DIY Wine Cellar in a Crawl Space

Wine cellars can be placed in any section of a home.

Often uninsulated crawl spaces are not by nature the ideal place for a wine cellar. In the summer, they can be hotter than the rest of the house, and in the winter, they're colder. Yet the right materials and a few hours of work will transform an uninsulated crawl space into an ideal wine cellar. For partially insulated crawl spaces, less insulating work needs to be done. In any case, the end result is a convenient and attractive display that properly stores your wine.

Things You'll Need

• Fiberglass or spray foam insulation
• Gloves
• Foam board insulation, 2 inches thick
• Saw
• Drill
• Drill bits
• Drywall screws, 3 inch
• Fabric
• Carpentry stapler
• Door draft stopper

Instructions

1. Put on your safety gloves as you place fiberglass or spray foam insulation in every uneven surface in the crawl space, including walls, floors, ceilings, holes, cracks and open areas between framing studs. Arrange 2-inch foam board insulation on the ceiling of the crawl space and attach it to the wall using 3-inch drywall screws. Line up the screws with the wall studs if the studs are exposed. Cut pieces of foam insulation to fit any smaller areas of the ceiling.

2. Add foam board insulation to the floor of the crawl space without any screw attachment. Allow gravity and the insulation that will be attached to the side wall to hold it in place. Continue to attach foam board insulation to the side walls of the crawl space using 3-inch drywall screws. Attach insulation to the rear of the crawl space door, making sure to leave adequate space for the door to open and close, but ensuring that the edge of the door is sealed when closed.

3. Spread fabric across the ceiling of the crawl space and staple it down tightly. Begin at the rear of the crawl space and work your way forward. Space the staples in a grid every two feet. Decrease the spacing between the staples if the fabric begins hanging downward. Continue to staple fabric along the walls and floor in the same pattern.

4. Staple a door draft stopper to the bottom of the closet door. It should slide easily when the door is opening and closing, but seals off the bottom of the door against foam insulation when the door is closed. Cover the door with fabric as well, making sure the door can still be operated.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a thermometer inside the wine cellar and monitor the temperature carefully. Depending on the temperature results, a vent into the house may need to be installed, or a small heating or cooling unit.

• Never go longer than a week without checking your wine cellar temperature. Always look during drastic temperature changes to make sure your wine is not being damaged by an unusual temperature.

References

• Wine Cellar Innovations: How to Build a Wine Cellar
• Vintage Cellars: How to Build a Wine Cellar
• Bracksco Wine Nook: Building Your Own Wine Room or Wine Cellar