Is It Worth It: Installing a Prefab Greenhouse

If you’ve always dreamed of having your own greenhouse—a warm, sunny place to grow plants, flowers, and veggies and a beautiful spot to plop a lawn chair in the winter months, there’s good news. Prefabricated greenhouses make it easier (and more cost-effective) than ever to go from zero to backyard hero with a single click. You can find options ranging from less than $500 to upwards of $10,000, depending on your needs and your property.

If you have the space and the inclination, installing one of these ready-made kits seems like a win-win. But there are a few things to consider before investing in one. Here are the pros and cons of prefab greenhouses, according to experts:

Installing a prefab greenhouse can be an easy and relatively inexpensive way to enhance your backyard.

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Pro: Prefab models are easy to set up.

The beauty of prefab anything, greenhouses included, is that most of the hard work of building the structure is done for you. Some, like these Stoltzfus Structures, arrive already built. Others are sold as kits, which means a team of two people will need to do some light assembly to get the outbuilding up and running. Smaller, 8-foot by 12-foot greenhouses, for example, take a few hours to build.

Regardless of which type you choose, you will want to do some planning in advance. “I recommend a basic string-and-stake layout for the proposed area of installation,” says Ryan Newlin, a sales agent with Greenhouse Megastore. “This can help someone decide how big they may want their greenhouse [to be] and to determine if the area receives enough sunlight.”

Con: You’ll need to check your local zoning and permit laws.

Depending on where you live, building a new structure in your backyard could violate zoning laws. Kate Ziegler, a RealtorⓇ with Arborview Realty in Boston and Coldwell Banker Lifestyles in New London, New Hampshire, suggests confirming your municipality’s rules regarding setbacks, or the distance of structures from a property line. You want “to be sure your greenhouse sizing and placement doesn’t constitute an encroachment or title issue down the line in a future sale,” she explains.

Once you’re in the clear for zoning, check to see if you’ll need a building permit from your town, city, or neighborhood. Newlin notes your HOA might have limitations on what can be constructed on your property, too, so it’s best to cover all your bases before adding a prefab greenhouse to your cart.

A prefab greenhouse can give you year-round access to your gardening hobby.

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Pro: You’ll be able to work on your garden all year long.

A greenhouse’s year-round appeal is certainly attractive. “There can be so much personal satisfaction from having a direct connection to how your food is grown and what’s going into it,” Newlin says. And, he adds, you can potentially save money at the grocery store by growing your vegetables and herbs.

Of course, in colder areas, you may need to supplement with additional light and heating sources besides the sun. But, if your yard isn’t super sunny, Newlin says don’t fret: “Grow lighting can be used to supplement what Mother Nature may lack in certain areas.” A few other ways to keep things toasty? Gallons of water that heat up during the day and release heat at night; horticultural bubble wrap (yes, it’s a thing!); or a space heater.

Con: You probably won’t see a monetary return on your investment.

Like cold plunge pools and saunas, special-interest home additions won’t always net you a return on your investment—or boost your home’s resale value.

“Prefabricated greenhouses might not increase property value in a linear way,” Ziegler explains. “In more rural settings or on larger lots, you’re more likely to have a future buyer pool that values the feature.” In other settings, she adds that this niche “improvement” to your property could narrow your prospective buying audience.

Her best advice? “Be sure you’re adding a greenhouse for your own interests and use first and foremost,” Ziegler says. “Then, do it well and maintain the space to preserve home value along the way.”

Pro: You’ll get satisfaction from your greenhouse in other ways.

A warmer environment in the dead of winter can do wonders not only for plants, but also for humans. “Many greenhouses may also incorporate a sitting space for morning coffee and reading the paper,” Newlin says. “Just being surrounded by the beauty you have grown” is tough to quantify in dollars.

The bottom line

If you find deep satisfaction from growing plants, and you have the space and the financial means to add a prefab greenhouse, you’ll thank yourself year after year. If you predict gardening is more of a passing interest—and you’re not willing to put in the work to maintain the structure—it’s worth skipping.

Ready for some greenhouse window shopping? Start with these prefab models: