Building a greenhouse is an amazing step toward environmental protection and sustainable development, and having one can reap a lot of benefits. But do you know how much does it cost to build a greenhouse? What are its maintenance costs? Is it even beneficial? Don’t worry. Keep on reading to know!
Greenhouses are structures made of transparent materials that allow the growth of various types of plants in a controlled environment, which makes farming possible even in unfavorable climates. Are you thinking about the estimated cost of building a greenhouse? We will discuss that in detail, but before that, let’s understand how greenhouses work.
1. Working Principle of a Greenhouse
Are you curious to know about the working principle of greenhouses? The transparent building materials of greenhouses absorb sun rays, and the plants and other contents inside convert them into heat. The heat is released gradually by the plants and surrounding factors like the floor, this process creates a warm climate favorable for plant growth inside the greenhouse.
The transparent building materials of the greenhouse absorb light, but they do not allow the heat to pass through. This trapped heat ensures a microclimate warm enough for plants to thrive. The heating, ventilation, cooling, and lighting inside the greenhouses can be controlled by using various technologies.
The large commercial greenhouse uses computer-aided optimization to ensure the desired artificial microclimate. The cost of building a greenhouse depends on many factors, such as type, size, and additional equipment.
2. Why are Greenhouses Important?
- The best thing about growing plants in a greenhouse is that you can control the climate inside. The humidity and temperature suitable for plant growth can be maintained using various techs. Installing fans, vents, and electric heaters inside the greenhouse helps to control the cooling, heating, and ventilation—the cost per square foot of the greenhouse changes depending on the additional utilities. You don’t have to worry about the unpredictability of the weather while doing greenhouse farming.
- Greenhouse farming allows you to cultivate even during adverse weather. Thus extending the growing season. You can keep the crops warm even during winter by adjusting the microclimate inside the greenhouse. The year-round production ensures more efficient use of every square foot of your farming area.
- Greenhouse farming ensures better productivity as it is less vulnerable to adverse weather conditions. Productivity is enhanced due to the availability of a suitable climate and carbon dioxide enrichment.
- The transparent building materials ensure the entry of ample light, thus facilitating a better distribution of light. The availability of light is crucial for photosynthesis.
- You can customize and make your greenhouse portable; the rooftop greenhouses can be installed anywhere. The budget for building a greenhouse varies based on the customization and portability.
- One of the best things about the greenhouse is that it is suitable for a diverse variety of crops, including fruits, veggies, and your favorite flowering plants, and it has a lot of positive effects as well. Crops like tomatoes, strawberries, orchids all grow well in the greenhouse. The commercial greenhouses open a lot of possibilities like mixed cropping and vertical farming.
- Since the greenhouse offers a closed enclosure, it is easy to implement pest management measures. The greenhouse structure itself helps to prevent vermin, pests, and other diseases.
3. Types of Greenhouses and Costs to Build
The Greenhouses are classified into different types based on construction style, installation site, and materials used. Let’s discuss different types of greenhouses and the cost per square foot required to build them.
3.1. Rooftop Greenhouse
The rooftop greenhouse is the best option for farming in urban areas. They make farming possible even in areas lacking enough land to grow crops.
They can be constructed on the top of apartment buildings, restaurants, shops, etc. The greenhouse cost per square foot depends on the size and extra additions like heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
They can be built on a flat roof, or they can be installed along the walls. They ensure healthy crops and provide better quality air around your home.
These greenhouses are becoming popular in urban areas because they offer an excellent opportunity to green the cities without compromising urbanization; this is important against the backdrop of global warming.
The greenhouse also helps to save energy by providing cooling in summer and heating in winter. While building these greenhouses, you need to pick the building materials carefully; they should be strong enough to withstand weather changes.
Metal frames or glass are good options, so you can either build the greenhouse yourself or seek the help of professional greenhouse builders. The average cost per square foot of a rooftop greenhouse is around $ 10 to $25.
The average greenhouse costs may increase if you plan to build a large commercial greenhouse with more sophisticated techs.
3.2. Hoop Greenhouse
The greenhouses get their name from its hoop-like structures; they can be built more easily than other types and are relatively the cheapest. You can choose from varying sizes depending on your individual needs.
The hoops are installed on the ground, and plastic is used to cover the hoop greenhouse. The most significant advantage of the hoop greenhouse is its structure, which enables rain and snow to slide over.
The usage of plastic sheeting also makes it a cheaper option, the hoop-styled greenhouse is an excellent option if you plan to build a cheaper greenhouse in your backyard.
The hoop-styled greenhouse costs around $5 to $10 per square foot. You can also try building them by buying a hoop greenhouse kit or getting professional help.
3.3. Pit Greenhouse
The pit greenhouses are built by digging a hole in the ground and attaching a glass structure above. The best thing about the pit greenhouse is its ability to maintain a warm environment. Since the hole is dug on the ground, the warmer earth makes heating easier.
This is especially useful in colder regions, you can customize the upper structure as per your preference. However one of the key factors to be considered while building a pit greenhouse is the type of soil in the region.
This highly energy-efficient pit greenhouse costs approximately $20 to $ 25 per square foot. They are suitable for growing a wide variety of crops.
You can choose a suitable company or build it yourself, depending on the size and complexity of the structure you want to build.
3.4. Gothic Arch Greenhouse
Are you fond of Gothic architecture? Gothic Arches are famous for their strength and structure, which add an aesthetic touch to your greenhouse. Its specific design makes it immune to strong winds and snow.
The Gothic arch greenhouse is available in various sizes, and as for the framing, you can choose according to your budget. The Gothic arch greenhouse can be installed on the ground or raised platforms.
One of the most significant advantages of the Gothic arch greenhouse is its height; this allows you to grow plants that grow in height.
One disadvantage associated with arch-type greenhouses is the narrow side greenhouse walls. The average cost is around $ 10 to $15 per square foot. They are more suitable if you plan to build a smaller one rather than a large commercial greenhouse.
3.5. Dome Greenhouses
The Dome Greenhouses is a good option if you are planning to build a greenhouse where you can walk around or look for a space to sit and relax. You can also go for a small greenhouse if your budget is low; they are also called geodesic greenhouses.
As the name indicates, they are dome-shaped. The larger surface area of the structure ensures the absorption of an ample amount of light.
Usually, a metal frame covered with plastic sheeting or glass is used to build the outer structure. Building a dome greenhouse or geodesic greenhouse is approximately $ 10 to $ 25 per square foot.
3.6. Solar Greenhouse
The solar greenhouse is a step towards a more sustainable and greener future. These greenhouses are comparatively more expensive to build but enhance sunlight’s overall absorption and raise the temperature inside.
They need an arch-styled south wall to ensure better harvesting of sunlight. So, what is the cost of building a greenhouse with solar panels? Building these greenhouses costs around $35 to $45 per square foot.
If you are planning to construct a larger commercial greenhouse, costs will rise depending on the frames, ventilation systems, coating materials, and other technological additions. Even though greenhouse costs are higher, it’s a good way of using renewable energy.
3.7. Lean-to-Greenhouse
Lean-to-green houses are built attached to walls, they are comparatively easy to construct and suitable if you plan to build a small-scale greenhouse attached to your home. Having an attached wall makes it suitable for small households.
They require fewer materials to build and usually cost around $10 to $25 per square foot. You can build it along the house or attach it to your garage.
They can be constructed using a wooden frame or steel frame with glass covers or plastic sheeting per your greenhouse project’s budget.
3.8. Barn-Style Greenhouse
Diagonal edges characterize the barn-style greenhouse roof; this structural feature provides more space for plants to grow than other greenhouse styles. They are typically made out of wooden or steel frames with ground-level vents.
The barn-style greenhouses, on average, cost around $25 to $35 per square foot to build. The overall cost varies depending on the size and additional types of equipment you need to attach.
4. Factors Affecting Cost to Consider
The cost of building a greenhouse depends on various factors:
- The Type of Greenhouse
- Size of the Greenhouse
- Framing Materials
- Coating Materials
- Site Preparation
- Labour Cost
- Insulation, Ventilation, and Cooling facilities
- Additional Factors
4. Overall Cost Analysis
The cost of building a greenhouse depends upon many factors, including the type of greenhouse, size, materials used, location, and additional utilities. On average, the more miniature greenhouses 6’x8′ in size, the more greenhouse construction costs about $482.00; on the other hand, larger ones spanning across an acre may cost $45,000 to $100,000 and even more.
5. Final Thoughts
So, are you ready to take up a greenhouse project? Greenhouses not only increase the productivity of your crops but also make our cities greener and more environmentally friendly. And if you can afford the same, even better. Let us know your experience of building greenhouses and your expenses in the comments. All the best!
Last Updated on by Moumilife