Custom aluminium folding-stack doors fabricated in Durban and installed across Phoenix and the surrounding northern Durban corridor. Configurations up to 7 panels, marine-grade finishes, and safety glazing specified to SANS 10400-N. Free site measure before any quote.
STACKING
Sliding doors open about half the span. Stacking doors open all of it. That distinction matters in Phoenix and the surrounding northern Durban corridor, where patios often run wider than a standard sliding door can service and where the KZN coastal climate places real demands on the frame, hardware and seal. Salt air from the coast, wind-driven rain during summer storms, and humidity all drive how a stacking door needs to be specified — marine-grade powder coating, stainless steel hardware, drainage detailing and safety glazing to SANS 10400-N. 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 in the northern Durban corridor more 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 stacking door panels, with thicker laminated or toughened units available where the exposure or acoustic requirement warrants it. Glass thickness is calculated per pane for the specific opening.
The KZN climate combines salt air, humidity and wind-driven rain during summer storms. That means drainage detailing, weather seals and hardware material matter as much as the frame itself. Marine-grade powder coating is used on the frame finish to resist salt-air corrosion. Track drainage channels, dual-seal EPDM weather gaskets and stainless steel double-bogey rollers are commonly specified for near-coastal properties. For exposed openings, glass thickness and frame profile may also be upgraded.
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 documentation is available 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 Phoenix and the surrounding communities. Below is what we commonly encounter in each area.
The Phoenix node covers a mix of property types — from established residential homes in Phoenix Central and Sunford to newer developments in Cornubia and upscale estates in Mount Edgecombe. Coastal exposure is lower here than on the beachfront, but humidity and summer storms still shape how a stacking door should be specified. The notes below describe common patterns — they are not assumptions about every property. The site measure confirms what is actually needed.
Mix of older family homes and newer builds. Retrofit measurement matters here — many openings were not originally sized for a stacking system, and the site measure confirms whether the existing aperture can be used as-is or needs adjustment. 3 and 5-panel configurations are common for standard patio openings.
Master-planned estates and newer residential developments with formal architectural guidelines covering approved frame colours and glass finishes. Wider openings are common in both, which is where 5 and 7-panel configurations come in. Documentation for estate design committees is prepared as part of the specification process where required.
Established residential areas with a significant proportion of older homes. Retrofits often replace failing timber or steel doors, or narrow sliding units that no longer service the opening well. Custom sizing is typically required. Security hardware is often specified higher for properties that are not permanently occupied.
Mixed residential and light-commercial properties to the north of Phoenix. Openings here often run wider than the standard residential patio. Stacking systems with multi-panel configurations are commonly specified where the goal is to open a full wall onto a garden, veranda or commercial courtyard.
Questions that come up when specifying a stacking door in the northern Durban corridor.
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. Maximum leaf width is typically around 900mm, and system heights can be customised up to 3000mm. In Phoenix and the northern Durban corridor, 3 and 5-panel configurations are the most common for standard patio openings, with 7-panel systems typically specified for wider entertainment areas opening onto a garden or pool deck. The panel count, stack position and hardware type are confirmed during the site measure.
The key difference is how much of the wall can be opened. A sliding door runs on one or two tracks and overlaps panels — the clear opening is usually limited to about half the total span, and some of the wall stays glazed when the door is open. 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. That makes stacking systems the better choice when the goal is to remove the wall between interior and exterior rather than simply provide a passage. Sliding systems remain a good option where the opening is narrower or where a lower budget is the priority. Which one suits your opening is confirmed during the site measure.
Aluminium stacking doors generally need very little maintenance. Keeping the bottom track free of grit and debris helps the rollers and hinges run smoothly. A periodic wipe-down with a damp cloth and mild detergent keeps frames clean. In coastal and near-coastal areas, a freshwater rinse every few months helps remove salt deposits that can build up on the hardware. Rollers, hinges and tracks may benefit from a silicone-based lubricant occasionally — avoid oil-based products, which attract grit. The perimeter and inter-panel seals should be checked once a year. The specific hardware fitted determines the exact routine, which is confirmed in the written quote.
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, so the corner effectively disappears when the doors are open. This is a common request for properties with views in two directions. The corner arrangement is designed during the specification stage and confirmed during the site measure. Not every opening suits a corner configuration — the structural support at the corner post position and the available floor area for the stacked panels both need to work.
Detailed guides on the technical decisions behind stacking door quotes.
Tell us roughly how wide the opening is, whether the property is on the coast or inland, and how you want traffic to move through the door. Don't worry about exact sizes yet — every quote includes a free professional site measurement before manufacturing begins. No obligation.
If a stacking door is not the right fit for the opening, one of these may be.
