Fiberstone is crushed stone bonded with resin: real stone texture, at a fraction of concrete's weight. We do not stock fiberstone itself: our range is fiberglass, which is lighter still and takes any color.
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People searching for fiberstone are usually after one thing: the presence of carved stone without the weight, the cracking and the delivery problems that come with it. That is a reasonable thing to want. It is worth knowing that the labels used to sell these materials are not standardised, and that the lighter route to the same look is a fiberglass body.
What is fiberstone?
Fiberstone is a composite of crushed natural stone aggregate bound with fiberglass resin. The strength comes from the resin; the visible surface is real stone particles, usually hand-finished so no two pieces are quite identical. The result reads as cast stone or aged concrete, with a tactile, slightly irregular surface rather than a factory-smooth one.
You will also see the same family sold as ficonstone, fibrestone or simply "fiber stone". Terminology is not standardised across manufacturers, and the same word can cover noticeably different blends, so the maker's own specification is the only reliable description. A category name tells you very little.
We do not stock fiberstone. That is a deliberate choice rather than an oversight, and the reasoning is in the rest of this guide.
Is fiberstone the same as concrete?
No. Concrete is cement, aggregate and water cured into a solid mass, and it is porous unless sealed. Fiberstone uses stone aggregate on a resin body, so it is non-porous and considerably lighter for the same size.
That distinction matters most in a freeze-thaw climate. Water that soaks into a porous wall and then freezes expands, and that is what cracks unsealed concrete and terracotta over a few winters. NC State Extension puts it plainly for clay and unglazed ceramic: those pots “absorb water, which will freeze and crack the pot”, so they should not be left outside through winter. A non-porous body does not absorb the water in the first place. Both fiberstone and fiberglass are non-porous; concrete is not, unless you seal it and keep sealing it.
What is a fiberglass planter?
A fiberglass planter is molded by layering fiberglass cloth in a mold and binding it with polymer resin, then finishing the outside with a UV-resistant system. The result is one integrated piece: no seams, no metal banding, no glued joints. It is the same material family used for boat hulls and architectural facades.
The finish is where the two brands we carry diverge. Jay Scotts finish theirs to order with an automotive-grade paint system in 20 UV-resistant colors, or a custom match, and warrant them three years.
How do they compare?
| Criterion | Fiberglass | Fiberstone | Concrete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Fiberglass cloth and resin | Crushed stone on a resin body | Cement and aggregate |
| Surface | Smooth or textured, painted to order | Stone aggregate, hand-finished | Raw or sealed cement |
| Porous | No | No | Yes, unless sealed |
| Freeze-thaw | Stable | Stable | Cracks if water is trapped |
| Weight | Lightest | Middle | Heaviest by a wide margin |
| Color | Painted to order, 20 colors | Natural stone palette | Cement grey unless treated |
| Rooftops | Usual specification | Case by case | Rarely, on ground level only |
How much does the weight difference matter?
More than most buyers expect, and it decides two things: whether you can get the planter where it needs to go, and whether the structure under it can carry the result.
We publish the packaged weight of every size we sell, so these are measured rather than estimated. Solid concrete at comparable sizes runs several times heavier, which is why a 24-inch concrete planter can pass 300 pounds before any soil goes in.
On a roof deck or a balcony that difference stops being a convenience and becomes the constraint. Our rooftop guide works through weight, access and wind in detail, including why delivery method matters more than the material name.
Which should you choose?
Choose fiberglass with a painted finish when the project is modern, the color is specific, or the planter has to go up a building. Jay Scotts cover that case: 20 colors or a custom match, finished to order.
Choose fiberstone when the tactile reality of crushed stone matters to you more than the extra weight, and the planter is going somewhere at ground level with straightforward access. We would rather tell you that plainly than pretend the category has no merit. We simply do not stock it: our range is fiberglass, from Jay Scotts.
Frost, sun and drainage
Both fiberglass and fiberstone are non-porous, so neither should crack through a freeze-thaw cycle the way unsealed concrete and terracotta can. What still matters is what happens inside the planter: water that cannot leave will sit around the roots regardless of what the walls are made of. Drainage holes are necessary in every container, as NC State Extension notes, to stop roots standing in water and developing root rot.
Drainage holes are not drilled unless you ask for them, and drilling is free on request from request. Jay Scotts cut to their published standard of 1 to 2 inch holes every 12 inches of planter space. Choose it at the point of order: a drilled planter is final sale, and an undrilled one cannot be drained later without tools. Our drainage guide covers placement and run-off.
On sun, the relevant question is how the color was applied. A pigment mixed through the body cannot wear off the surface, and a factory UV-resistant paint system is built to hold its color outdoors. Jay Scotts warrant their finish for three years.
How do you clean a stone finish?
Carefully. A textured stone surface holds dust and pollen in a way a smooth painted one does not, so it needs cleaning more often, and the wrong method marks it permanently. Whatever the material, follow the maker's own instructions rather than a general rule: an abrasive or a bleach solution that is harmless on one finish will scar another.
Jay Scotts allow standard household cleaning products such as dishwashing soap on both gloss and matte finishes, and bar bleach, power washing, steel wool and abrasives. An annual automotive or marine wax suits gloss finishes; it is not recommended for matte unless the product is specifically formulated for it.
See the care guide for the full method.
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Fiberglass planters
Non-porous and frost-resistant, finished to order in 20 colors, with the weight and interior opening published on every size.
Browse fiberglass plantersFrequently asked questions
Is fiberstone better than fiberglass?
Neither is better outright. Fiberstone gives a genuine crushed-stone surface; fiberglass is lighter, takes any color, and is the usual specification anywhere weight or access is constrained. If the stone look is what you are after rather than stone content, a stone-finished fiberglass laminate gives you the appearance at the lower weight.
Do you sell fiberstone planters?
No. We carry fiberglass only, from Jay Scotts, finished to order in 20 colors or a custom match. Fiberglass gives you the lighter body; it does not give you a crushed-stone surface.
Is fiberstone the same as ficonstone?
They are usually sold as the same family, along with fibrestone and "fiber stone". The naming is not standardised between manufacturers and the blends differ, so read the maker's specification rather than relying on the category name.
Does fiberstone crack in winter?
It is non-porous, so it does not absorb water and should not crack through a freeze-thaw cycle the way unsealed concrete or terracotta can. Water trapped inside the planter is still a problem for the plant, which is why drainage matters whatever the material.
Which is heavier once planted?
Once soil and water go in, they dominate the total and the gap between materials narrows in percentage terms, though the fiberstone piece stays heavier. If weight is your constraint, the lever with the most effect is how you fill the planter, not which of the two you buy.
Will a stone finish fade in the sun?
It depends on how the color was applied. A pigment mixed through the body has no surface layer to wear through. Jay Scotts use a UV-resistant automotive-grade paint system warranted for three years.
Can you drill drainage holes in either material?
Yes, and we drill free on request. Jay Scotts cut to their own published standard of 1 to 2 inch holes every 12 inches. Choose it when you order, because a drilled planter is final sale.
How do you clean a stone-finish planter?
Follow the maker's own instructions, because they differ. Jay Scotts allow standard household products such as dishwashing soap, and bar bleach, power washing and abrasives. A stone-textured surface from another maker may bar dish soap entirely, so check before you clean it.
Which material suits a rooftop?
Fiberglass, in nearly every case. It is the lightest of the three and the delivery method for the exact size decides whether it can reach the roof at all. Weight, access and wind are covered in our rooftop guide.
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Read nextJay Scotts Fiberglass Planters: What to Know Before You Buy