, wraparound corners |
Which system is appropriate is determined during the site measure. The table above outlines common differences — not a universal specification for every job. Frame depth, glass thickness, hardware and finish are confirmed per opening, with wind-loading calculated against SANS 613 for the specific elevation and height above grade.
Stacking doors are built in fixed panel counts. The layout that suits your opening depends on how wide it is, where the stack sits, and how you want traffic to move through it.
All three panels fold to one side. Suits narrower patio openings where a full clear span is wanted.
Two panels fold to each side, meeting in the middle. Common for medium-width openings where central passage is preferred.
All five panels fold to one side. Suits wider openings where one end of the wall is the natural stack position.
Seven panels folding to both ends of a wide span. Often specified where the wall being opened is particularly wide.
The configuration is confirmed during the site measure. Not every layout suits every opening — panel count, glass weight and hardware selection all affect what is practical. Corner configurations are designed separately.
Two considerations that matter more above the mist line than anywhere else in KZN.
This is the section of the National Building Regulations that governs glazing safety. Safety glazing is required in defined areas — including doors, sidelights and glazing within 500mm of the floor. The glass type and thickness depend on the pane size and its location. We specify glazing to meet these requirements for the actual opening, with thickness calculated per pane against SANS 613 wind-loading for the elevation and height above grade.
Hillcrest's winter mornings arrive under dense standing mist, and properties above the mist line see sustained humidity for hours at a time. That means the seal line matters as much as the frame itself — double-draft perimeter seals, inter-panel seals and drainage channels are specified so water that enters the chamber clears out rather than standing in it. Hardware is 316-grade stainless steel rather than plated alternatives, because repeated wet-dry cycling is what seizes lower-grade components within a few seasons.
Hillcrest, Forest Hills, Assagay and Botha's Hill sit on ridge lines that take wind straight off the Kloof Gorge with nothing upwind to break it. Heavier frame profiles and thicker laminated glass are commonly specified on exposed west- and valley-facing elevations. Glass thickness and frame specification are calculated per opening against SANS 613 — not applied as a single figure across the whole house.
What is included in a Bluminium stacking door order, and what is specified per project.
Options such as soft-close hardware, marine-grade rollers, recessed tracks, Low-E double glazing, thicker laminated glass or estate-specified finishes are specified per project — they are not included in every job by default. The quote lists what is included for your specific opening.
The same process whether it is a 3-panel patio door or a 7-panel split-stack.
We visit the property, measure the full opening and note the orientation, height above grade and exposure. This feeds the SANS 613 wind-load calculation and determines the panel count, stack position and hardware type.
An itemised quote covering panel count, glass, finish and installation. Estate documentation requirements and any design committee submission support are listed on the same schedule.
Panels are cut, welded, glazed and finished in our Durban facility. This keeps fabrication quality-controlled and consistent — not outsourced to a third party.
Our teams fit, align and pressure-test every panel in the stack on site. Stacking systems require precise panel-to-panel alignment, which is confirmed before handover. Compliance pack issued on completion.
We fabricate in Durban and install across Hillcrest and the surrounding Upper Highway suburbs. Below is what we commonly encounter in each area.
The Upper Highway corridor is not one environment. Elevation climbs from roughly 400 metres at the Kloof end to over 700 metres on the Botha's Hill ridge, and the mist line, wind exposure and estate rule set all change materially across that span. A stacking system specified for a sheltered Gillitts plot is the wrong specification for a west-facing Forest Hills ridge elevation. The notes below describe common patterns — they are not assumptions about every property. The site measure confirms what is actually needed.
Cotswold Downs, Plantations and the Winston Park estates all have formal architectural guidelines covering approved frame colours, glass finishes and visible profile proportions. Estate documentation is prepared in the format design committees expect. On the practical side, veranda openings here often run wider than coastal equivalents, which is where 5 and 7-panel configurations come in.
Much of Kloof's housing stock predates any standardised opening module, and many properties still carry the original timber folding units that have taken up decades of mist-belt moisture. Replacements are fabricated to the measured reveal rather than a catalogue frame. Gorge-edge positions sit in still air one hour and take a hard directional gust the next as valley thermals turn over — heavier frame profiles and 316-grade stainless hardware are commonly specified on exposed elevations.
These are the growth corridors, with newer developments running large glass apertures, minimal frame lines and contemporary finishes. Forest Hills outer ridge positions carry real wind pressure on west-facing elevations, so glass thickness is calculated per pane against SANS 613 rather than applied as a suburb average. Waterfall developments often add an acoustic requirement on plots closer to arterial routes — laminated glass with the correct interlayer addresses both exposure and traffic noise in the same frame.
Assagay, Crestholme and Botha's Hill sit at the top of the escarpment. Cloud base regularly sits on the property rather than below it, and the standing mist is the dominant environmental factor. Frame finishes are specified for sustained humidity rather than occasional wet, drainage detailing matters as much as the seal line, and thermal-break profiles are worth specifying where the interior-to-exterior temperature differential is largest. Security specification is often raised for larger plots with extended perimeters.
Questions that come up when specifying a stacking door for an Upper Highway property.
Systems are commonly fabricated in configurations up to 7 panels, with the practical panel count depending on the opening width and how much clear glass area is wanted. In Hillcrest, where veranda and entertainment openings often run wider than coastal equivalents, 5 and 7-panel configurations are common. Maximum leaf width is typically 900mm. The panel count, stack position and hardware type are confirmed during the site measure.
A sliding door runs on one or two tracks and overlaps panels — the clear opening is usually limited to about half the total span. A stacking door folds panels back on hinged joints into a compact stack at one or both ends, so the entire span can be opened. Stacking systems suit wider architectural openings where the goal is to remove the wall between interior and exterior, rather than simply providing passage.
Hillcrest sits around 600 metres above sea level on the Kloof escarpment. Winter mornings arrive under dense standing mist, and properties above the mist line see sustained humidity for hours at a time. That means weather seals, drainage and hardware material matter as much as the frame itself. Double-draft perimeter seals, inter-panel seals, drainage channels and 316-grade stainless hardware are commonly specified for Upper Highway properties. Thicker laminated glass may also be specified on higher ridge elevations where wind loads are more significant.
Safety glazing is a legal requirement in defined areas under SANS 10400 Part N — including doors, sidelights and glazing within 500mm of the floor. Toughened safety glass is commonly specified for stacking door panels. Laminated safety glass is often chosen where an extra security layer or improved acoustic performance is useful — including properties near arterial routes. Double glazing can be specified for thermal insulation or condensation control, which is particularly relevant above the mist line. Glass thickness is calculated per pane against SANS 613 wind-loading for the specific elevation and height above grade.
Yes — corner configurations are available and are often specified where the goal is to open up two walls of a living space to an outdoor area. Corner stacking systems use a corner post assembly that allows panels from two sides to fold and stack independently. The corner arrangement is designed during the specification stage and confirmed during the site measure.
After the site measure and written quote, fabrication typically takes 2–4 weeks depending on the system, panel count and finish. Stacking systems with more panels or corner configurations may take longer. Installation of a standard residential stacking door is often completed in a single day, though larger systems may require additional time. Where estate documentation or design-committee approval is required, this can add to the schedule. A firmer timeline is confirmed with the quote.
Aluminium stacking doors generally need little maintenance, though Upper Highway properties benefit from a slightly more regular routine given the mist-belt humidity. Keeping the bottom track free of grit and leaf debris helps the rollers and hinges run smoothly. A periodic wipe-down with a damp cloth and mild detergent keeps frames clean. Silicone-based lubricant on rollers and hinges helps with smooth operation. Checking the perimeter and inter-panel seals once a year — ideally before the winter mist season — keeps water and draughts out. The specific hardware fitted determines the exact routine.
Detailed guides on the technical decisions behind stacking door quotes in the mist belt.
Tell us roughly how wide the opening is, whether the property is on a ridge or in a valley, and how you want traffic to move through the door. Share architectural plans or send rough opening dimensions via WhatsApp and we will arrange a site measure, confirm the panel count and stack position that suit the span, and provide a written quote. No obligation.
Stacking doors handle the wide openings. Fixed openings and thresholds are a separate specification.
