| Preparing Your Cellar | |||
| Before you even begin to think about the racking for your cellar, you need to prepare your room to maintain the ideal environmental conditions for your precious investment. Achieving and maintaining those conditions will allow for proper development of your favorite wines and champagnes. By paying attention to details now, the enjoyment of your wine will be maximized and your investment will be protected far into the future. | |||
| IIdeal Wine Cellar Conditions | |||
| Most experts recommend an average temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit for all wine storage. Cooler temperatures won't damage your wine but will slow its development. A temperature of 65 degrees or more will have a negative effect on wine the longer it's stored. The ideal humidity in your wine cellar should be 60-70% but anything over 50% is acceptable. High humidity, 80% or more, may cause mold to form on corks and bottles. In addition, ideal long term wine storage should avoid heat, direct light and vibration. | |||
| Choosing a Wine Cellar Location | |||
| The best location for a wine cellar is below ground level in a basement. The reason for that the temperature is generally cooler and more humid conditions already exist. A corner of a basement, with two exterior walls and free of windows, is ideal. Wine cellars built above grade, where basements do not exist, simply require special attention and materials to properly insulate and seal the room thoroughly. One of the most important factors in choosing a wine cellar location is deciding on the type and location of a cooling system. Most cooling units are installed through a wall and exhaust into an adjacent interior room that is at least equal in size to the wine cellar. The ambient temperature of the intended venting area should not be higher than 85 degrees F in order or proper operation of the cooling unit. Other cooling unit options such as split systems and special units are available and may require installation by certified HVAC Contractors. Please feel free to contact Kessick to discuss your environmental control options prior to building out your room. | |||
| Choosing Proper Cooling | |||
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To choose the proper
cooling unit, you must calculate the cubic area of your room (multiply
length times width times height). There are 2 main types of
refrigeration units. The standard self-contained units can be vented
through your cellar wall to the outside, or to an exterior room. There
are also split cooling systems which work like central air conditioning.
The condenser is installed outside your home and is ducted through to
the evaporator in your cellar. Kessick provides complete consultation on
all cooling unit options. |
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| Wine Cellar Construction | |||
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Unless local codes
dictate otherwise, standard 2 x 4 framing is sufficient. Electrical work
should be completed to code prior to insulation and drywall. A Vapor
Barrier is critical in controlling the humidity of your wine cellar. The
ideal humidity of your wine cellar will be much greater than that of the
rest of your home. A vapor barrier separates the two conditions and
keeps the higher humidity from flowing out of the room. It also prevents
warm and moist air (in high temperature and humidity areas) from
entering the room, eliminating excess condensation and build-up from the
cooling unit. A 6 mil poly/plastic (sold in rolls or sheets) should be
stapled over the studs before the insulation is applied. The interior walls of your wine cellar should be insulated with a minimum of R-13 and preferably R-19 insulation. If you live in areas of very high summer temperatures or very low winter temperatures, we recommend that you insulate with R-19 (minimum) and R-30 where your framing allows. Ceilings should be insulated to a minimum of R-19. Concrete walls and floors should be sealed with a sealant (such as "Dry Lock") to seal all cracks. Generally 1/2" plywood sheeting will be secured to all walls (after electrical rough in and insulation) to anchor your wine racking to, but it is not required if using nailers between studs. Although a standard 1/2"-3/4" sheet rock may be used, it is highly recommended that you use moisture resistant "green board". Your wallboard may be finished with a quality oil base or latex enamel paint. We do not recommend installing a baseboard as the racking will be flush to the entire wall and include a toe-kick molding. In selecting a door for your wine cellar, please choose a solid core, exterior grade door. All doors should be weather stripped and completely sealed to prevent loss of cooling and/or infiltration of warm air that will cause condensation. If you select a decorative glass door, be certain that the glass is thermo-pane and tinted. Kessick can provide you with a variety of door options including installation. Other factors to be considered in the construction of your wine cellar include locations of electrical switches (in order not to be covered by racking) and locations of plumbing and lighting. Proper lighting should be low heat (if lighting will be left on) and properly insulated and installed. If your wine racking is single depth, your lighting should be a minimum of 16" from walls and 28" from walls when double deep racking is used. |
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