DIY | Home Trends

Building a Small Wine Cellar: A DIY Job

This heavenly drink, as some call it, could be a solid testimony of divine presence in the universe, and its intention to make us happy

Contemporary Wine Cellar by Elkhorn Carpet & Flooring Hardwoods of Wisconsin

and healthy. It’s no wonder that a growing number of designers and wine lovers are investing in creating a worthy storage for this fruity elixir. If you have some extra space in your home, however modest or large, we assure you it can be made into a custom wine cellar, and we’re here to tell you how and guide you through it.

Decide where to place it

The key element in the whole process is choosing the best place for the construction works. Seek for a nook without windows or plain sunlight, and basement is often the easiest option. There are some basics you absolutely need to cover in the procedure:

  1. The temperature levels should stay at around 55°F. The deviation of up to 4° is permissible and doesn’t affect the wine. Increased heat will propel the aging process of this beverage, while chillier temperatures would slow it down.
  2. The humidity factor must be under control, and the optimum number is 57%. If you go higher than 70%, the mould will develop in the cork and the wine will be spoilt. Similarly, if the levels drop below 50% humidity, the cork shrivelling will ruin the wine.
  3. Note that the room and your wine collection should be compatible. As much as 250 bottles can be nested in a rather small space.

Frames, isolation and plasterboard works

The framing of the dedicated room can be tackled with mere 2×4 or 2×6 walls. Both proportions are functional, adding that thick walls facilitate the introduction of thicker isolation, which should provide a more stable condition. The spray-on foam is warmly recommended. Acting as vapour blocker and isolation, this foam is a life-saver for your cellar.

Not going with spray foam can be a bit more complex. A 6mm poly moisture barrier is highly suggested for the exterior of the wall frames. Do the wrapping manoeuvre if application is not manageable. If you want the insulation on the inside, the green mould-and-mildew repellent drywall is good match for the interior boards.

Beach Style Wine Cellar by Costa Mesa Architects & Building Designers Brandon Architects, Inc.

Cooling device

These devices and units differ from standard ones in the aspect of humidity control. Humidity cannot be added, though, but moisture can be successfully sucked in. The most common ones are the wall units. The ideas is to warm one and chill the other wall side.

The device is not too difficult to put up as it is achievable by wall framing. The additional, big-enough room adjacent to the cellar should take in the heat the cooling unit lets out.

Picking illumination system

Apart from the obvious role, cellar lighting is also creation of an aesthetic experience. Steer clear of standard halogen or incandescent kinds as they give away excessive amounts of heat unsuitable for the cellar.

The incredible led options are now swarming the market and the hotness they emit is barely accountable. Puck, track or strip leds can add some character to your wine hideout.

Sealing the doorway

If I had to choose, it would be installing the frameless 10mm glass access door for the perfect showcasing of my collection. For this enterprise, at least a doorway seal has to be built. The adequate procedure would contain exterior-grade isolated panel. Also, dual paned glass is a must if you intend to incorporate it into the current project.

Humidity factor

I bet you’d want to protect the hand-picked wine specials you obtained over the years. Humidity plays a major role in it, and there are a few ways to obtain the right conditions. In a recent chat with the people behind a reputed bottle shop in Melbourne, I learned that a regular humidifier can cater to all your basic wine cellar requirements. But why not add a stunning fixture instead? An indoor cascade or a spring will bring the necessary dampness, allowing you to have an operational and arty piece in one!

Display features

Lastly, we come to the more creative and artful task: deciding on a design of the whole structure. We suggest you mix and match with racks and bulk storing to devise a unique look. Put forward your finest possessions while making abundant space for new additions. If custom shelves are too pricy, opt for store-bought pine or metal kinds.

A smartly designed and executed wine cellar construction is bound to be the main subject of your parties. It’s a great conversation starter and will surely mark the beginning of some beautiful friendships.

Article written by Lillian Connors. If one thing is true about Lillian Connors, her mind is utterly curious. That’s why she can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of home improvement projects and spread the word about them. As the Co-Editor at SmoothDecorator, she cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit and what we eat, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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5 Comments

  1. Cool! I’ll have to show this to my mom…she would love this! She loves to pair wine with different dishes and loves entertaining so she has wine displayed around the kitchen in some way all the time.

  2. ZackWilson says:

    Wow! That’s a great read. But I would suggest you hire professionals to build your wine cellar because there are many factors that affect wine storage and you need to be aware about them. One of the best wine cellar consultants I know is Papro Wine Cellars and Consulting in Toronto.

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