Exaco Greenhouses: Riga, Janssens & Other Lines Compared

Exaco is a greenhouse portfolio, not one greenhouse design

Someone searching for an “Exaco greenhouse” can encounter several fundamentally different structures. Exaco's current greenhouse catalog groups Alton cedar greenhouses, KGT/Hoklartherm polycarbonate and hybrid structures, and Janssens glass and hybrid greenhouses. That means the useful question is not whether an Exaco greenhouse is good in the abstract; it is which manufacturer, series and exact configuration fits the site and growing plan.

GreenhouseMatch currently normalizes the Exaco-distributed configurations for which we have the strongest exact-model data: five Riga/Hoklartherm configurations and three Janssens Junior Victorian configurations. We do not automatically copy one model's glazing, snow/wind documentation, vent package or foundation assumptions onto another product in the Exaco catalog.

Current GreenhouseMatch catalog snapshot

This is a comparison snapshot, not a claim that those are the only Exaco greenhouses. The current Exaco catalog is broader, including Riga XL, Royal Victorian, Modern, Cathedral, Arcadia and other greenhouse/garden-room families.

Riga and Janssens solve different buyer problems

The Riga family is useful when a buyer wants a premium rigid polycarbonate envelope and a curved aluminum structure. Exaco currently documents 8 mm twin-wall side panels and 10 mm gable panels for standard Riga models, with roof vents, automatic openers and a rear window. Riga XL moves to a much larger 14-foot-wide structure and 16 mm triple-wall polycarbonate on the side walls and gable ends.

Janssens occupies a different part of the market. The Junior Victorian uses full-pane 4 mm tempered glass in a compact traditional structure. The broader Janssens range includes larger Royal Victorian models, the single-slope Modern, hybrid polycarbonate/glass configurations and special-order attached or custom structures. A buyer comparing Riga with Janssens is therefore often comparing glazing philosophy, architecture and project complexity, not merely brand names.

Foundation, permit and assembly requirements can diverge sharply

Exaco's Riga guidance says the site should be level and the greenhouse securely anchored. It describes either a concrete strip foundation or a compatible foundation/base frame approach, with additional project-specific options possible. The Janssens pages likewise warn buyers to resolve permit and structural requirements before ordering when local snow/wind rules may require reinforcement.

Assembly difficulty also changes by series. A compact standard kit is not the same project as a large glass structure, hinged-door configuration, knee wall, cupola or special-order greenhouse. Treat freight, site work, foundation, installation labor and climate systems as separate project-cost lines in the Greenhouse Project Cost Calculator.

How to use GreenhouseMatch with the Exaco catalog

• Start with site fit: use the Size Calculator and actual site dimensions before choosing a series.
• Use the Finder for normalized products: the Greenhouse Finder can rank the Riga and Junior Victorian configurations currently in our data set.
• Compare exact models: use Compare Greenhouses when the decision crosses families.
• Size climate systems: a premium greenhouse still needs a heat-loss and ventilation plan. Use the heater and ventilation calculators.
• Verify the final configuration: special-order options, foundations, reinforcements and accessory bundles can change what is actually included.

Do not compare Exaco lines on price or appearance alone

A lower observed kit price can be misleading when one structure includes a more developed vent package, different base components or a materially different glazing system. Likewise, a traditional glass greenhouse and a curved multiwall-polycarbonate greenhouse may occupy similar floor area but create very different heating, shading, handling and assembly requirements.

For a fair comparison, normalize the project in layers: first the actual outside footprint and height; then glazing and ventilation; then foundation/anchoring; then climate equipment; finally freight, installation and accessories. That is the same sequence GreenhouseMatch uses across the Finder, Compare and Project Cost tools. It prevents a distributor-level search from collapsing several unrelated greenhouse architectures into one “Exaco” answer.

Primary product sources

• Exaco — Greenhouses & Garden Structures ↗current portfolio by greenhouse family and manufacturer.
• Exaco — Riga ↗current standard Riga specifications and size options.
• Exaco — Riga S ↗compact Riga specifications.
• Exaco — Junior Victorian ↗current Janssens compact Victorian specifications.
• How GreenhouseMatch verifies greenhouse specificationsSource hierarchy, verification dates and treatment of missing or conflicting specifications.

Frequently asked questions

Is Exaco a greenhouse manufacturer?

Exaco is better treated as a North American greenhouse supplier and distributor than as one greenhouse manufacturer. Its current greenhouse catalog includes products from Alton, KGT/Hoklartherm and Janssens, which use different materials and structural systems.

Are Riga greenhouses made by Exaco?

No. Exaco identifies Riga as a KGT/Hoklartherm greenhouse made in Germany. Exaco distributes and supports the line in North America.

Are Janssens greenhouses made by Exaco?

No. Janssens greenhouses are made in Belgium. Exaco distributes and supports Janssens products in North America.

Which Exaco greenhouse should I compare first?

Start with the material and structure you actually want. Riga is a premium polycarbonate family; Janssens includes premium tempered-glass and hybrid configurations; Alton is a cedar greenhouse family. Then compare exact dimensions, vents, glazing, foundation requirements and local structural requirements.