There is an overwhelming amount of residential greenhouses on the market. Pretty or practical, big or small, aesthetic or function, cheap or expensive, the decisions about what to buy stack up. At Monarch Greenhouse Solutions, we want to make sure you do not regret your decision.
Our goal with this series is to give you information about and confidence in greenhouse products. In this article, we cover who BC Greenhouse is, their different product lines, who we think would love their products, and when their product isn’t a good fit.
BC is our preferred brand for Utah residential projects, especially considering snow load and low temperatures. For reasons discussed below, we primarily deal with these greenhouses and encourage you to purchase one through us.
Below, our honest review covers different residential greenhouse factors like beauty, practicality, growing, ease of building, and more.
Who is BC?
BC Greenhouse Builders Limited is the leading high-quality greenhouse manufacturer in North America. They are based out of British Columbia (BC), Canada, not far from Vancouver.
You may have a picture in your mind of what a dream greenhouse should look like. Their greenhouses represent that dream. They have been at it since 1951 and are known mainly for their brand Cross Country Greenhouses.
This is the high volume output of greenhouses from BC that you’ve likely seen when looking through Pinterest and Instagram. Their Meridian Estate Greenhouses are the Wayne Gretzky (Canada’s Michael Jordan) equivalent of greenhouse lines.
Comparing on Beauty
BC is for you if you want an architectural piece that performs well.
When you look online, you can find many seemingly comparable pictures of products that look like they may be the shape of excellence. But there is a stark difference in quality between something you find at Costco or on Amazon, versus a premium to luxury greenhouse.
The BC lines are intended to capture as much beauty as possible at the price points they give without sacrificing materials quality, and that is what we love about their products. You can trust that the picture of what you purchase will show up looking the same for decades to come, not a season or two.
Comparing on Practicality
Growers who want produce-driven ROI will require something else.
The BC style of greenhouse will lose to high tunnels and other designs that maximize return on investment in the form of garden production. Let’s face it, products can’t be everything and frankly, if you are growing to save money or prepare for the end of the world, then BC isn’t right for you.
That is fine, Monarch knows where else you can go for a more economical use and look .
Comparing on Growing in Utah
Trust BC for hitting performance specifications.
Utah snow and wind loads? No problem. It comes out of the package with minimum 32 psf (pounds per square foot) and 85mph wind resistance engineering. This is going to work great in most lower Wasatch Front properties.
If that’s still not enough, BC is one of the few greenhouse manufacturers that can quickly and easily increase engineering on structures.
Temperature targets are automatically factored into any heater recommendations quoted with BC. Glass and polycarbonate glazing options for any of their greenhouses can be upgraded to be more efficient for insulating.
Using a BC for your greenhouse means far less thinking about how to keep your structure safe and effective and more time enjoying your space.
Comparing Ease of Building
These are among the most intuitive greenhouses to build with little downside.
Monarch has built a lot of greenhouse brands, and BC is our favorite. Framing goes together safely with two to three people. Some brands we have built require awkward sequences and frame dependencies on glazing during the building process. With BC’s Cross Country Greenhouses, you can trust it will go better than most other greenhouses.
It is also safer to build Cross Country frames than many other greenhouses. With the heavy duty aluminum frames, there are less sharp edges, less risk of collapse, and less heavy materials that are commonly in galvanized steel frames or cheaper aluminum frames. Also, we rarely have made our own holes or cuts on these kits.
The only frustration we have run into is occasional missing parts. However, BC is amazing to work with on this issue. They will send missing parts immediately, and with close proximity to Utah coupled with a very good customer service team, you can count on getting the build done with minimal issues.
For Schools and Commercial Structures
This application is all about the acceptable style.
If you want a structure that looks like a production growing environment, BC doesn’t thrive here. There is stiff commercial competition that is driven by structural ROI, frequently maximizing how much can grow for a lower $/sqft.
If you want to have something beautiful and big, BC can do exactly that.
The biggest issue we run into with BC on commercial and educational greenhouses is the way systems are integrated. Production style systems that are built to reduce cost typically do not pair well with BC’s premium product.
If you are a school, the main question here is how architecturally important is the aesthetics versus the function. This can be a fine line where other brands may make sense. Consult with Monarch and we can make sure your project’s manufacturer is fairly compared and chosen.
Understanding the BC Products
The two main BC Greenhouse brand names are premium Cross Country Greenhouses and luxurious Meridian Estate Greenhouses.
The most striking difference you’ll see between all models across these brands is the framing shape and size. Cross Country is all about being your classic greenhouse that maximizes light and reduces shadows for prioritizing growing. Meridian Estate Greenhouses are fully controlled and architecturally impressive environments that prioritize serenity.
Cross Country Greenhouses
These are the classic greenhouses that work as part of your landscape.
The basis for frame design is driven by the roof pitch. The four main series illustrated below is the skeleton to everything Cross Country, including the economy and limited time options. From the Traditional Series with a 23° pitch to a Cape Cod Series 45°, the price does increase, as well as the spectacle (and snow shedding ability).
The options for customization on these frames are endless. Here are some of them:
- Decorative additions
- Glazing types
- Door placements
- Foundation options
- Attachment variations to structures
- Systems integrations
- Frame colors
- Vestibule additions (pro tip: The Hendrik model right now saves a lot on this, pictured below)
Pricing for the most standard 6’x8’ traditional series will start close to $10k. For lower cost, check out their economy pricing on select models and sizes like the Sunhaven 8’x8’ ($5,295) or the Legacy 8’x8’ ($5,995). Most greenhouses we see going to residential projects are about $30k and up for the structures.
For schools and other commercial buildings, we frequently see close to $70k to $150k for about 20’x30’ projects.
Meridian Estate Greenhouses
These are more than just typical greenhouses and become an extension of your home.
Greenhouses tend to be wet and humid environments for growing. Meridian Estate is about controlling this space so much so that you can put furniture inside and make it a living space. While most greenhouses may be an attachment to your home, Meridian Estate becomes a fully integrated part of your home.
Conclusion
BC Greenhouses are a great fit for many high-end residential and commercial applications, but the wrong fit for many who need something less about aesthetics and more about cost reduction. There isn’t a wrong way to use a greenhouse, just a right greenhouse for you and your budget.
Why Buy From Monarch Greenhouse Solutions in Utah
Purchasing your greenhouse through Monarch means we support your structure very effectively. We live in Utah and focus on Utah. When you use us to install your greenhouse, you get a one year build warranty coupled with the manufacturer warranty. We are happy to quote, build, and support your BC Greenhouse!
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