Water stains on planters - is this normal

If plastic sheet dpm, sometimes joints aren't 100% sealed or water can get behind sheet, I prefer to use grp planter inserts/liners, which are 100% watertight.

Several firms around UK make them to your required sizes.

http://www.suigeneris.co.uk/grp_seating/sgf000_planter_insert.html

 

As leaking / staining in the corners, looks like dpm was cut and joined at corners then taped, but not successfully

Has drainage been installed in the base ?

They look lovely and is the plan to let them weather naturally or to treat the wood with a stain or other method

Guess speak to the designer and check what material he specified and if there was any details as to how it should be installed. Then actually check that these details have been followed by the carpenter that I'm guessing installed the dpm

This will involve some digging and maybe removing some plants but you need to check for yourself before taking it further with the carpenter

If all installed as per designers spec, then guess it's an issue with the designer

The forum legal secretary, Da will no doubt advise and / or give advice shortly, no doubt

 

Your only the client,so no blame on you, neither would I expect you to know about anything about grp liners, the fault is with the garden designer, who should know about these grp liners.
Your alway will have the staining now (discolouration), even when it dries out, as to harm the wood, will take years I suspect for it to rot.

EDIT: But, I wouldn't be happy about it, I suppose you could say there are not fit for purpose,as they leak.
As already said, DA will be along shortly.

 

Do these planters get wet when it rains? (probably) Wouldn't worry about it mate. The staining could be from when they've got wet from the weather.

 

Out of interest, when I have made planters I line the inside all around with good overlaps using landscape fabric water proof side facing inwards and waterproof side downwards on base for drainage, to be totally honest I have never had a problem.

 

Totally different geotextile fabric to plastic sheet for waterproofing containers.

Plastic sheet will tend to funnel any water to one particular spot where there is a hole, tear, whereas geotextile, water will drain away over the whole area, rather than one spot.

 

Has the wood been treated, if not they will end up grey by the end of the year.
You will get weather staining as mentioned above too, so you may need to live with the natural look.

 

I think you are stuffed on getting anyone else to pay for it.
I can't think why anyone thought that cutting DPM and gaffer taping it was a good idea.
I think your only option is to empty the planters and then either use the grp inserts or a DPM but fold it instead of cutting it.

 

You may be able to remove the stains using WOOD BLEACH, I think Liberon sell it, then a couple of coats of Thompsons Water seal over the whole planter but I believe the inside will require re-thinking also with better drainage and some form of tanking.

 

Nice planters indeed. The carpenter seems to have done a good job of them.

I suspect it is as you, yourself, suspects - leakage from the soil inside. All the stains seem to originate from corners, so I guess that's where the joins are in the DPM, or perhaps where they got stretched and torn?

Anyhoo, I dunno.

If you want the stains to stop, then it seems pretty clear the plants and soil need to come out, and either a GRP liner as KIAB suggests, or else a much longer strip of DPM could be used which is neatly wrapped against the insides a number of turns - with no joints. Tricky to get neat, but not impossible.

(In fact, they could be wrapped around an external frame first - giving it a good 3 or 4 turns - before the end is then taped to secure. Slip it offski the ext frame, and drop it inside the planter?)

Anyhoo, as pointed out above, that cedar (lovely...) will naturally go silver probably within the year and will need treating if you want it to keep its colour (there are a number of products out there to do this - worth a Google, but OSMO looks as tho' they have what you'll need. I wouldn't use Thompson's Water Seal or stuff like that).

So, they need redoing to prevent any further water-staining from the inside, and then perhaps a good scrub-down followed by a coat of suitable treatment will balance it out.

In a couple of years, I suspect the stains will be nigh-on invisible.


Where do you stand 'legally'? On pretty loose soil, I suspect.

If the designer did not give precise & comprehensive instructions to the joiner on how to fully line and protect the inside, then the joiner was not to know any differently to what he did.

If the designer is tackled on this, expect him to blame the joiner...

Who is actually 'responsible'? I dunno. But I guess you haven't a chance of tackling the joiner on it - he did exactly what was asked of him. I guess the designer was partially negligent in not specifying the construction in enough detail, but what are the chances of him saying "If you'd gorn to the guy I recommended, there wouldn't have been a problem...?"

I suspect you'll have to take this one on the chin. You've had by far the largest part of the cost, so the rest to fix this is basically a bit of labour.

Annoying, no doubt, but look at the bigger picture of all the enjoyment you'll get out of it .

Get some quotes for GRP housings, and see if it's affordable. Otherwise, plenty turns of DPM

 

Next time it rains get out there and have a good look. It seems to me that as the edges are all broad they will catch the rain and it will run off in at least one direction; thus gathering at one of the corners. Remaining wet for longer and the natural decaying process sets in sooner.

 

Soz - I'm with Chippie with this one. It simply isn't clear cut enough I don't think.

Always the problem when you have two different peeps doing different parts of the job; you need to 'prove' one was somehow negligent. And I think you'll just end up with two cheesed-off peeps.

 

What about painting inside planters with Blackjack or simliar, it would give your a waterproof liner.
The name of the one I want, I cannot remember, I'll think of it shortly.

EDIT: Flexacryl.It's flexible, contains fibres.

http://www.bostik.co.uk/diy/product/bostik/Flexacryl-Instant-Repair-for-Roofs/292

 

point your bifocals at this lot

https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/blog/essential-maintenance-for-timber-cladding/

essentially what you are seeing is meant to happen. its the nature of the wood you are using.