Choosing the Right Wood Species for Your Custom Wine Cellar
You don’t want to end up choosing the wrong wood for your desired custom wine cellar, right? Here are a few questions you surely want to be answered to guide you along the way.
What are the wood species typically used as building material in custom wine cellars?
You have many options from pine, redwood, mahogany, alder, red oak, cherry, walnut, and ash. There are of course other types of wood but these are the best type when making a custom wine cellar.
Which of these are the most popular in the market?
Pine, redwood, and mahogany are the top three on the list and of these three there are still some alternatives, for instance All Heart Redwood and Premium or Clear Redwood. With mahogany there are many species but we recommend Malaysian and as you read on you’ll understand why.
Why would I pick Pine?
You will want pine if you’re after:
- low cost
- rustic appearance
- simplicity of its light vanilla color
- attractive color results when stained
But you should also take into consideration that pine is light in weight and moderately soft, and has a weak bending capacity, low shock resistance, and frequent dimpling.
What’s with Redwood that makes it a good choice for wine storage?
- I'd say... aesthetics
Redwood is the variety of choice for aesthetic reasons since it is favored for its natural beauty and soft earth tone color distinctions, which essentially develop over time. The All Heart Redwood which is harvested from the center or core of the redwood tree exhibits more consistent dark colors while the outer wood, the Premium or Clear Redwood, has a more noticeable color scheme.
- Longevity matters
Wine cellar enthusiasts and builders consider this wood type for its:
- characteristic shock and decay resistance
- natural wood preservatives
- non-aromatic quality
- tolerance to humid conditions typical of a wine storage area
- Sustainability: the wood used in green building
Guaranteed by the two leading certification programs in California to be sustainable and well-managed with strict harvesting practices, redwood definitely stands out for its recognition as a renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable resource. So if you are an environmentally conscious individual, redwood is the alternative for your wine cellar.
And in what facets does Mahogany achieve its popularity?
If you want nothing but the best, mahogany is a brilliant pick! Rely on this type of wood for its:
- durability
- prominent natural color schemes
- non-aromatic property
- high-density
- abundance of resource
- excellent finishing results
- very easy handling with hand and power tools
Among the many mahogany subspecies available, Genuine, African, and Malaysian Mahogany commonly dominate. In particular, Malaysian Mahogany takes flight in the wine cellar industry because of these aspects:
- uniqueness
- tone variations - pale beige, salmon, reddish brown, & dark brown
- distinctive even wood grain
- exceptional lustrous finish
Though more expensive than the redwood, particularly the Premium Redwood, no other wood could offer such a diverse set of characteristics than the Malaysian Mahogany.
|
