Aluminium folding-stack doors fabricated in Durban and installed across Pinetown and the surrounding western Durban corridor. Heavy-duty frames, marine-grade finishes and safety glazing to SANS 10400-N. Configurations up to 7 panels. Free site measure before any quote.
STACKING
Sliding doors open about half the span. Stacking doors open all of it. That distinction matters in Pinetown and the surrounding western Durban corridor, where patios often run wider than a standard sliding door can service and where the local climate places real demands on the frame and hardware. Pinetown spans from the CBD and industrial belt around Westmead to the elevated residential ridge at Cowies Hill — exposure to wind-driven rain and mist-belt humidity is greater on the higher streets than in the valley floor. Frame profile, hardware, weather sealing and glass are not generic — they depend on the specific opening and its exposure. 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.
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 Pinetown more than the coastal belt.
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, with wind-loading assessed for the elevation and height above grade.
Pinetown spans from the valley floor around the CBD and Westmead up to the elevated residential ridge at Cowies Hill and Padfield Park. The higher streets take wind-driven rain straight off the Kloof escarpment with no built-up buffer in front of them, and mist-belt humidity is more persistent than on the coastal side of the ridge. Track drainage channels, double-draft perimeter seals and stainless steel hardware are commonly specified where the exposure warrants it.
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. Heavy-duty and ridge-rated 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 Pinetown and the surrounding communities. Below is what we commonly encounter in each area.
Pinetown is not a single environment. The CBD and industrial belt around Westmead sit lower and take less direct wind exposure than the elevated residential ridge at Cowies Hill and Padfield Park, where mist-belt humidity and wind-driven rain are more persistent. Older residential areas like Newlands, Sarnia and Clermont also contain a significant proportion of homes that were built before stacking doors existed — retrofit measurement matters. The notes below describe common patterns — they are not assumptions about every property. The site measure confirms what is actually needed.
Pinetown Central and Westmead anchor the local logistics and industrial footprint for the surrounding node. Property types range from established residential to light-commercial and industrial. Openings here often run wider than the standard residential patio — multi-panel configurations are common where the goal is to open a commercial courtyard or a residential entertainment area onto a garden.
Higher-lying residential streets with more exposure to wind-driven rain than the valley floor. Weather sealing, drainage, thicker glass and heavier hardware are more likely to be specified here than in the CBD. Mist-belt humidity is more persistent on the ridge, so seal integrity and drainage detailing matter as much as the frame profile. 5 and 7-panel configurations are common for wide entertainment openings.
Established residential areas with a significant proportion of older homes. Non-standard opening sizes are common, and many older properties still carry the original timber or steel frames that need to be removed and made good before an aluminium stacking system can be fitted. Custom sizing is typically required. Security hardware is often specified higher for properties that are not permanently occupied.
Mixed residential stock, from older family homes to newer residential developments. Openings often run wider than the standard residential patio, particularly where an existing sliding door is being replaced with a full-width stacking system. Retrofit measurement matters here — not every aperture suits a stacking system without adjustment.
Questions that come up when specifying a stacking door in the Durban West 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 Pinetown and the surrounding western 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. Corner configurations are also available and use a corner post assembly that allows panels from two sides to fold and stack independently. The panel count, stack position and corner arrangement 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.
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.
Stacking doors can be installed in both existing structures and new builds. For retrofit installations in older Pinetown homes, we assess the existing opening during the site measure — floor levels, lintel condition and side wall strength all matter. Many older homes have non-standard opening sizes that require custom fabrication rather than a stock size. Some openings may require building work to suit the stacking system; this is identified during measurement, before any quote is issued. For new builds, the specification is designed in parallel with the architectural plans so the opening is built to suit the door system from the start.
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 stacking door panels, with thicker laminated or toughened units available where the exposure or acoustic requirement warrants it. On higher ridge elevations in Cowies Hill, Padfield Park and Sarnia where wind loads are greater, thicker glass may be specified to suit the exposure of the actual aperture. Glass thickness is calculated per pane for the specific opening.
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.
Detailed guides on the technical decisions behind stacking door quotes.
Tell us roughly how wide the opening is, whether the property is on the ridge or in the valley, 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.
