By: Perry Sims
Turning an existing area of your home into wine storage can save construction time and is among the most economical of alternatives.Converting existing space in your home into a wine cellar depends on what's available and whether it can be made suitable for wine storage.
Altering existing space may also require upgraded electrical systems to accommodate the wine cellar's refrigeration system or wine appliance. Consult a licensed electrician for expert advice. The conversion might also necessitate reinforcing the structural frame and flooring to handle the additional weight of the addition and the wine it contains-a typical bottle of wine weighs a bit more than two pounds (0.8 kg), and even a modest collection of 500 bottles weighs half a ton (453 kg) or more. These factors make a ground-floor site preferable to one on raised flooring or a second story. On the other hand, a basement site might require waterproofing to make it dry enough to store wine.
Converting existing space and furniture into wine storage is challenging, but it may still be your best choice. Be aware that you are attempting to "re-engineer" something for another, unintended use. This can require more effort, more compromises, and perhaps a larger budget than building a wine cellar or storage unit from scratch.
From the book The Home Wine Cellar by Perry Sims et al. Copyright © 2004.. Reprinted by arrangement with Running Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group, www.perseusbooks.com. All rights reserved.
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