 Materials & Finishes The finish of a piece can make something go from ordinary to extraordinary. The mechanical properties can make or break the piece’s appropriateness for a project. We set the highest standards for all our materials – we recognize that you have choices when it comes to site furnishings, and that you turn to Tournesol for quality, beauty, and durability.
We have attempted to recreate our colors, finishes and appearances true to life on this site. The mechanical properties and representations below are not a guarantee that a specific material will work on a given project. Contact your salesperson for a sample to verify that it will meets your needs. Overview
Standard Tournesol ColorsThese colors are standard across most of Tournesol Sitework’s
products. They are achieved with high quality paint finishes,
powder coat finishes, or carefully matched blended pigments,
depending on the product. Some products and materials, when
marked, will only be available in a limited range of these
standard colors. Tournesol Siteworks can also match any custom color for our products. We charge a nominal color match fee, which is waived for larger orders. We need color samples that measure at least 1” x 1” to match. Please ask your salesperson for details.
Fiberglass
Material Description Tournesol Siteworks uses a polyester-based fiberglass (also known as Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic, or FRP), hand-laid in open molds. For our Flower Framers and FF European Series windowboxes we use pultruded fiberglass. Pultrusion is a process through which glass and resin are drawn through a shaping tool. Although fiberglass can be finished in a number of ways, Tournesol uses one process for standard colors, and a completely different one for metallic finishes. The standard colors are typically painted with industrial-grade acrylic enamel finishes on prepared blanks. This results in a consistent, durable finish that can be easily repaired in the field. The metallic finishes are created by infusing clear resin with atomized metals, applying it to the fiberglass, then hand-finishing the surface to get the desired finish. The metals in the resin respond to natural conditions the same way the solid metal would. Each pot will weather differently, which allows for a dramatic richness that simply can’t be reproduced through other processes. All fiberglass products (with the exception of the Flower Framer and FF European Series boxes) are waterproofed with an additional layer of black gelcoat resin before shipping. Finishes & Colors For Tournesol Siteworks standard colors refer to the “standard”
tab.
Mechanical PropertiesFiberglass is exceptionally strong and rigid, based upon the strength of the glass fibers, and the wetting characteristics of the resin surrounding them. It can be made very thin (most pot walls are approx. 5/32” thick), yet still maintain their shape.
ProductsTournesol uses fiberglass in the following products: Village Collection, Metro Collection, Urban Collection, Craftsman Collection, Empire Collection, Wilshire Boxes, Wilshire 2 Boxes, Flower Framer, FF European Series, Coronado Boxes, CB Autofill windowboxes, fiberglass saucers, and some custom fabrications. Plastics
Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)Material DescriptionLLDPE is a highly versatile plastic material known for its chemical and tear resistance. Tournesol Siteworks uses LLDPE in our rotationally-molded products. It can be recycled, and many of our black irrigation products are made of 60% post-industrial recycled material. LLDPE is non-polar which gives it great chemical resistance, but also prevents paint from adhering to the surface unless specially treated. For this reason all decorative products are made of virgin material and integrally colored with pigments. Our complex matrix finishes are achieved via a blend of up to 5 pre-compounded colors. Typically LLDPE products will not take paint well in the field. This also lends the material a degree of graffiti-resistance. Polyethylene typically exhibits very good environmental resistance, especially when treated with a UV inhibitor. Finishes & ColorsMost irrigation products are molded in black. Decorative rotational molded products are available in all the colors on the “standard” tab. White will tend to be slightly translucent, and may yellow over time. AFPM & AFHB products are available in a limited range of colors. The matrix finishes shown below are typically used with the SeaCrest Series and Basix Collection planters. Call your salesperson to receive a sample. Matrix finishes are integral to the material, so are especially good at hiding scratches, nicks, and fading.
Mechanical PropertiesLLDPE is not particularly rigid, but can be molded in heavier wall sections to provide strength to a product. It is very tear-resistant, and holds up well to impact.
Products Tournesol uses LLDPE in the following products: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)Material DescriptionHDPE exhibits the same good environmental resistance as LLDPE, but has better mechanical properties. This allows us to thermoform it for use in our modular green roof tray product. It can be have relatively thin wall sections yet still exhibit good rigidity and the tear resistance. Finishes & ColorsCurrently this material is only manufactured in black. Mechanical Properties
ProductsTournesol uses HDPE on our modular green roof trays. PolypropyleneMaterial DescriptionPolypropylene is a plastic material with average properties. Like polyethylene, it is non-polar, chemical resistant and cannot be painted. It has slightly better mechanical properties than polyethylene, and can be manufactured in thinner wall sections. Tournesol uses it for injection molded container irrigation inserts and leakproof welded planter liners. Finishes & ColorsCurrently this material is only manufactured in black. Mechanical PropertiesPolypropylene has average mechanical characteristics, and is able to be used in a wide variety of products. Using heavier wall thicknesses with our leakproof liners allows for better rigidity.
ProductsTournesol uses PP for: CWI Interior, CWI Exterior container irrigation systems, Leakproof welded liners, some various smaller plastic parts. High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)Material DescriptionHIPS is polystyrene with rubber added to add impact resistance to its excellent rigidity. We thermoform a post-industrial 60% recycled material to create our planter liners. It doesn’t hold up well to UV, so we recommend painting areas that will show when using our liners in an exterior application. Finishes & ColorsHIPS is normally black, but can be painted any of Tournesol the colors on the “standard” tab. Mechanical Properties
ProductsTournesol uses HIPS for: Natural Spring planters, CWS Planter Liners, Thermoplastic Planter Liners, some parts of Coronado and CB AutoFill windowboxes. Other PlasticsTournesol Siteworks uses a variety of other plastics in our products, including PVC for our tubing, ABS for our Flower Framer endcaps, EPDM for seals, and natural rubber for our stoppers. If you have specific questions about any of these please refer them to our sales staff. Lightweight Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)
Material DescriptionGFRC has the look and durability of concrete, without suffering the associated weight. By adding long strand glass fibers and woven mat to fiberglass, we are able to increase the strength of the material and decrease the thickness. Decreasing the thickness 60% (from typically 3” in cast concrete to 1” in GFRC) directly reduces the weight by the same amount. Finishes & ColorsGFRC Concrete is available in two finishes - Acid Etched (a light sandblast look), and Travertine (a natural, pitted smooth surface). Tournesol can also do custom finishes, depending upon the application. Contract your salesperson for more information. Acid-Etch Finishes:
Travertine Finishes:
Mechanical PropertiesGFRC is a lightweight version of concrete, made up of Portland cement, sand and aggregates, water, alkali-resistant glass fibers and certain additives. The glass fibers provide the same function in concrete that rebar does. It makes the concrete wall significantly stronger than typical precast, so it allows a thinner wall section. The concrete doesn’t weigh less than normal concrete, we can just use less of it. The length of the glass fiber strand is critical in maintaining the strength of the material.
ProductsTournesol uses Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete in the following products: Village Collection, Metro Collection, Urban Collection, and Craftsman Collection planters. Metals
Material DescriptionTournesol uses a variety of metals, mostly in brackets, accessories and small parts for their site furnishing products. Metals infused into resin to create metallic resin finishes are atomized bronze (color matched at time of manufacture), copper, aluminum, and steel (for iron). They impart no mechanical properties, but will age and provide uv resistance. ProductsFlower Framer, Coronado Box and CB AutoFill box brackets (both wall brackets and rail brackets) are made of 316 stainless steel. Wilshire Box, Wilshire Box 2 and Lacaster Box brackets are steel material hot-dip galvanized, then powder coated to a color to match the box. In some cases, the powder coated color is then covered with another coat of acrylic enamel. The mounting studs, which extend into the planting area, are 316 stainless steel. Garbage can lids are of spun aluminum, powder coated or anodized to the correct color. Finishes & ColorsAll of the metals (with the exception of the stainless steel) may be powder coated or painted to any of the colors on the “standard” tab. Ask your salesperson if you need a specific example. |
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