DeepStream is committed to the principles of Sustainable Design with a goal of crafting solutions that will stand the test of time, delivering the lowest cost of ownership to our clients and the environment over time.
Product durability depends largely on design and craftsmanship; however, the material that clients select also plays an important role in a product’s longevity. Therefore, there are different warranty periods for products based upon the materials used in their construction, as shown below.
DeepStream’s Lifetime Structural Warranty
The aluminum extrusions, stainless steel lids, hinges, and fasteners used in planters, multi-section planters, gates, screen walls and fixtures that DeepStream manufactures are guaranteed for the life of the planters, custom fixtures, and structures against structural defects in manufacturing, materials, and workmanship.
The panels made from rigid materials or fabrics are the customer’s selection and retain the manufacturer’s warranty for those materials, which will vary by manufacturer. We will be happy to provide warranty information for products and components that we do not manufacture. Be sure to consider maintenance-free recycled plastic lumber, with a 50-year limited warranty by its manufacturer, as an environmentally friendly, cost-effective replacement for scarce tropical hardwoods that demand a lot of maintenance and strip the world of this valuable resource.
Aluminum extrusions and stainless steel fasteners have been used in the yachting industry for decades. The etched marine-anodized finish of the aluminum extrusions is a durable finish, created especially for coastal ocean environments (Alumilite 215/A41 with surface preparation C22). OUr proprietary extrusion have been tested on S/V Willow, our sister companies vessel used to test and prove both the finish and rugged design logging thousands of miles on ocean crossings in the harshest of conditions and constant salt spray.
The 3/4″ tropical hardwoods we select have been used in exterior applications such as docks, decks, and boat construction for centuries. These woods have decades of life expectancy, although they can be affected by mold, mildew, dry rot, and drying if not oiled as needed, and that depends entirely on your climate.
While wood expands across the grain when wet, it is contained by our structural extrusions through endless seasonal and weather cycles. Recycled plastic lumber expands and contracts lengthwise with temperature changes, and again, our extrusions and manufacturing techniques allow for this.
The primary failure for wooden planters, cabinetry, and fixtures is the joining of wood components to each other. Wood has been used for centuries to split stone because of its tendency to expand when wet. This is why you see outdoor wood products falling apart in 3 to 5 years as it literally tears itself apart.
DeepStream has engineered its heavy aluminum extrusions to join these components in a way that allows wood or recycled plastic lumber to expand and contract naturally, so it won’t buckle like a wet wood floor, or tear itself apart like carpenter-built projects in 3-5 years. We assemble our products using a proprietary bedding compound in the wood screw holes to prevent rot, and proprietary dielectric paste for stainless steel fasteners installed in the aluminum extrusions to avoid galvanic action that can cause them to seize over time.
Environmental conditions and maintenance, or lack thereof, will affect the life expectancy of the finish of our products, and as such, no warranty is given on the finish, but we do offer our Core Replacement Program to assist in keeping our benches, planters, recyclers, custom fixtures, and structures looking fresh.
Tangent Materials Recycled Plastic Lumber 50 Year Limited Warranty PDF
Core Replacement Program for DeepStream Manufactured Products
DeepStream will replace any metal component of our products in case of damage or an unacceptable degradation in finish at manufacturer’s cost, plus shipping. All components of our products are recyclable, so under this program, major components, such as aluminum legs and stainless steel lids must be returned to DeepStream or committed to a recycling center. Please call Sheila at 305-857-0466 to make arrangements for replacement parts.
Fiberglass Planter Warranty
Fiberglass garden planters by Tournesol Siteworks are backed by an industry-leading 3-year warranty and have been specified by Landscape Architects, Contractors, and Builders for 36+ years. Keep in mind that fiberglass planters are not a solid color throughout so deep scratches may show; however, they may be easily repaired or repainted locally.
Welded Food Safe HDPE Plastic Planter Warranty
Less expensive, softer, stronger, and more flexible than fiberglass planters, they come with the same 3-year warranty, or add one of DeepStream’s rotomolded liner for a 5-year warranty. HDPE plastic sheet is incredibly tough and will not fail or crack like fiberglass. However, as with fiberglass, if you landscape with plants that have an aggressive root system like Clusia, the root ball will eventually expand so much that they will split at the seams. Otherwise you can expect them to last for a decade or more.
HDPE (high-density polyethylene — think kitchen cutting boards) is a solid color throughout the sheet, so HDPE Planters do not show scratches in the same way fiberglass or painted metal planters do. You can use a random orbital sander to easily create a unique new finish.
Unlike fiberglass, wood, or aluminum, paint will not stick to HDPE and many solvents can be used to remove graffiti, making them a great choice for restaurant planters in areas prone to tagging. As with DeepStream’s commercial wood planters made with recycled plastic HDPE lumber, they may be pressure cleaned for maintenance and sanitation.
They are also environmentally friendly in that HDPE planters can be recycled again easily at the end of their long life.
Aluminum Planters Warranty
Unpainted “natural” 5086 aluminum planters manufactured by DeepStream have a 10-year structural warranty. The natural finish, like wood, will age and patina over time, but may be easily refinished in place. Bare aluminum planters should last for decades provided they have not been exposed to hydrochloric or sulphuric acid, caustic soda, copper, or potassium, all of which have aggressive action on aluminum. If you need to add any of those elements to your soil mixture for any reason, then you should also order a plastic liner.
Aluminum Planters should not be placed in standing water, but rather on HDPE plastic blocks available from DeepStream, gravel, or another medium that drains well.
Painted or powder coated 3003 aluminum planters that DeepStream wholesales have a 5-year structural warranty and a 1 to 2-year warranty on the coated finish that does not cover scratches or dings to the paint.
DeepStream’s unpainted 5086 aluminum planters are the same marine grade as that used to build ocean-going ships and yachts. This alloy is chosen for its ability to withstand years of commercial use in the ocean’s corrosive salt water. All paint or powder coatings will fail in 3 to 5 years in a marine environment and start to flake off, requiring sanding or media blasting before being refinished. Look at painted / powder coated aluminum window frames and sliding doors in your area and that is what you can expect.
The sanded finish of the unpainted natural aluminum planters will develop a soft gray to dark oxide patina that actually protects the aluminum below. Bare aluminum can be refinished by sanding as it was delivered by DeepStream and letting the oxide patina develop again protect it, or by using a nitric acid wash, with great care, to pickle it at any time if you see white pitting or blisters.
Concentrated nitric acid has no effect on aluminum and can be used in concentrations stronger than 50% to pickle aluminum and its alloys. Organic acids only have a very moderate action on aluminum. This is equally true in alkaline environments; however, caustic soda and potassium attack aluminum fiercely.
Although the effect of concentrated ammonia is much less severe, it and copper should be avoided, as well as organic bases. Hydrogen acids such as hydrochloric and sulphuric are very aggressive towards aluminum (especially in a strong solution) and they should be avoided.
5-year Stock Planter Liner Warranty:
If a liner fails due to material defects during the first five years after first date of installation, we will provide a replacement, including shipping.
DeepStream Designs further warrants that our liners will withstand normal and reasonable use of sharp shovels and other tools within the natural process of planting and maintaining the planted area. This warranty does not cover excessive, abusive or unreasonable actions, or the use of inappropriate tools to plant and maintain the planted area.
Be aware that certain aggressive root systems, including but not limited to Clusia and Bamboo, planted in too small a liner may split the liner at the corners. Watch for excessive distortion of the liner walls and trim roots before this becomes a problem.
3-year Custom Welded Planter Liner Warranty:
If a custom welded planter liner fails due to weld failure or material defects during the first five years after first date of installation, we will provide a replacement, including shipping.
DeepStream Designs further warrants that our custom welded planter liners will withstand normal and reasonable use of sharp shovels and other tools within the natural process of planting and maintaining the planted area. This warranty does not cover excessive, abusive or unreasonable actions, or the use of inappropriate tools to plant and maintain the planted area.
Be aware that certain aggressive root systems, including but not limited to Clusia and Bamboo, planted in too small a liner may split the liner at the corners. Watch for excessive distortion of the liner walls and trim roots before this becomes a problem.
Follow this LINK to our Planter Blog for more information on replanting liners.
