Walls and Flooring

A: Residential wine cellars can be customized in a variety of ways. One such way is to choose a unique wall treatment to make your wine cellar walls stand out. Wall treatment options include: paint, applied to make the wine cellar look "aged"; stucco or a sanded style of paint; tile; slate; faux stone or rock; wood paneling; flagstone; travertine or river rock. Choose materials that do well in a semi-damp environment and those that will look good without the benefit of bright light.

A: You residential wine cellar should have a flooring surface that is durable and solid. It should continue the overall design of your wine cellar, while still being able to sustain harsh flooring conditions. Carpet will not work in this space because it cannot stand up to frequent wine spills and constant moisture. Common flooring choices in home wine cellars include: hardwood, sealed concrete, tile or stone. All of these choices have a variety of styles from which to choose and can withstand the moisture and spills without deteriorating in an unreasonable amount of time.

Learn the basics of building your wine cellar

A: There are many considerations when it comes to constructing your wine storage system. Your builder and architect can consult with design professionals to create the wine cellar of your dreams, but there are still some things you need to know. For example, if your wine storage system includes wood-paneled walls, you need allow for the expansion and contraction of the wood due to the moist, cool air inside. If you don't allow for this, your paneling could crack and buckle. Wine storage system construction is complicated, but by using professionals, the hassles will be far less and the ultimate enjoyment will be far greater!

A: Lighting, flooring, and construction are all things you need to consider when you build a wine cellar. So are vibrations and odors. If you place your cellar near a laundry room or air conditioner unit, the vibrations from those appliances could be enough to shake your wine racks and stir up sediments. Since most wine bottles are still sealed with cork, and cork breathes, if there are odors around your wine cellar, the wine can adsorb them through the cork. So, before you decide on the final placement for your cellar, do some homework and your wine cellar construction will be stress free!

Learn the ideal conditions for proper wine storage