If you want to keep the wine properly stored, dedicating a space for your wine collection takes more planning than you might think. For many homeowners who have the space available for such a commodity, adding a little wine cellar or room is a surprisingly growing trend. Today, we at Future Vision Remodeling, Inc would like to take the opportunity to discuss how to incorporate a wine cellar or storage space in your San Jose, CA home.
Considerations for How to Build a Wine Cellar
1) Wine Cellar Location. There is much to consider when it comes to your wine cellar, and the location tops the list. Though not everyone has an option, basements are the perfect site. If not available, the 2nd best option is a corner of the home that is not exposed to direct sunlight. You can have an efficiently built wine cellar as long as you apply the fundamentals in mind when finding the perfect nook for your wine storage room. If done properly, you can minimize maintenance expenses by controlling the temperatures and humidity levels are important.
– 55 Degrees Fahrenheit needs to be maintained: The ideal temperature for wine storage needs to be 55 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take 2-4 degrees. Cooler temperatures slow the aging and warmer temperatures will expedite the aging process of your wine.
– Maintain 57% humidity levels: Humidity above 70% is very susceptible to mold growth on the cork and the wine can be ruined with the humidity is high. Less than 50% humidity will spoil the wine as the cork will simply dry out. Elegantly designed wall fountains or waterfalls can be installed in the room if you are otherwise having difficulty keeping up with the higher humidity.
– Space that is adequate: You only need about 30 square feet for a collection of 200-250 bottles, allowing for any humble storage room to be fitted anywhere. Known as the exhaust room is the larger adjacent room which needs to be factored into the equation for your allotted space.
2) Wine Cellar Build Out. To construct your wine room, you need to have plenty of space for the framing, insulation, and drywall. With basic 2X4 or 2X6 walls, the framing can easily be handled. Offering you more control of the environment, the thicker walls allow for exceptional insulation. Both as an insulator and vapor barrier, spray foam insulation is optimal. Other choices create additional complex details, but these aspects are important for any wine cellar.
3) Installing Cooling System Unit. Being that you need to control the humidity, a typical cooling unit is not used in this application, but instead the unit is commonly installed in the framing wall and it controls the temperature and humidity. As mentioned, the exhaust room needs to be larger so as the exhaust room can better absorbs the heat.
4) Best Lighting for a Wine Cellar. You do not want to sacrifice proper illumination to the point where you can’t admire the newest addition to the home because all of the focus is on the temperature and humidity control. Known to emit a lot of heat, traditional halogen and incandescent bulbs should be avoided as they are not acceptable in a wine cellar. Producing no heat LED lights come in a variety of styles and options. To display your collection in a unique way, consider LED strips, puck lights, and/or track lights.
5) Sealing Wine Cellar Doors. To not only view your wine collection in a stunning exhibit, look into glass doors of adequate size. A well-insulated glass door of exterior grade can properly seal and protect your collection of wine.
6) Wine Rack, Shelf, Cabinet & Other Display Ideas. Choosing how to store and display your wine bottles is another important decision when designing your wine cellar. Racks, bulk storage, or ready-made pine or metal racks, you can find the style of your preferences with so much versatility and variations of options to display your wine.
Whole Home Remodeling & More in Redwood City, Foster City, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Campbell, Loyola, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Santa Clara & Greater San Jose, California
Contact the artisans of Future Vision Remodeling, Inc for your wine cellar add on and our experts will talk you through the process, and explain all of the aspects and details to making your wine cellar a reality in your California home. Contact us today!
