Galvanised steel: metal planters & containers

Bare galvanised iron

We work with bare galvanised iron only when the galvanising is of good quality and not quickly damaged.

For example, we use American galvanised iron 1 mm thick; and in our containers made in China a quality primer is used, which protects the galvanising even if it is scratched.

Galvanised iron is used in industry from building frames to ships, lamp posts and signs. Thanks to its light weight (relative to stone or concrete) it is ideal for balconies and for public places too.

Bare galvanised iron: the Retro finish

Retro containers, made for us in China and India, are in fact livestock troughs, and we turn them into planters and paddling pools that last for years.

Because the galvanising is of good quality, the metal lasts for years with no need for further painting. Retro containers have a metal tube along the whole rim and hammered hoops that keep the container's shape even when strong roots grow, despite the metal being 1 mm thick.

Bare galvanised iron: the Aran finish

Aran containers are meant as a smaller, narrower answer to the Retro containers, which because of the thickness of the metal are hard to roll at a width of 30 cm, for example. Aran containers can therefore be had at a width of 20 cm too.

Aran containers suit small city balconies and their price is relatively low. We recommend painting them with a suitable spray to protect them, since they are made of 0.5 mm galvanised sheet. We also recommend applying bitumen spray to the inside of the base.

Bare galvanised iron: the Dolly finish

Our Dolly containers are made of galvanised iron hammered along its whole length, 0.75 mm thick. Because the hammering runs the whole length of the metal, it gives the container better strength as roots grow. Dolly containers have a top reinforcing band painted in a rust-like colour, which gives the container a striking vintage look. Even so, a bituminous paste on the inside is recommended for them too, since the container's construction is not meant to be watertight. We built additional internal sealing into the production process, but at these sizes it is better to protect the container to get the longest life from it.

Painting galvanised iron

Galvanised iron can be painted at powder-coating plants, where the container, after cleaning and sanding, goes into a dedicated industrial oven. The colour comes out even, strong and durable.

Another option (mainly if the containers already stand on the balcony and you want to renew them) is to paint with a spray gun or a spray made for metal. When painting, follow the paint maker's instructions.

How can galvanised iron be looked after?

If the iron is knocked or scratched it is very easy to repair: sand lightly, rinse the area so that no metal burrs remain that could start corrosion again (a blower can also be used), dry well and spray with galvanising spray, which can be found in any hardware shop.

Does the iron rust?

Iron is a living material; in the end it returns its soul to its maker. Even so, it can be kept for years by coating the inside with a bituminous material or fitting a PVC liner.

And if the planter has corroded right through?

Galvanised iron is very easy to repair even after a break or damage that looks irreversible: you simply call a metalworker, who fixes and welds a patch over the damage, sands it and returns the iron to its former state.