STEEL PLANTER FAQ
Do you have Corten steel planters in stock?
All our steel planters are made to order, not held in stock. Allow around 8 weeks for delivery.
Do Corten planters need to be lined?
No, you can just plant straight in – no need to add a liner.
I have heard that Corten planters can stain the tiles beneath - is that so? It is the case that in the first few weeks, as the rusty surface is fully developing, Corten will shed a rust coloured run-off, which can stain paving slabs/deck boards. To avoid this, we recommend placing your planter/s somewhere out of the way until the run-off ceases - this can be accelerated by hosing the planters down regularly. Alternatively, we can hold them here in our yard for a period of time before delivering.
Can I order your standard size planters with castors?
We can add castors to any of our standard sizes in powder coated steel or corten, at a charge of between £100-£140. Just drop us an email via the Contact page for a price. Square planters and cubes larger than L/W800 are not suitable, as they would be too heavy when filled.
Are Corten planters suitable for coastal locations?
Corten steel is suitable for use if you live by or near the sea. Salt is corrosive, and it will shorten the life of the planter - but Corten is so very long lasting that practically it makes no difference.
Can you supply Corten planters in custom sizes? Yes, we can! Of course we can offer made-to-order square, round or rectangular planters, but also L-shaped, U-shaped or other irregular shapes, sized to fit a specific location. There is no minimum order. Custom sizes are however always more expensive than standard sizes (eg a custom size cube L/W/D495mm would be more expensive than a standard size L/W/D500mm), and very small custom sizes, like window boxes, are not very economic. To get a quote, just send us an enquiry via the Contact page
What is the largest size you can supply as a single planter?
The longest metal sheet size we use is 3000mm, so if supplying a rectangular planter it cannot be longer than 3m in a single piece. For square planters, the maximum size is around L1800 W1800 H1000mm, or up to L/W2400mm if special handling equipment is available.
Planters can however be much larger than this, as we make them in several sections to be bolted together on site. This is quite straightforward to do, and can be attempted by any fairly competent DIYer. So if for example you needed a 5m long rectangular planter for hedging plants, this would be supplied in two sections each 2.5m long.
What other type of steel planters can you supply?
We most commonly supply powder coated steel and Corten steel planters, and have standard sizes in these materials as well as offering a bespoke service. Other metals in which we offer custom manufacture - in order of cost - include powder coated stainless steel, powder coated aluminium, brushed stainless steel and zinc-clad steel.
Can I order a bespoke planter without a base?
Yes, we can make Corten planters which are open at the bottom, which can be useful if you want to plant something large and give root access to the soil below. With no base, planters are less stable, so to avoid twisting or distortion they must be fixed down to a concrete footing laid around the perimeter. Open base planters are made with an inward-facing footer of around 100mm width to sit on the concrete footing, complete with bolt holes ready to be fixed down
How long do your Corten planters last and is there a guarantee?
We offer a 5 year guarantee against manufacturing and material defects for all planters, but you will realistically get a much longer lifespan than that. Corten steel is VERY longlasting, so you can plan to hand planters down to your kids and grandkids!
