Grape EscapeCorralling a prime spot at the foot of the basement stairs, the conditioned wine cellar employs an independent cooling system, a rustic veneer brick floor, a 1¾-inch-thick insulated and weather-sealed tempered glass door with airtight side lites, and a 1,600-bottle-capacity racking and cabinet system.
Credit: 2006 Smartpic / constructionprogress.com
The mahogany used for the racking, naturally suited for humid climates, is derived from sustainable timber resources and finished with a stain and lacquer finish, an odorless formula specified by the supplier to protect the wine.
The ductless, split-system cooler combines an outdoor condenser and a wall-mounted, hard-wired evaporator inside the cellar, enabling it to be shielded by the racking. Unlike a conventional air conditioning or refrigerating system, the equipment does not remove humidity from the air, thus maintaining ideal conditions for aging and storing wine.
Behind the finishes, the walls and ceiling (consisting of an insulated precast foundation wall, a concrete block wall, and two wood-framed walls and floor joists above) were outfitted with a vapor barrier and high-density fiberglass batt insulation (walls) and expanded-foam insulation (ceiling) — the latter of which also sealed the recessed light fixtures against air infiltration from the floor cavity — and moisture- and mold-resistant drywall.
Elevator WorksThe biggest misconception about an elevator is that it is too complex,” says Jim Quinley, general manager for the residential elevator division of ThyssenKrupp Access in Kansas City, Mo. “Really, it's a very simple and easy plug-and-play system.” In fact, manufacturers such as ThyssenKrupp have developed kits that are up and running in a few days' time by a trained installer, including models that are especially well-suited to the existing limitations of a remodeling project.
Framing and finishing for a residential elevator kit is basic carpentry. The shaft is framed and sheathed, albeit with mid-span blocking for additional load capacity.
Credit: 2006 Smartpic / constructionprogress.com
Following the supplier's planning guide, remodelers Stephen and Paul Gidus framed the hoistway with conventional 2x4 construction with mid-stud blocking (left, center photo) and sheathed the shaft in plywood to achieve the desired inside dimensions. The model, called the LEV, is designed to work on a chain-driven track rather than using hydraulics, enabling the works to be contained within the shaft rather than in an adjacent mechanical room.
Installer Steve Pizzo of Castle Elevator in Charleston, S.C. (with an outlet in Orlando), warns contractors to make sure the doors to the elevator accommodate the rail on one side of the shaft rather than centering it in the opening. The cab requires a 6-inch deep pit to allow it to sit level with the basement floor, while the system's motor and chain drive are housed in the attic. (Another Thyssen-Krupp Access model, the Rise, is designed as a “pitless” elevator, easing a remodeler's job even more.)
One critical consideration: locate the door slightly off-center to accommodate the elevator's rail on one side to create a clear opening into the box.
Credit: 2006 Smartpic / constructionprogress.com
A standard 220-volt 20-amp circuit powers the lift. Residential elevators also are regulated by code for speed (no more than 40 feet per minute), weight capacity (up to 1,000 pounds), and size (no more than 15 square feet of floor area); a 5-foot clear space at each opening allows a wheelchair and an attendant enough turning radius. Inside, the cab can be finished with a variety of matching wood-toned paneling, accordion gates, and handrails, as well as recessed lighting, a telephone, and electronic controls (above, right photo).
Supplier: ThyssenKrupp Access; Installer: Castle Elevator, Charleston, S.C. (Orlando office). —R.B.