Design Guide
Architectural Concrete Planters
GFRC planters bring the permanence of concrete to landscape architecture — without the structural burden of solid cast stone. Custom shapes, sizes, and finishes.
Why GFRC for Planters?
Solid concrete planters are extremely heavy — a 36" square planter in solid concrete can weigh over 500 lbs empty. GFRC thin-shell construction produces an equivalent planter at 40–80 lbs, making rooftop installation, interior use, and relocation feasible without heavy equipment. The material is non-combustible, UV stable, and holds integral color without fading. Drainage holes and hardware inserts are cast in during production.
Commercial & Hospitality Applications
GFRC planters are a common specification for commercial entries, hotel courtyards, restaurant patios, corporate campuses, and retail streetscapes. We produce matching sets — consistent color, finish, and profile across the entire run — which is difficult to achieve with natural stone or handmade terra cotta. For high-quantity commercial projects, our in-house mold shop produces a master mold that can be used for all pieces in the set.
Residential & Landscape Use
For residential projects, GFRC planters work anywhere from a front entry pair to a full pool deck surround. We produce classical urns, modern rectangular troughs, cylindrical bowls, and custom architectural shapes. Landscape architects can submit drawings for any shape; we'll produce a shop drawing showing wall thickness, drainage configuration, and hardware before production begins.
Shapes & Sizes
Standard shapes include rectangular troughs, square cubes, cylindrical pots, tapered urns, and bowl forms. Custom shapes are our specialty — if your landscape architect drew it, we can cast it. Size range is wide: from 12" tabletop planters to monumental 6-foot entry urns. Large planters can be cast in sections that assemble on-site.
Finishes
Finish options include smooth (formal, clean), sandblast (light texture, contemporary), acid wash (limestone or travertine appearance), exposed aggregate (rustic), and board-formed (wood-grain impression). Integral color is mixed into the face coat. Custom colors available — we recommend a color sample before committing to a large run.
Drainage & Hardware
Drainage holes are cast in — specify the number and size required. For planters intended for irrigation systems, we can cast in threaded inserts for irrigation fittings. Lifting hardware inserts are standard on planters over 50 lbs. For rooftop or elevated applications, we can add ballast weight to the base for wind stability.
Ready to Move Forward?
Send us your project drawings — even schematic phase — and we'll have a preliminary estimate back in 48 hours.