Any ideas on an insulated wine cupboard?

[mancer62]

Can anyone help me . I am very short of room at home and only space available is in the loft which is all floored. I understand that lofts are not the best suited due to their warmth in the summer and cold in the winter. I was wondering if it is possible to build some sort of insulated cupboard/box structure to sit my wine racks in which hold approx 120 bottles. Obviously its home brew wine and I am not planning to have it for years etc but even so would like to drink it while it is in good condition.

Would a simple chipboard construction around the wine rack lined with polystyrene do the job for example?

Be very interested to hear any suggestions on this matter ty :thumb:

 

[Fil]

must admit wine storage isnt something i know much about, but have looked at all sorts of temp controlled fermentation cupboards, and am planning something along these lines myself, tho will be using a shelf chiller for a cold sink.

the trick is making it airtight, draughts are your enemy and will leak any temp change u apply rapidly making running it expensive.

isulation will keep the peaks n troughs of the daily temperature off the contents but without active cooling /heating it will tend towards the daily average temperature.

And as u say loft areas get the worst of summer and winter temps.

heating for winter is pretty simple assuming you have electricity at hand, a simple controller like an stc1000 and a low power heater like a 60w tube heater and a fan to circulate the warmer air will do the job.

without electricity a t light under a clay flower pot could provide heat but i wouldnt feel comfortable lighting a naked flame in our loft n going out for the day..


Cooling however is more tricky as i doubt u want to lump a compressor based option (fridge/shelfchiller) up there nor run it over bedrooms, One low tech but needing daily inetrvention solution is to fill 2 or more placky 2l+ milk bottles with water and freeze, exchanging daily in the cupboard in the fans blow path. tho if needing more than 2 containers a day you might struggle finding room to freeze em.

for insulation and casing?? ifv the racks are freestanding and need no support, i would forget chipboard, way too heavy

concentrate on a sealed inner box and door, cellotex or similar sheet material sealed with caulk perhaps?. then layer and seal as much bubblewrap £shop space blankets and cardboard as u have, in the loft looks are not gonna matter much..