basement wine cellar

DIY Project: How to Build a Basement Wine Cellar

basement wine cellar

Do you dream of building your own basement wine cellar?

If you’ve finally gotten to the point where you can make that dream a reality, you might not know how to get started. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can follow to get you going in the right direction.

In fact, if you keep reading, you’ll learn exactly what you need to think about if you want to build a basement wine cellar of your own. Read on to learn more.

Start Planning Your Basement Wine Cellar

You might not realize it, but building a wine cellar is very complicated. There are many factors you need to take into account if you want to do things the right way.

First, you need to decide whether you are going to be doing the work or if you will be hiring someone else to do it for you. If you do not have a lot of experience with DIY, it is a good idea to hire a professional company.

You also need to assess the state of your basement. If it is in bad shape, you will need to spend some money restoring it before you can turn it into a wine cellar.

One of the main things you will want to look out for is dampness. A lot of basements tend to become the victims of water damage. You might also want to look out for issues regarding pests.

You also need to think about how much you can budget. You then need to price everything so you can figure out if your budget will let you complete the project.

If your basement has a lot of stuff in it, you will need to spend some time removing the excess items.

Invest in an HVAC System

If you are going to be storing wine, you need to make sure you are storing it within a controlled temperature range. If you can’t do this, your wine is going to go bad.

The easiest way to do this is by investing in an HVAC system. You will likely need to hire a company to help you install this HVAC system.

When you are working with an HVAC company, make sure you check their paperwork. It is important that the HVAC company is certified and licensed. You can check if they have valid credentials by inputting their details into relevant state-owned websites.

Make sure you tell the HVAC company what your requirements are.

It is important you tell them what level of humidity you want to achieve as well as the ideal temperature range. For most basement wine cellars, a temperature range of 55-59 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. In terms of humidity, you should aim for around 60% and 70% humidity.

Does Your Basement Need Electricity?

If there is no electricity in your basement, you will need to get this taken care of.

Pay the money needed to hire a professional electrician. Again, make sure you do your due diligence when hiring an electrician.

It’s worth mentioning that you shouldn’t hire an electrician until you have planned out the layout of your wine cellar. Once you have planned out where everything is going to go, you will know where the power outlets need to go.

If you do not plan this properly, there will be wires trailing around your basement. This looks untidy and also represents a trip hazard.

Invest in the Floors and Walls

You will also need to make sure your walls and floors are up to standard. If your basement does not have a good floor, install a new one.

This floor needs to be insulated and it needs to be moisture resistant. Specially treated hardwood tends to work well here. You can also use porcelain tiles.

You will also need to do the same for the walls. You might need to install a vapor barrier within your walls. You will also need to install insulation that has a high “r” value.

All this work will ensure that the temperature within your wine cellar remains consistent. It will also reduce the amount of work the HVAC system needs to do. This can help keep energy bills under control.

Install the Right Type of Door

You also need to install a door that will help keep your wine cellar the right temperature. Ideally, this will be a door that forms a tight air seal. This will help keep moisture at a consistent level too.

If you need help sourcing or installing a door like this, speak to a specialist door company.

Moving Past the Technical Details

Once you’ve taken care of all the technical details, you need to think about other parts of your wine cellar.

For instance, you might want to invest in some wine racks. The kind of wine racks you buy will depend on the kind of design you want in your wine cellar.

If you’re nearing the end of your budget, you can always buy second-hand wine racks on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

If you want somewhere to sit in your wine cellar, you might want to get furniture too. If you don’t have a theme in mind, consider investing in some wine barrel furniture. That way, your wine cellar becomes a place to enjoy wine, not just to store it.

Build a Beautiful Wine Cellar

A basement wine cellar is something a lot of people want in their home. Building a wine cellar, however, isn’t always easy.

In this post, we’ve taken a look at some of the things you can do to build a basement wine cellar of your own. You need to decide if you are going to hire a contractor to do the whole job for you.

Even if you are going to do things on your own, make sure you hire people for specific jobs. You should also think about investing in some furniture too.

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