It’s likely that if you want to install a wine cellar in your house, you’ll designate a certain area or room in your house for it to be housed in. If you do not have a basement, then the garage is the second most optimal location to house your wine cellar since temperatures and light intensity are typically lower.
The closer you go to the temperature range of 55°-58° F and the humidity range of 55-75 percent that your wine requires, the smaller of a cooling unit you will need, which will in turn result in a reduced total cost.
Every wine lover and enthusiast, at some time, comes to appreciate the concept of having a wide selection of wines available, either to drink right away or to age in an ideal manner. If you are one of us who has a deep appreciation for aged wines, constructing a wine cellar is definitely something you have given some thought to.
If you follow a few straightforward procedures, building a wine cellar in the garage and organizing your wine collection will be much simpler endeavors for you.
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Choose the Location for Your Construction.
If you have a basement, moving everything down there would be the best option. However, a wine cellar may be constructed in other empty areas such as garages, closets, or disused rooms; all that is required is that it be constructed in the appropriate manner. It is important that the location you choose for your wine cellar has limited exposure to sunlight, the ability to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level, and enough air circulation.
Build the Framing.
When framing a wine cellar, it’s recommended to utilize wood studs that are either 2 inches by 6 inches or 2 inches by 4 inches. Make sure that you comply with all of the state and municipal regulations that apply to the construction and building of your house before you begin.
Install the Vapor Barrier
The installation of the vapor barrier is the next phase in the building of a wine cellar, after the installation of the frame. The use of plastic sheeting of 6 millimeters in thickness, which is then adhered to the warm side of your walls and onto the ceiling, is one of the best and most economical solutions. In order to maintain the ideal amounts of humidity in your wine cellar, this is something that must be done.
Insulate the Wine Cellar
The following steps will ensure that your wine cellar is constructed properly. When constructing a wine cellar, the first stage is to cover the walls with a layer of 6mm plastic, which is also the initial layer of insulation. On the warm side of the walls that will eventually house your wine cellar, a layer of plastic with a thickness of 6 millimeters is first placed and then installed. When this is applied to insulation, it performs the function of a vapor retarder or barrier and prevents vapor from penetrating the insulation.
The second component, insulation, is installed on the walls of your house’s wine cellar once the plastic has been installed. Your wall insulation has to have a least R-13 rating, and your ceiling insulation needs to have a minimum R-30 rating. In order to begin, you will begin by installing the vapor barrier that will be placed on the warm side of the wine cellar wall, and then you will go on to installing the insulation.
Green board will be installed as the third and last phase in the process of making wine cellar walls. Because it is resistant to moisture, the green board may be found in places that are prone to condensation, such as the bathroom and the kitchen. Green board, in particular, does not, in contrast to regular drywall, promote the growth of mildew or mold. Because of this, it is recommended for use in the design of wine cellars.
The use of spray foam insulation is the second alternative to consider. Insulation made of closed-cell spray foam is used rather commonly in wine cellars. It does an excellent job of both acting as a vapor barrier and providing insulation, but the cost is higher.
When it comes to the floor of your wine cellar, you have a wide variety of alternatives to choose from. Vinyl, marble, tile, or slate are just some of them. Carpets should not be used since they are prone to developing mold.
Doors are an essential component of any wine cellar; nonetheless, they are sometimes overlooked in the design plans for wine cellars. Always use doors designed for the outside with weather stripping in order to achieve a good seal.
Install a Cooling System
Additionally, one of the most important elements in the process of building a wine cellar is the installation of a cooling system for the wine cellar. This is nearly always required in order to keep your wine cellar in pristine shape.
Every residential wine cellar should be constructed to maintain an ambient temperature in the range of 55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity that falls between 50 and 75 percent. These are the conditions that must be present in your wine cellar in order for your wine to be properly preserved and aged. Because of this, you need to use extreme caution while constructing the wine cellar in the garage.
The preparation of the area is one of the most essential steps to do after you have made the decision to construct a wine cellar. In point of fact, it is quite important, and I cannot emphasize this point enough.
As a wine cellar designer and builder, I’ve been to a lot of houses over the course of my work, and I’ve seen a lot of homes where the room preparation for home wine cellars wasn’t done right, which led to a lot of difficulties later on.
If you do not properly prepare the area, you may have to deal with mold issues, difficulties keeping the temperature in your wine cellar, problems managing the humidity, and most importantly, you will need to make sure that the cooling unit in your wine cellar is not running continually.
