FAQs

Our commercial energy-efficient greenhouses are made with galvanized steel frames. Steel is the strongest framing material, and can be insulated in a variety of ways. We combine the frame with closed cell foam insulation (insulated metal panels), which prevents mold and other diseases from creeping in. We also use IMPs, which are also commonly used for industrial buildings, because of their high insulation values and ease of install.

We offer acrylic, ETFE, or polycarbonate as glazing options in North America. 

To learn more about which option might be best for you check out our blog on how to choose a glazing material for your greenhouse. Factors in decision making include: budget, location, and what you are growing. 

Our typical commercial greenhouse is an off-set gable (shed style) roof, which allows for maximum insulation and light transmission. Gutter connect design is not optimal for light harvesting, nor is it great for light deprivation curtains.

If this does not fit your site, or in cases of larger commercial greenhouses, we can employ alternate building styles. In any case, we work with you to create a custom structure that meets your needs, site and budget.

Check out our new energy calculator to get an approximate on your savings!

Our HighYield™ Greenhouse Kits use two building depths – 23’ and 30’ – and can be as long as needed. Our custom commercial steel greenhouses are more flexible in sizing and layout, and are typically used for greenhouses with a minimum square footage of 4,000 square feet. We have in-house designers who can customize based on your design criteria.

We custom engineer each structure according to your site’s snow and wind loads. This streamlines the building permit process, which we can also help with. We have designed greenhouses with snow loads of up to 85 lbs/square foot, and with wind loads of up to 155 mph.

Building a commercial steel greenhouse, like our HighYield™ Greenhouse Kits, requires some construction experience. A skilled crew of 3 with a scissor lift can put up the steel frame, IMPs, and glazing. We recommend specialists for concrete work, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, etc. 

While we do not build the greenhouses ourselves, we do have building crews that specialize in building Ceres greenhouses, including shade systems and light deprivation. We also offer site visits to help train local crews on the unique building specifics of the greenhouses. Contact us for more info. 

While the grow system is the choice of the client, we will help design, size, source and integrate whatever system is chosen into the facility. We also offer irrigation and fertigation systems for a complete cultivation system. 

Recouping the greenhouse investment depends on a multitude of factors including but not limited to: operational costs, strain of cannabis/hemp (can affect yield and market value), and market demand. The chosen grow system will also impact the length of grow time, and should therefore be considered.

The plant count depends entirely on the grow method and strain. We have seen great results in our greenhouses with more space for the plants. The typical setup can range anywhere between 4 sqft and 16 sqft per plant.

Rolling benches significantly increase the efficiency of canopy space, increasing potential canopy by up to 35%. 

Assuming a 3000 sqft greenhouse will have 788 sqft of fixed perimeter aisles. Rolling benches provide a minimum of 2212 sqft of dedicated canopy. 

With rolling benches, you can fit 221(10sqft) plants. Without rolling benches there is only 1660 sqft of canopy, because you will need at least 552 sqft of aisles to access plants the total plant count drops to 166. 

Yes. We source and integrate black-out (light dep) systems, irrigation (and fertigation) systems, and lighting systems. We work directly with systems suppliers to ensure that growing systems integrate seamlessly with the greenhouse structure.

We also provide:

• Grow systems
• Water treatment & reclamation
• Air filtration and circulation systems
• HVAC(D) systems
• SunSense™ controller

The environmental control systems and the controllers used will help determine the quality of the products grown. In sophisticated greenhouses with high-end environmental control solutions for high-value cannabis/hemp the more sophisticated control systems might be the better choice. 

Shipping is available anywhere in the US and Canada. We can also containerize deliveries for shipping to Alaska, Canada, or other for international customers. If you are outside the US or Canada, please contact us for a shipping cost estimate.

You can install a HighYield™ Kit yourself, or hire installation out to a local contractor. You can also opt to have a Ceres construction supervisor oversee the construction process and direct your building crew.

Because each greenhouse is slightly different – tailored for your climate and growing goals—we provide custom quotes for all our energy-efficient commercial greenhouses.

Once we learn more about your desired greenhouse size and layout as well as your planned growing methods, we are able to provide you with more detailed pricing information. Below you will find rough estimates provided for budgetary purposes:

• US$58-US$68/sqft  for a 3,000 sqft modular greenhouse facility. This includes: base materials kit, includes steel frame, insulated metal panels, glazing, SunSense™ Controller
• US$95-US$130/SF = Complete vented structure. Includes: Ceres provided materials, including but not limited to evaporative cooling, GAHT®,  heaters, dehumidifiers, SunSense™ controller, LED grow lights, irrigation, complete engineering, and construction documentation
• US$210-US$260/SF = Complete Sealed SunChamber™ (includes everything)

Ceres Greenhouses are modular by design, allowing for both greenhouses and headhouses (indoor areas for plant processing, administrative work, storage, etc.) to be expanded at a later time. Corridor-connected designs are better suited for expansion, as construction doesn’t disrupt existing operations.  

If you are considering expanding the greenhouses or headhouses it is advisable to let the Ceres design team know ahead of time. This allows our engineers to design and prepare everything from the onset, allowing the client to save time and money when the time for expansion comes.

We follow a strict process of schematic design, design development, engineering and construction documents, all the way to materials orders and project management in order to narrow down the scope in steps and avoid big surprises. Change orders can happen in the process, for which we suggest to put a budget of 10% to 20% aside at the beginning of the project. Every step of the process requires a signature and subsequent changes require approval. A change order might be for $0, a positive or a negative amount.

From conceptual design to operation, commercial greenhouse facilities can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. In the case of more complex commercial facilities, the timeline could extend up to 24 months. This process includes design, engineering, material orders, construction and commissioning. Additionally, there are many project-specific variables such as site approval, building permit, facility size, local building season, headhouse buildout, custom features, etc. These all affect the timetable for the project, though not all factors are a requirement for each project and thus timelines are developed for each specific project. 

Yes. This is considered custom work and will be reflected in the cost. The ability to attach to an existing structure will be dependent on specifics related to the existing structure. It is, however, easier to attach to a corridor than an actual greenhouse.

Yes it is possible, but there are custom design and engineering costs associated with custom designs. Building the retaining wall will also add an additional cost. 

Yes. Ceres greenhouses can be designed to be “off-the-grid” through the use of PV panels and batteries, or wind turbines, in order to create and store electricity for later use. It is advisable to start with a greenhouse system that has lower energy consumption to begin with in order to reduce the investment and maintenance costs of the energy creation systems (i.e. PV panels). Propane and diesel generators are also options to supplement heating, cooling, or any other electrical needs.

When an electric grid connection is possible it is recommended to create a net-zero greenhouse, using PV panels to create electricity. That electricity is used to feed the grid at times when it is needed (i.e. peak mid-day in the summer), and deliver electricity to itself when it is needed most (during the winter and at night). This is a great way to maximize greenhouse performance while minimizing environmental impact.

The color choice and wall & roof thickness of the insulated metal panels can both have an impact on your building’s heat gain and retention. We recommend lighter colors and thinner walls in hotter climates to minimize the heat gain. The thickness can range from 2.5”-6”, which has a range of R-20 to R-48. 

We design our greenhouses with a 2’ insulated knee wall under the south wall glazing.  Snow will slide off the roof during and after snowstorms, so we have designed an insulated wall where the snow can accumulate.