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How long does building a wine cellar take

How Long Does Building a Wine Cellar Take?

Building a wine cellar can be a very exciting time. It's no wonder that one of the most common questions people are likely to ask at this is, “How long will it all take?” Unfortunately, there's no easy answer, as a lot of factors can affect the time it takes to take your new cellar from concept to completion. Below, we've run through a few of the factors that can have the most effect on the length of time your new project will take.

How Long Does Building a Wine Cellar Take?

The Site

Every wine cellar will be unique to the home in which it's built. No two will ever be the same, and the new room's location will be one of the most important considerations. One of several factors to consider here is that the cellar should be out of direct sunlight and must be as well ventilated as possible. In some cases, this can be a very easy decision, but it can also be more involved in others, especially if the chosen room is tight on space, which can impact your room's overall capacity.

Make sure you allocate enough time for a proper review of the chosen room, especially if you're utilizing the services of a professional designer, who will want to get the best idea possible of the space in which they will be working. They may well have to suggest a different room than you initially envisioned, or otherwise modify the proposal to suit the space available.

The Design

Once the site has been reviewed and a room selected, then comes the fun part! If you're using a designer, this is where they will come up with a design to suit the space that also factors in the capacity and functionality of the proposed cellar. They will also pay special attention to the aesthetics of the new room to ensure you get the look you want and that it fits seamlessly into the rest of your home.

This can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the process, but you can speed it up by making sure you and the designer are on the same page when it comes to the overall look of the room. Decide whether you want a traditional look with wooden racks or a more modern metal appearance. Of course, if you're completing the project yourself, then you'll have the ideas in your head already, and it's just a case of drawing up a set of plans and getting to work.

Functionality

There are several aspects to consider when it comes to the features and functionality of your new wine room. For example, one of the important considerations is racking selection, label forward or cork forward, what size bottles will your store? Incorporating glass impacts the cooling systems requirements, whether the entire room is glass-fronted, have a glass door, or be left open altogether. Make sure you fully understand the various options for temperature and environment control, lighting, floor, wall, and door finishes, and devote plenty of time to getting the finishing touches just right.

Another careful consideration you'll need to make is what function you want your new cellar to perform. Are you looking for merely a storage space to store a large collection in bulk, or are you looking for it to be a centerpiece of your home, one which you can show off to your guests? In the latter case, it's likely you may need to sacrifice some capacity to ensure you can properly display your bottles, while in the former, your main consideration will be rack and cooling unit sizes to make the most of the space available.

The Installation

This can be the most exciting part of the entire process, as it is here that the actual construction work on your home begins. However, the process includes much more than simply putting up some shelves. Depending on the location you have chosen, vapor barriers must be installed (closed cell foam is preferred), and all aspects of the room must be sealed. The process will also probably include framing and insulating the walls before the final finishes are put on, which are usually made of drywall or redwoods.

The time the installation process takes will be largely determined by the space. Larger spaces require more work and are therefore likely to take longer. Paints and stains need time to dry, and flooring will need to set properly before a large proportion of the work can proceed. It is imperative for climate controlled spaces to include quality insulation at this stage. It can save a lot of work further down the line for your cooling unit as well as saving you thousands of dollars over the years.

-For a complete overview of building a wine cellar check out our step-by-step how to guide, read now: How to Build a Wine Cellar (DIY Guide) 

 

Finishing Touches

At this stage, you'll finally be coming to the end of your journey. The cellars doors will not only be installed but also tested to ensure that they provide a good seal, so your wine collection can be properly protected. Next will come the wine racks themselves, along with your chosen cooling unit and any other features such as a wine refrigeration system. The very last things to be installed will be lighting and any other aesthetics you have chosen.

Although it may be frustrating, as you'll want your collection moved in as soon as possible, it's important not to rush this last stage. Many of these systems will need to be carefully tested and checked to ensure they don't develop problems that can be costly to rectify in the long run. When all this is done, however, you can finally enjoy your new wine cellar.

There are plenty of factors to be considered when working out how long building a wine cellar will take, but readers should now have a better understanding of the time it will take. Whether you're a DIY expert who's building your new cellar yourself, or you've called in the services of a professional, visit Wine Cellar HQ today. We pride ourselves on solving wine storage, offering a huge range of wine racks, cooling units, wine coolers, and much much more.

Randy Green

Randy is a true wine storage aficionado and expert in wine cellar design. He gained construction experience as a partner in a general contracting business before niching into and passionately focusing on creating wine storage solutions for clients in 2016. He takes great pride in bringing these designs to life, and is dedicated to ensuring that every wine cellar he creates is not only functional but also a beautiful addition to any home or business. The Wine Cellar HQ team also includes refrigeration sizing experts and licensed HVAC technicians to ensure optimal climate control for your wine cellar, so that your wines can age to perfection.
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