Have you noticed…? Wine cellars are becoming more and more common these days. Huntington Beach and Irvine especially are hot-spots for new installations.
Problem is, not everyone who wants to build knows where to begin looking for a master craftsman. And, unfortunately, many mediocre wine cellars have been built – only to have to be repaired or ripped out within a few years.
At Arctic Metalworks, we pride ourselves in doing it right, every time. We know there are many moving pieces to a custom wine cellar build, and we keep constant track of each one.
Let us walk you through one of many wine cellar installations we’ve completed in Los Angeles – starting at the beginning.
David’s toolbag on site at a wine cellar installation
YOU HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT: INSULATION!
So the first step to perfect wine cellar installation is insulation.
The First Important Step Is Insulation!
In any wine cellar installation, insulation should be your first concern. The proper humidity level for a wine cellar ranges from 60 to 70 percent. This simply can’t be overlooked because appropriate humidity in a wine cellar keeps the wine bottle corks from drying out. Dried out wine bottle corks will result in a loss of sealing capacity – which leads in turn to spoiled wine.
Humidity, by definition, refers to the concentration of water vapor in the air. Relative humidity (RH) refers to the amount of water vapor the air has at a certain temperature. A well-insulated wine cellar will need less mechanical help to maintain the right level of relative humidity.
Top 3 Insulation Options
When you’re in the midst of your wine cellar installation – in Huntington Beach or anywhere in Los Angeles – Arctic Metalworks is here to help you decide which insulation option is best for you. Let’s take a look at each one.
Batt insulation has been the go-to insulation for a long time – but is not always the best choice.
1. Batt Insulation
Batt insulation is manufactured from fiberglass. Wine cellars are recommended to have a minimum of R-13 insulation which can easily be acheieved using fiberglass batts. Since this is the least expensive type of insulation it is often the first choice. The thing is, it can be a little bit tricky to install. That’s why, most of the time, it is not done right. Getting in touch with a wine cellar installation professional such as David Gype of Artic Metalworks is important to ensure that your fiberglass batt insulation, along with vapor barriers, are installed properly.
2. Polystyrene Insulation
This is also a go-to material for wine cellar installation. This type of insulation is also cost-efficient because rigid foam panels are easy to install.
3. Spray Foam Insulation
This is considered to be the best type of wine cellar insulation but is not applicable to all kinds of wine cellars. At least 3-inches of a closed spray foam can give your wine cellar room R-19 insulation. The biggest advantage of using this material is that when the spray foam is applied, it becomes its own vapor barrier. No need to buy and install that extra plastic sheet! In addition, the foam expands, so if there are holes and gaps in the structure, they will be filled with little trouble. Long story short—vapor won’t stand a chance to infiltrate through the material. See David’s work using spray foam insulation during his wine cellar installation in a Corona, California home.
Floor Insulation
To reach the highest possible performance level with insulation in one’s wine cellar, it is recommended that aside from wall insulation, the floor and door must also be insulated.
Floor insulation, aside from being able to help control humidity, must obviously be able to fully support the wine racks and weight of the stored wine. Go for the floor insulation type that makes use of a material with enough compression strength to do the job. Of course, if your wine cellar is in the basement you won’t have to worry about support. Flooring for your wine cellar installation can definitely be both beautiful and functional.
Door Insulation
There are two ways to go about door insulation. The first choice – to insulate the door of your wine cellar with the exact same material that you used on your walls – would be more cost efficient. For example, use a strip of foam rubber to set in-between the door frame and the sides of the door. The second choice is to use a specially designed door which has insulation materials inside it. It is a bit more expensive, but the ambiance and charm these doors bring is desirable. And this way you can be sure that your door is foolproof.
So Why Does Insulation Matter So Much?
Simply put, without correct and complete insulation, there is no doubt that your wine cellar will fail. Why? Because the cooling system will try to make up for the excess heat until it breaks down.
Wine cellar installation experts will tell you over and over that you have to invest in quality insulation to ensure that your cooling system isn’t asked to do some heavy over-time. Learn more about the failure or dependability of your cooling system here.
You have many insulations options – some more expensive than others. Just keep in mind that your choice should be looked on as a wise investment.
Arctic Metalworks will give you the advice and guidance necessary. Let them do it right for you the first time.
You can call anytime! 714-936-3905
Let’s get started!