| Building a basement wine cellar is the ideal way to | | | | Vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is required if a cooling |
| store and preserve your wine collection. The | | | | unit is to be installed. Six mm polyethylene sheeting is |
| importance of planning your cellar cannot be | | | | applied to the warm side of the cellar walls. The |
| overemphasized. Commit your plans to paper before | | | | vapor barrier must be applied either to the outside of |
| you rush to the lumberyard. Planning in advance will | | | | the walls and ceiling or, if it is impossible to get to the |
| help you avoid problems later. These are the things | | | | outside, then the plastic sheeting must be applied |
| to consider at the planning and drawing stage: | | | | from within the cellar. |
| Cellar capacity. The space you have available for the | | | | Ceiling. The ceiling will require insulation in the same |
| cellar will limit the number of bottles you can store; | | | | manner as the walls. Depending on what's already in |
| however, most cellars become too small for their | | | | place you may be able to add insulation between |
| owner's needs so plan for the largest cellar you can | | | | existing ceiling joists. |
| manage. | | | | Floor. The floor needs to be insulated, too. However, |
| Electricity. Your cellar will require lighting and, if you will | | | | if the floor is concrete - as is commonly found in |
| be adding a cooling unit, it will require a power outlet. | | | | basement areas - additional insulation may be |
| Place the power outlet above the cooling unit where | | | | unnecessary. Although concrete has a near zero |
| it will be out of sight and it won't interfere with | | | | R-value, in conjunction with the earth underneath it |
| bottle storage. | | | | provides thermal mass which should prevent heat |
| Cooling unit position. In your particular cellar you may | | | | seeping into the cellar or coolness escaping. |
| not have a lot of choice in where you place your | | | | Door. Plan on whether the door is to open to the left |
| cooler. Coolers are generally mounted between studs | | | | or right and to open in or out. If the door opens |
| so consider its placement at the planning stage. | | | | outward you'll have more room in the cellar for wine. |
| Sufficient ventilation is required to dissipate heat | | | | However, an outward opening door isn't always |
| away from the cooling unit and the unit should be | | | | possible. Make sure your door isn't going to bump into |
| located in a position where you can access the rear | | | | a sloping ceiling and buy or at least choose your door |
| of the cooler from time to time for cleaning. Most | | | | before you begin construction of the stud walls.. |
| cooling units are designed to exhaust into an open | | | | The door must be solid core, exterior grade. Any |
| area and should not be ducted. | | | | glass inserts in a door must be at least double-pane |
| Walls. Stud walls should be constructed from 2 x 4 or | | | | insulated and tempered. |
| 2 x 6 lumber spaced 16 apart. Follow your local or | | | | Lighting. Lighting is an important part of the overall |
| state building code. Using 2 x 6 construction will allow | | | | wine cellar ambience. Recessed ceiling lights are |
| for 6-1/4 thick R19 insulation. | | | | popular but should be avoided unless you choose |
| Types of insulation. Fiberglass or extruded | | | | newer "air lock" models. In any case, recessed lights |
| polystyrene insulation is commonly used in wine | | | | will take up ceiling space that is better filled with |
| cellars. Sometimes blown-in insulation can be used. | | | | insulation. |
| The minimum level of insulation for interior walls is | | | | Low voltage track lighting can work well in cellars and |
| R-11 or R-13. The ceiling and exterior walls require a | | | | this can be wall mounted in a low ceilinged cellar. |
| minimum of R-19 insulation. | | | | |