Winter greenhouse covered in snow

Winter Gardens That Actually Work

Look, I've spent 15 years figuring out how to keep plants alive when it's minus twenty outside. Here's what we've learned from building conservatories across BC's harshest climates.

Lush greenhouse interior

Why Most Winter Gardens Fail (And How We Fixed It)

So here's the thing - everybody wants a greenhouse until they see their heating bill in February. Or worse, they watch their tomatoes freeze because the "professional" installer didn't account for Vancouver's wild temperature swings.

We got into this game after a client's $40k conservatory turned into an expensive storage shed. That hurt to see. Since then, we've obsessed over thermal bridging, vapor barriers, and passive solar gain till our families got sick of hearing about it.

Every project starts with actual climate data from your specific location - not some generic chart. Because what works in Kelowna won't cut it in Prince George, y'know?

Let's Talk About Your Space

Real Projects, Real Results

North Vancouver greenhouse before renovation
AFTER
Original greenhouse structure
BEFORE

North Van Retrofit - The One That Changed Everything

Location: North Vancouver, BC
Year: 2023
Size: 320 sq ft

Climate Data
  • Winter avg: -2°C to 7°C
  • Heating days: 185/year
  • Annual precipitation: 1,560mm
  • Target internal temp: 15-18°C minimum

This one nearly killed us, honestly. The original greenhouse from the 80s was basically a heat sieve with aluminum frames and single-pane glass. Owner was spending $300/month just to keep it barely functional.

We ripped out everything except the foundation, installed triple-pane low-E glass, added thermal breaks everywhere, and built a proper heat recovery ventilation system. Now it runs about $45/month in winter and actually grows stuff year-round. That's the difference good design makes.

Energy Reduction: 78%
From 4,200 kWh/year to 920 kWh/year
Attached greenhouse to main house
Interior growing setup
Radiant heating system

Whistler Four-Season Conservatory

Location: Whistler, BC
Year: 2024
Size: 580 sq ft

Extreme Climate Challenge
  • Winter lows: -15°C to -20°C
  • Snow load: 2.4 kPa design
  • Heating days: 220/year
  • Daily temp swing: up to 25°C

Okay, this one was wild. Client wanted fresh herbs and greens through ski season at elevation. Everyone said we were crazy, but we love a challenge.

Key was connecting it directly to the house's geothermal system and using automated shade screens for those brutal sunny winter days when it'd spike to 30°C inside. We also beefed up the structure to handle serious snow load - had to, really.

They're now growing lettuce, kale, and even some dwarf citrus trees while there's 3 feet of snow outside. The look on their dinner guests' faces when they pick fresh basil in January? Priceless.

2024 BC Architecture Award - Sustainable Innovation
Standalone greenhouse in garden
Thermal mass water barrels
Automated vents
Tomato plants growing

Passive Solar Greenhouse - Richmond

Location: Richmond, BC
Year: 2023
Size: 240 sq ft

Design Parameters
  • Goal: Zero auxiliary heating
  • South-facing orientation: 185°
  • Thermal mass: 800L water storage
  • R-value (north wall): R-32

This client had a tight budget but wanted something functional. We went old-school passive solar - insulated north wall, thermal mass barrels, the works.

It's basically a big solar collector that stores heat during the day and releases it at night. No fancy tech, just physics doing its thing. Only needs a small backup heater for the coldest weeks, and even then it barely kicks on. Total heating cost last winter? About $18.

Total Project Cost: $22,500
Proof you don't need a fortune to do this right

How We Actually Design These Things

Site Analysis

We pull 10+ years of microclimate data for your exact location. Sun angles, wind patterns, frost dates - the stuff that actually matters once you're trying to grow food in February.

Load Calculations

Heating, cooling, snow load, wind load - we run the numbers properly. Can't tell you how many greenhouses we've seen collapse or overheat because someone skipped this part.

System Integration

Tying into your existing HVAC, adding automation where it makes sense, keeping things maintainable. No proprietary nonsense that'll leave you stranded in 5 years.

Build Supervision

We're on-site for critical phases because details matter. One bad seal, one missed thermal break - that's the difference between success and failure in our climate.

Not All BC Climates Are Created Equal

What works on the coast won't work in the interior. Here's what we account for across different zones:

Coastal (Vancouver, Victoria)

Main Challenges:
  • High humidity + condensation
  • Overcast winters (low light)
  • Mild but damp conditions
  • Wind exposure
Our Solutions:
  • Advanced ventilation systems
  • Anti-condensation coatings
  • Supplemental grow lighting
  • Moisture-resistant materials

Interior (Kelowna, Kamloops)

Main Challenges:
  • Extreme temperature swings
  • Super dry air
  • Intense summer sun
  • Cold snaps to -25°C
Our Solutions:
  • Heavy insulation packages
  • Automated shade systems
  • Humidification equipment
  • Thermal mass strategies

Northern (Prince George+)

Main Challenges:
  • Brutal winter cold
  • Heavy snow loads
  • Short growing season
  • Limited winter daylight
Our Solutions:
  • Maximum insulation (R-40+)
  • Reinforced structures
  • Heat recovery ventilation
  • Professional grow light systems

Questions We Get All The Time

Gonna be straight with you - for something that'll actually work year-round in BC, you're looking at $150-250 per square foot, all in. That includes design, permits, construction, systems, the works. Yeah, you can buy a kit for $3k online, but don't expect it to function as anything more than a cold frame. We've seen too many people learn this the expensive way.

Depends massively on your climate and design. Our coastal projects usually run $40-80/month in winter. Interior BC might be $80-150. But here's the thing - a well-designed greenhouse should pay for its heating costs through extended growing season and fresh produce. We had one client calculate they saved $130/month on groceries while spending $65 on heat. Do the math.

Sometimes yes, sometimes it's cheaper to start fresh. We'll do an honest assessment - if the bones are good and it's worth saving, we'll tell you. If it's gonna be throwing money into a pit, we'll tell you that too. Usually structures from the 90s or earlier are candidates for replacement, but we've successfully retrofitted some built in the 2000s.

Design phase is usually 6-8 weeks. Permits are the wild card - seen 'em take 3 weeks, seen 'em take 5 months depending on your municipality. Construction is typically 8-12 weeks for a ground-up build, 4-6 for a retrofit. We try to schedule construction for shoulder seasons when possible, so you're not building in July heat or January freeze.

Almost always, yeah. Anything with a foundation, anything over 10 square meters, anything attached to your house - you need a permit. We handle all that stuff as part of our service. Trust me, it's worth doing it right. Neighbor complaints or insurance issues down the road are way worse than dealing with permits upfront.

In a properly designed winter greenhouse? Pretty much any cold-hardy greens and herbs - lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, cilantro, parsley. Root veggies like carrots and radishes do great. Some folks grow dwarf citrus and figs if they've got good supplemental lighting. Tomatoes and peppers in winter are tough and energy-intensive - usually not worth it unless you're really committed.

Ready To Grow Food Year-Round?

Let's figure out what'll work on your property. First consultation is free - we'll look at your site, talk about what you want to grow, and give you realistic expectations.

Schedule Consultation (604) 555-0847