Custom GRC Options & Extras
Satu Bumi has a whole range of custom finishes, textures, designs, sealants and drainage options for its Wholesale and CityScape Ranges of GRC planters that will enable Satu Bumi customers to align the functionality and/or aesthetic appearance of their GRC planters to the requirements of virtually any specific landscaping project or GRC planter marketing initiative.
However, not all the options shown below are available for every Satu Bumi product for a variety of both commercial and practical reasons. Therefore, although it is a good idea to understand the variety and flexibility of what can be done with GRC, it will also be important to discuss your thoughts on option selection with a Satu Bumi representative prior to finalising your requirements.
GRC Finishing Options
Standard Colour Options
GRC products can be ordered in any of Satu Bumi’s following standard colours at no additional cost:
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This is a natural raw concrete look made with grey cement without the introduction of any additional colouring.
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This is also a natural raw concrete look. However, it is made by replacing the grey cement with white cement and also without the introduction of any additional colouring.
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This is one of our most popular colour options and is made by applying a specific dosage of an integrated oxide colouring additive to either the natural grey or the natural white GRC mixes during the manufacturing process.
Natural Grey GRC Finish
Natural White GRC Finish
GRC Charcoal Finish
Aggregate Finishes
GRC products can be ordered with several standard Satu Bumi aggregate finishes that can be viewed by clicking the image to the right. However, if you require alternative aggregate finishes, contact Satu Bumi to discuss what this means.
Additional Integrated Colour Options
In addition to the above standard colours and aggregate finishes, you can also choose any colour from a whole range of integrated colour options off the CCS colour chart. These colours are achieved by adding oxide pigments to the GRC slurry prior to it being added to precast moulds in the production process. The additional cost of these optional integrated colours varies depending on the colours chosen and their pricing can be provided upon request. The advantages of integrated colouring options are that they don’t change the natural concrete appearance of GRC, and superficial damage doesn’t expose a different colour substratum.
The images below are a limited number of examples of a planter with different integrated pigment colours to show the types of colour variations that can be achieved.
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GRC Citrus Finish
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GRC Iguana Finish
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GRC Pewter Finish
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GRC Caramel Finish
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GRC Kalahari Finish
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GRC White Finish
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Natural Grey GRC Finish
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GRC Charcoal Finish
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GRC Voodoo Finish
Due to the varying cost of the ingredients that go into the pigmented colours, the prices of the different coloured pigments also vary quite considerably. The picture to the right shows an example of a Satu Bumi installation that utilise various GRC planter shapes and sizes in conjunction with a selection of subtly different integrated pigment colours to achieve a soft and appealing ambience.
Oxide Surface Finish Options
Oxide surface finishes provide earthy and industrial appearances that cannot be achieved by integrated colouring and painted finishes. These finishes are applied to the GRC surface and Satu Bumi provides the following five standard options that add around 5% to the price of the GRC product being treated:
Rust provides the industrial light-coloured appearance of heavily rusted steel.
Iron Ore provides the earthy appearance of dark and rich iron ore.
Iron Stone provides the earthy appearance of a light-coloured ancient stone.
Cast Iron provides the industrial dark-coloured appearance of weathered cast iron.
Neo Coffee provides the rich, warm appearance of dark roasted coffee with smooth, polished surfaces and subtle depth.
Verdigris provides the appearance of rusted copper.
Rust Finish
Iron Ore Finish
Iron Stone Finish
Cast Iron Finish
Neo Coffee Finish
Verdigris Finish
GRC Texture & Finish Options
The versatility of GRC enables the application of different surface texture and finish options such as brushed surfaces, pitted surfaces, colour inlays and moulded designs such as faux wood.
Agregate Surface Finish
Weathered Surface Finish
Brushed Surface Finish
Pitted Surface Finish
Coloured Inlay Finish
Salvaged Surface Finish
Moulded Timber Finish
Glow In The Dark Finish
Examples of a GRC planters and benches installation with a customised brick-looking textured finish
Specialty Paint Finish Options
Today’s acrylic paint technology enables the painting of concrete surfaces to almost any colour. Unless otherwise defined by the customer, Satu Bumi uses Dulux Weathershield paint in Low Sheen, Semi-Gloss or Gloss finish for its specialty painted finishes. The prices of the painted finishes are approximately 9% of the prices of the planters to which the paint is to be applied and the colours can be selected with reference to the official Dulux web site.
Paint is a surface coating that provides a more consistent and solid colouring outcome than what can be achieved using integrated pigments in the concrete mix. However, the use of integrated pigment colouring provides a more traditional coloured concrete appearance than has its own appeal.
Either colouring method will provide a good result. Therefore, the decision on which to use is generally a matter of design intent.
GRC Swatches
It is important to note that screen-based swatches and colour samples are provided for explanatory reasons. Computer screens should not be solely relied on for colour decision making because they can vary based on the screen (make, model and type), screen settings (resolution, contrast and control) and room lighting (incandescent, fluorescent, halogne or natural light). Therefore, where appropriate, Satu Bumi will supply swatch samples to address this issue.
Satu Bumi swatches for the cityscape range
GRC Design Options
With a large product engineering department of designers and mould makers, Satu Bumi is able to provide a wide range of product design options to suite the most discerning architects and designers. The following are examples of some of the design options that can be considered for GRC products.
Standard Planter Feet Options
Planters are typically supplied with feet of approximately 20 mm height. Alternative foot designs and foot heights can be provided to suit specific project requirements. Standard foot height options include 10 mm, 25 mm, 50 mm and 75 mm, depending on installation requirements. This can be particularly useful where planters are installed with paving systems and the planter base needs to align with surrounding finished surface levels.
Modified Planter Walls
Lowering or raising one or more planter walls can be useful for a variety of architectural applications. Modified planter walls may be used to create continuous planter arrangements, architectural fascias, integrated barriers, or other project-specific design features.
Available options include raised walls, lowered walls, fascia extensions and joined planter configurations.
Other GRC Planter Design Options
One of the great features of GRC is that it can be manufactured in virtually any realistic shape, size and configuration. Design options can include curved or recessed edges, rectangular or round drip trays, integrated drip tray systems, standard planters without drip trays, H-planter configurations, internal strengthening baffles and a wide range of architectural surface textures, including corrugated finishes. Additional custom features can also be incorporated to suit specific project requirements.
Moving & Fixing Options
GRC planters are much lighter than similar sized cast concrete planters because the walls of GRC planters are typically much thinner. However, large GRC planters can still be quite heavy. Therefore, consideration should always be given during the design stage to how planters will be transported, lifted, fixed and installed.
Available moving and fixing options may include:
Lifting lugs for handling and installation
Embedded side ferrules for lifting or fixing applications
Forklift access provisions for transportation and site movement
Slab fixing systems using embedded ferrules
Other project-specific lifting and fixing arrangements as required
Alternative Corner Designs for Square Edged Planters
The installation of multiple rectangular planters where corners are involved typically requires the use of L-joint corners. However, alternative corner configurations can also be provided to suit specific design requirements, including mitered corners, L-shaped corner units and traditional L-joint corner arrangements.
GRC Drainage Options
Appropriate planter drainage is essential for the maintenance of healthy plants by ensuring that water does not flood the planter.
Satu Bumi provides drainage cells for the bottom of all its GRC planters, at no additional cost, unless otherwise requested by the customer. These drainage cells consist of a crush resistant plastic drainage cell layer to facilitate efficient drainage covered by a layer of Geotech material to stop the contents of the planters from clogging the plastic drainage cell layer.
Depending on the project requirements, the standard drainage cell system may not always be the preferred solution. Additional drainage options may include:
Drainage risers to help prevent drainage outlets from becoming blocked
Raised drainage risers to maintain a pre-determined water reserve within the planter
Pot planter holders for supporting smaller nursery pots within larger GRC planters
Integrated drip trays to collect excess water and minimise staining of surrounding surfaces
GRC Sealing Options
An essential element in the creation of a quality GRC planter, bench, table-top or water feature is the selection of the appropriate sealants. And there are hundreds of different sealants on the market that all have different features, benefits, quality and pricing. Therefore, Satu Bumi has invested considerable time and resources into selecting quality sealant options for the following purposes:
Nevertheless, any of the sealants can be changed at shop drawings stage if they do not suit the customer’s specific requirements.
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Acrylic membrane sealants - these are used to “tank” the internal walls of planters to prevent leakage.
Bitumen sealants - are typically used to “tank” the internal walls of water feature ponds. However, bitumen sealants are also an option if you are looking for a higher level of internal sealant for GRC planters.
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Penetrative sealants - these are used on the outside walls of planters to protect them against minor marking, moisture absorption and mold growth.
Anti graffiti sealants - these are heavy duty topical sealants used for GRC planters or street furniture located in public spaces.
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These need to be of the highest quality, food safe, scratch resistant and stain resistant.
Edge Radius
Satu Bumi’s GRC planters and street furniture products all have an edge radius to remove sharp edges. An edge radius is both a safety issue and a chip prevention issue.
GRC Planter Edge Finish Example
Additional Download Information
Additional relevant downloadable information can be obtained through the Satu Bumi Download Library.