What this covers
A wine cellar is a room kept cool and fairly humid year-round, so it is built more like a cold room than a closet. The company frames the space, places a vapor barrier on the warm side, insulates walls and ceiling, and fits an exterior-grade insulated door or sealed glass. A cooling unit sized to the room and its heat load holds the temperature, with its exhaust routed to a space that can take the heat. Racking is built or installed to the bottle count and layout, and lighting is chosen to add little heat. Careful work shows in tight seals and condensation kept off the walls.
When to call
- A collection that has outgrown a wine fridge or a basement shelf.
- A basement corner or under-stair space you want to turn into a cellar.
- An existing cellar that sweats, molds or cannot hold its temperature.
What to expect
- DesignSize, bottle count, racking, door and cooling are planned for the space.
- Build the shellThe room is framed, vapor-sealed, insulated and fitted with a sealed door.
- CoolA cooling unit is installed and its exhaust routed out of the cellar.
- Rack and lightRacks, lighting and finishes go in and the room is brought to temperature.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Why does the vapor barrier matter?
Warm, humid air from the house moves toward the cold cellar. Without a barrier on the warm side, moisture condenses inside the walls and can lead to mold.
Can a basement stay cool enough on its own?
Some basements stay cool most of the year, but temperatures still swing with the seasons. A cooling unit holds the room steady.
Can a cellar have a glass wall?
Yes, with insulated glass and a cooling unit sized for the extra heat it lets in. Glass is a common way to show the collection from the next room.
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