Aluminium folding-stack doors fabricated in Durban and installed across Margate, Uvongo, Manaba Beach and St Michaels-on-Sea. Marine-grade finishes, stainless steel double-bogey rollers and safety glazing to SANS 10400-N. Configurations up to 7 panels. Free site measure before any quote.
STACKING
Margate sits on the lower South Coast with direct marine exposure, and the climate places a specific set of demands on any aluminium door: salt spray carried on onshore winds, persistent humidity, and the wind-driven rain that comes with coastal summer storms. Stacking doors open the whole wall rather than just part of it, which suits the wide patio and balcony openings common to the area. But the frame, hardware, sealing and glass all need to be specified for the actual exposure — not a general coastal specification applied uniformly. Our process starts with a site measure, then a written specification. 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 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 on the KZN South Coast than inland.
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. Standard laminated safety glass of 6.38mm thickness is commonly specified for coastal stacking door panels, with thicker laminated or double-glazed units available where the exposure or acoustic requirement warrants it. Glass thickness is calculated per pane against wind-loading for the specific elevation.
Margate sits on the lower South Coast with direct marine exposure. Salt spray, humidity and wind-driven rain all affect the door over time. Marine-grade powder coating is used on the frame finish to resist salt-air corrosion. Track drainage channels, double-draft perimeter seals and stainless steel double-bogey rollers are commonly specified for near-coastal properties. For sea-facing openings, glass thickness and frame profile may also be upgraded to suit wind exposure.
Correct installation affects performance as much as the product itself — particularly on stacking doors, where every panel must align with the one before it. Setting blocks, drainage, expansion gaps and weather sealing all matter. Our installers work to standard industry practice for aluminium door installation in residential settings, with the specification confirmed in the written quote. Compliance pack (SANS 10400-N glazing declarations) issued on handover where required.
What is included in a Bluminium stacking door order, and what is specified per project.
Options such as soft-close hardware, thicker laminated glass, double glazing, recessed tracks or marine-grade hardware upgrades 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 determines the panel count, stack position and hardware type.
An itemised quote covering panel count, glass, finish and installation. Coastal-grade options are listed so you can see what is included.
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 test every panel in the stack on site. Stacking systems require precise panel-to-panel alignment, which is confirmed before handover.
We fabricate in Durban and install across Margate and the surrounding lower South Coast communities. Below is what we commonly encounter in each area.
Coastal exposure changes across the Margate node. A sea-facing property in Manaba Beach has different requirements from a sheltered home in Uvongo or a holiday property in St Michaels-on-Sea. The notes below describe common patterns — they are not assumptions about every property. The site measure confirms what is actually needed.
Margate Central anchors the local delivery and installation footprint for the surrounding nodes. Property types range from established residential homes to holiday units and light-commercial premises. Retrofit measurement matters here — not every existing aperture suits a stacking system without adjustment.
Sea-facing properties with direct marine exposure, including installations along Marine Drive. Salt spray and wind-driven rain are the dominant environmental factors. Marine-grade powder coating, stainless steel double-bogey rollers and drainage detailing matter more here than anywhere else on the page.
Mix of permanent homes and holiday properties, many with older sliding door tracks that have taken up decades of coastal moisture. Stacking door retrofits often replace failing sliding systems where the original track no longer runs smoothly. Custom sizing is typically required.
Upscale coastal properties and holiday homes with larger architectural footprints. Multi-panel patio openings and wraparound corner configurations are common. 5 and 7-panel configurations are typically specified where the goal is to open a full wall onto a view. Security hardware is often raised for properties that are not permanently occupied.
Questions that come up when specifying a stacking door for a coastal or holiday property.
Stacking door 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 Margate, where coastal properties often have wide patio and balcony openings, 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.
Aluminium stacking doors generally need little maintenance, but coastal properties benefit from a slightly more regular routine. A freshwater rinse every few months helps remove salt deposits. Keeping the bottom track free of grit and salt prevents binding. 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 keeps water and draughts out. The specific hardware fitted determines the exact routine.
Safety glazing is a legal requirement in defined areas under SANS 10400 Part N — including doors, sidelights and glazing within 500mm of the floor. Standard laminated safety glass of 6.38mm thickness is commonly specified for coastal stacking door panels, with thicker laminated or double-glazed units available where the exposure or acoustic requirement warrants it. Glass thickness is calculated per pane against 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. A firmer timeline is confirmed with the quote.
Margate sits on the KZN lower South Coast with direct marine exposure. Salt spray, humidity and wind-driven rain all affect the door. Track drainage channels, double-draft perimeter seals and stainless steel double-bogey rollers are commonly specified for near-coastal properties. Marine-grade powder coating is used to resist salt-air corrosion on the frame finish. For sea-facing homes, glass thickness and frame profile may also be upgraded to suit wind exposure.
Detailed guides on the technical decisions behind coastal stacking door quotes.
Tell us roughly how wide the opening is, whether the property is sea-facing, and how you want traffic to move through the door. Share rough opening dimensions or architectural plans via WhatsApp and we will arrange a site measure on the lower South Coast, confirm the panel count and stack position that suit the span, and provide a written quote. No obligation.
If a stacking door is not the right fit for the opening, one of these may be.
