Lightweight Planters

Lightweight, cost-effective, long garden planters by DeepStream Designs are specified by Landscape Architects to integrate green roof and balcony landscaping into new construction and existing historic projects with strict weight load limits.

Using lightweight planters reduces the weight of structural components allowing for more plants and planting medium.  The engineered structural integrity of DeepStream’s 3-component commercial planter system is backed by a Lifetime Structural Warranty and will last for decades. The marine anodized finish on the proprietary aluminum legs keep them looking great. There is no paint or powder coating to fail.

800 feet of DeepStream Designs lightweight modular multi-section planter system, shown on a roof deck in midtown Manhattan, made with maintenance free recycled plastic lumber
800 feet of DeepStream Designs lightweight modular multi-section planter system, shown on a roof deck in midtown Manhattan, made with maintenance free recycled plastic lumber

More than a planter, DeepStream’s Commercial Planters are a complete 3-part engineered system. Proprietary anodized aluminum legs are engineered to contain the wooden planter box as it expands and contracts through endless wet and dry cycles. The legs support a hidden aluminum frame that allows for hidden drip integration systems and drainage while holding the waterproof liner with advanced drainage options.

DeepStream’s American craftsmen custom build your planters from two types of proprietary aircraft aluminum extrusions which provide structural frames for wood, copper, slate, or recycled plastic lumber that will last for decades.  For more information on maintenance free Recycled Plastic Lumber Planters that save money and resources while making a strong environmental statement.

Cost effective solution to line, or create, parapet wall, assembles easily with unskilled labor and ships with all tools included. Click for details
800 feet of DeepStream Designs lightweight modular multi-section planter system, shown on a roof deck in midtown Manhattan, is made with maintenance free recycled plastic lumber
Marine anodized aluminum legs and aircraft aluminum frame backed by a Lifetime Structural Warranty: click for details
Marine anodized aluminum legs and aircraft aluminum frame backed by a Lifetime Structural Warranty assembles in just 15 minutes per section with all tool included.
DeepStream Designs lightweight complete modular multi-section planter system with maintenance free recycled plastic lumber, installs quickly, reduces maintenance labor saving and lasts for decades
DeepStream Commercial Multi-Section planters are perfect for urban roof decks where its expensive to maintain and replace planters standard planters.

A lightweight structural aluminum system for long planters allows for long straight runs of unlimited length while accommodating right-angle corners. These garden planters have optional gates, trellises, privacy screen walls, parapet railings, large panels, or any combinations of features.

The aluminum frame of DeepStream's commercial planters makes mounting a  garden gate slip-in easy. Click for details.
DeepStream Designs garden gate mounted on two recycled plastic lumber Mariner planters
By using DeepStream's Commercial Planters to anchored Screen Walls and Enclosures you don't need to penetrate roof membranes, balconies decks, or sidewalks with fasteners: click for more information
Lightweight Mariner Commercial Planter Anchored Screen Walls adds natural colorful privacy to roof decks without requiring problematic roof membrane penetration.

Designed with modern architectural lines, these modular lightweight planters are available in standard 21”, 31” & 42” heights, with economical custom options available.

Engineered to last for decades, DeepStream’s lightweight garden planter systems use separate rugged waterproof plastic liners and filter packs that prevent drain blockage.

16 sizes of rugged waterproof stock planter liners and custom welded liners to any size: click the picture for more information
Lightweight wood planters need liners. Here you see 16 stock sizes of rugged waterproof, food safe, plastic planter liners with advanced drainage Custom welded planter liners are available in any size.
DeepStream Designs advanced 3-layer drain pad created with drain board, filter fabric, and Biobarrier: click for details
DeepStream Designs creates an advanced 3-layer drain pad out of drain board, filter fabric, and Biobarrier for you so all you have to do to maximize drainage is to place the pad over the DeepStream linner sidewall drain port and hold in place with the appropriate material to slow the flow of water to the drain.

The liner-within-a-planter design not only provides a crucial thermal break to prevent root ball stress, but they also facilitate hiding irrigation, modern advanced drainage, and lighting infrastructure.

The tapered design of DeepStream’s stock liners not only provides critical irrigation, they make it easy to replant, or trim root, as part of a spring conditioning that will allow plants to flourish for years.

DeepStream's Large Lightweight Wood Planter System
DeepStream Design’s multi-section lightweight wooden planters reduce roof loading and do not require roof membrane penetrations
DeepStream Designs lightweight planter showing plastic liner detail: click for more details on planter liners
DeepStream Designs lightweight wood multi-section planter and plastic liner detail. Liners contain the soil, provide optimal drainage, hide drip irrigation, electrical, and directed drainage systems.
Click for more details on DeepStream Designs lightweight, cost effective, multi-section planters with plastic liner and Lifetime Structural Warranty
DeepStream’s lightweight multi-Section Modular Planters are an engineered planter system with proprietary marine anodized legs forming a wood planter box that hides an internal structural aluminum frame that supports a waterproof planter liner with advanced drainage and drip irrigation. Lifetime Structural Warranty.
DeepStream's Large Lightweight Wood Planter System: click for more detailed information
DeepStream’s Commercial Wood Planters with a Lifetime Structural Warranty are lightweight self-contained engineered system comprised of a wood planter box, structural aluminum frame, and waterproof planter liner with advanced drainage.

Planters are quickly assembled on site, 10-15 minutes per section, even by inexperienced sub-contractors using just a screwdriver.  Landscape contractors can pre-plant liners to speed installation while reducing labor, cartage, and clean-up.

DeepStream Designs multi-section lightweight planter aluminum frame detail: click for details
DeepStream Designs lightweight multi-section garden planter aluminum frame detail. Proprietary T-Legs allow for cost saving planter runs of unlimited length

The speed and neatness of the DeepStream planter system is especially important for your customers in high rise urban condominiums where approval by condo boards must be obtained before projects can begin.

No cranes and street closing permits are necessary as the modular design and packaging allow these lightweight planters to be brought up elevators or even carried up stairs by day laborers.

DeepStream Designs lightweight planter and plastic liner detail: click for details on planter liners
DeepStream Designs lightweight wood multi-section planter and plastic liner detail

Each project has custom assembly instructions using keyed versions of your drawings and photos of your actual planters taken during test assembly at our manufacturing facility.

Long section of DeepStream Designs lightweight planter with plastic liner and Lifetime structural warranty
DeepStream Designs lightweight wood multi-section planter with plastic liner and Lifetime structural warranty

When placed up against walls non-visible planks can be left off the back to save both weight and expense.

DeepStream's Long Food Safe Plastic Planters are perfect for urban roof decks where its expensive to maintain and replace planters standard planters.
DeepStream’s long food safe plastic Planters are perfect for urban roof decks where it’s expensive to maintain and replace planters standard planters. HDPE is UV resistant, requires no maintenance, and last for decades. The aluminum frame has a Lifetime Structural Warranty.

Your project is custom manufactured to your exact needs, erected, labeled, disassembled, bundled, and crated to allow for cost-effective delivery to even the hardest to reach construction sites.  

With thousands of installations, and planters of every type, DeepStream is ready to be your planter expert.  Call Sheila at (305) 857-0466 for more information and a 32 point checklist to ensure that your project is successfully completed ontime, on budget, and without stress.

 

Wooden Planter Design

DeepStream Planters will last decades while Carpenter built planter construction  will only last 3 to 5 years. 

DeepStream's Commercial Wood Planters have a hidden aluminum frame

DeepStream’s Planters are a 3-part engineered system modular assembly of replaceable parts which incorporates DeepStream’s trademark marine anodized aluminum legs, tropical hardwood or maintenance free recycled plastic lumber panels, and sturdy aircraft aluminum frame that supports a food safe, 100% recycled LLDPE waterproof liner.

Don’t confuse these planters with carpenter built planters that will fall apart in 3 to 5 years. Deep’Streams engineered system internal aluminum frame supporting the liner, with advanced drainage solutions, allows for a Lifetime Structural Warranty. The aluminum frame also allows you to add accessories like casters, screen wall, trellises, and more.

If you’re an owner or manager of a property where a wooden planter will be placed give serious consideration to planter construction techniques. Consider what it will mean in terms of cost and disruption to go back and replace or repair carpenter built planters, especially on rooftops and balconies, every 3 – 5 years.

Click to see more info on DeepStream's 3-component engineered commercial planter system with a hidden aluminum  frame supporting a waterproof liner from trademark marine anodized legs.
DeepStream’s 3-component engineered commercial planter system with a hidden aluminum frame supporting a waterproof liner from trademark marine anodized legs.

With DeepStream’s wooden planter design all parts are replaceable making maintenance, refinishing, and repairs quick and easy.

DeepStream-7 year old unmaintained pre-refinished planter in place with liner removed
DeepStream-7 year old unmaintained pre-refinished planter in place with liner removed
DeepStream 7 year old refinished planter back in place
DeepStream 7 year old refinished planter back in place after sanding off .014″ and applying Ipe Oil.

Even stainless steel fasteners are galvanically isolated by using a proprietary dielectric paste so that they may be removed easily years later to replace parts or refinish the planter easily. the before and after pictures of the 7 year old planter shown in pictures above only had the original coat of factory waterproofing and no maintenance.  The “fresh” look was achieved by sanding off just.014” of the 3/4″ thick planks exterior.

Why? Each plank of a wooden planter is cut from a different part of the tree ,or even different trees. This means each plank has its own differential rate of expansion, splitting, and warping when wetted. This makes dimensional stability using standard wood-on-wood construction in two dimensions impossible to maintain over time, and shipbuilding techniques and maintenance are far too costly for planter construction.

Tropical Hardwood properly maintained will last for decades in DeepStream's aluminum frame while recycled plastic lumber will be maintenance free
DeepStream Ipe planks after 7 years. Unmaintained on left. .014″ sanded off and and oiled on right

Wood on wood planter construction uses carpentry techniques that fasten wood to wood, and planters tear themselves apart with the expansive forces that wood exerts through repeated wet and dry cycles.

Problems with carpenter built wood planters
Problems with carpenter built wood planters

For centuries, wood dowels have been inserted into holes drilled into rock, then soaked with water. The expansion force of the wood is thus harnessed to crack blocks off marble and granite for construction, even though the blocks are hundreds of times thicker than the thin wooden dowel. This is the same action at work on a carpenter built wood planter splinting seams apart.

Problems with carpenter built wood planters
Problems with carpenter built wood planters,

In addition, most wood planters lack adequate isolation from the soil and the deck or sidewalk, which promotes fresh water rot, water entering vertical planks creates cracks as you see above and below.

Problems with carpenter built wood planters
Problems with carpenter built wood planters
Problems with carpenter built wood planters
Problems with carpenter built wood planters, without proper liners the soil in contact with the wood creates rot.
Problems with carpenter built wood planters
Problems with carpenter built wood planters, rotting from the bottom up.

DeepStream uses proprietary marine anodized legs and stainless steel fasteners to clamp the wood and direct the expansionary forces up the channel so that the wood can expand and contract at different rates without affecting the planter’s structural integrity.

DeepStream Designs proprietary marine anodized extruded aluminum structural legs
DeepStream Design’s proprietary marine anodized extruded aluminum legs are engineered to support a hidden structural aluminum frame which supports the waterproof liner and HDPE feet to isolate the planter from contact with soil and the ground.

Unless directed to do so by a customer, DeepStream never uses paint or powder coating, which will fail in 3-5 years. If you order environmentally friendly maintenance free recycled plastic lumber they may be cleaned with a pressure washer.

7 year old Mariner leg

Virtually blemish free 7 year old proprietary marine anodized aluminum leg after simply wiping down with mineral spirits

Large Wooden Planter: comparing real wood to recycled plastic lumber. Click  to see more about recycled plastic lumber planters
Large Wooden Planter: comparing real wood to recycled plastic lumber

For even lower maintenance cost and greater longevity consider ordering DeepStream’s recycled plastic lumber planters and do your part to save the World’s tropical hardwood rain forests.

The commercial grade rigid plastic liners, mounted on an independent aluminum frame, contain the soil and prevent contact between the soil and the wood, preventing rot.

16 sizes of rugged waterproof stock planter liners and custom welded liners to any size: click the picture for more information
Lightweight wood planters need liners to prevent them from rotting. Here you see 16 stock sizes of rugged waterproof, food safe, plastic planter liners with advanced drainage Custom welded planter liners are available in any size.

The waterproof planter liner with advanced drainage is an important feature of DeepStream’s commercial planter system. Container grown bushes, small trees, and perennials require repotting from time to time and DeepStream’s liners tapered shape allow for easy replanting and conditioning in the spring.

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