Commercial Grow

Formulating a business plan for commercial indoor cultivation. Looking to build a wood framed, metal sided facility with spray-in insulation to provide insulation and rigidity.

What are concerns with this type of structure for this purpose? Anyone with experience? A red iron structure was out preference but metal prices are prohibitive. Thoughts

What do the commercial laws in your area state? I know no exposed wood or spray foam would pass regulations here.

Unfortunately, laws here are pretty lax so I don’t even have those to guide me.
Sheetrock doesn’t seem like the best choice for interior coverage. May I ask what your interior coverage is?

I’d never grow commercially, I enjoy my hobby too much to make it actual work.


There would have to be guidelines no matter where you live of what’s acceptable and what’s not.

You in the USA? Canada?

Ummm. I’m pretty sure you have to ask the city/county/state if in USA. And they guide you where they want you.

DrOgkush said:

Ummm. I’m pretty sure you have to ask the city/county/state if in USA. And they guide you where they want you.

Click to expand...

Right. He doesn’t make up the rules, they do.

bk78 said:

Right. He doesn’t make up the rules, they do.

Click to expand...

Yeah. They make the rules quite clear as well.

There will be laws to guide me as far as construction goes, certainly. I CAN build this structure where I plan to cultivate. I will be abiding by the building permit and county codes. The state cannabis division just doesn't have much to say about the structure to be grown in. Sorry, I didn't do the best job with my initial post to make sure things were well explained.

My question is more along the lines of... in the context of growing cannabis, are there disadvantages of using a wood framed structure or of using spray foam as insulation/structural reinforcement? Do either attract insects, give off bad odors for cannabis, ect?

I understand that this may be a little bit of a strange question at the outset, I have zero experience building a building to grow cannabis in. Others do. They may know things about an ideal cannabis cultivation structure that I cannot predict. Thus the question.

Anyone with experience able to comment?

I mean any porous materials are susceptible to molds and mildews. Everything should be pretty solid stated in your state laws and regulations about buildings and stuff.

@Lordhooha can most definitely help I’msure.

MountainMedic1206 said:

There will be laws to guide me as far as construction goes, certainly. I CAN build this structure where I plan to cultivate. I will be abiding by the building permit and county codes. The state cannabis division just doesn't have much to say about the structure to be grown in. Sorry, I didn't do the best job with my initial post to make sure things were well explained.

My question is more along the lines of... in the context of growing cannabis, are there disadvantages of using a wood framed structure or of using spray foam as insulation/structural reinforcement? Do either attract insects, give off bad odors for cannabis, ect?

I understand that this may be a little bit of a strange question at the outset, I have zero experience building a building to grow cannabis in. Others do. They may know things about an ideal cannabis cultivation structure that I cannot predict. Thus the question.

Anyone with experience able to comment?

Click to expand...

Don't use wood treated or not. It's never a good idea to build anything in a grow with wood. I've seen far too many people have issues with bugs and mold. Be mindful the inspector is going to give you hell because it's a grow. If you're in city limits the fire Marshall will most likely make you install a co2 alarm and automatic venting setup. I use the carbon x from trolmaster on my new building. You can have any thing within 3 to 4 foot of anything combustible. So no panda film on the walls use frp, or trusscore or Greenboard and kilz. Dehumidifiers the intakes and the exhaust have to be a min of 4 ft from the walls. If in city limits most places will not allow you to run co2 burners so you'll need some sort of mini bulk co2 tank. If in the city limits you'll need a sprinkler system and there's a few things on waste water and ro brine water. There's other stuff I just can't think of them at the moment. If you have questions just ask.

Money in that response. Very informative!!

Man, that is a wonderful post! So appreciative of that information and the offer for further questions. I might just take you up on that offer. Working on my business plan right now and, WOW!!!, so many questions and things to think about.

I am working to enter the highly saturated Oklahoma growing sector. 100,000% aware of the inherent risks of growing in such a market (although I'm not going to assume I know all risks in OK). I have been growing for a few years now and have grown about 120 plants total with results I am able to repeat and explain how I was able to achieve what I did. I am fortunate to have good financial backing and those folks are aware of the risks, as well.

I have not been able to find specific regs on much of anything as far as OK specific cannabis grow regs. Thus, I am doing the best to figure things out on my own.

Please, keep the info coming. I am very thankful for the respectful and helpful replies. Any other forums that I should frequent that are more tailored to what I am working towards?

I will be growing outside of city limits. What is FRP?

If no wood frame, what is an acceptable alternative to wood and steel framing? Or do I just cough up the money for steel frame? Anticipated building size is 50'x100'. Would 4" pour concrete foundation be adequate?

@DoubleAtotheRON is in Oklahoma and grows commercially as well in your over saturated market. I’m sure he can convince you not to spend your investors money

MountainMedic1206 said:

Unfortunately, laws here are pretty lax so I don’t even have those to guide me.
Sheetrock doesn’t seem like the best choice for interior coverage. May I ask what your interior coverage is?

Click to expand...

Why not rent exsisting warehouse

Autodoctor said:

Why not rent exsisting warehouse

Click to expand...

I was thinking similar. Maybe find a good concert and brink that he could buy/rent and refurbish. Might be cheaper.

Not sure how contracting work is done there but I recently priced out just the shell of a 5000 sq steel building. And holy shit, a million and a half just for the shell. That was a one and done contractor who subbed everything out. But if you don’t do it that way things won’t even get done snd end up big money anyway.

just saying. Lease is the way to go. Have you had any quotes yet. Or able to do construction yourself?

either way 100plus plants. I think your ready to go big!!!

You're a little late to the game. What are you going to do with the weed you grow? Do you already have buyers? If things go anything like they did here in Oregon it's going to be a race to the bottom price wise which is why many growers here called it quits.

Also you should already know what you need to do or be in direct consultation with someone that does. You're asking some questions that you should already have the answers to.

I wouldn't think about investing in a commercial grow at this stage of the game. The gold rush is over. But good luck.


"Oklahoma's market is showing signs of saturation, a fact that investors and entrepreneurs should study before deciding if the state is worth pursuing."

A Saturated Market Searching for Solutions
Like many in Oklahoma's market, Gurley feels that the state is saturated. Noting the 10,000 licensed operators, he said patient-to-store averages hover around 200 as of late.

"Oklahoma opened the door for this scenario by making the barriers to entry so minimal that almost anyone with a few thousand dollars could buy any type of license: grower, processor or dispensary," Gurley said. He added that the current situation makes it unsustainable for many shops to survive.

Thank you for the two links and for everyones perspectives.

I have certainly considered leasing a building but I'm not terribly trusting of a landlord who might boot me out at the end of a lease while I have a viable crop and was anticipating signing a new lease or any other scenario with a landlord.

Also, the cost to retrofit seems a poor investment on a leased building. Plus retrofitting sucks in general. Also, it would seem a newly built structure would have less risk of pest/mold issues?