Learn How to Build a Root Cellar in 7 Steps

The cost to build a root cellar depends on a few factors, including its site location. So once you’ve sent up your budget, you can plan its location. A few popular locations for installing a root cellar include a crawl space, an earth berm, a basement, under a staircase, and underground in your yard. A crawl space is the least expensive option, starting at $200, while an underground root cellar can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $55,000 to build.

The size, type, and building process of your root cellar are major factors in budgeting for the project. 

Choosing the Right Size Root Cellar

For the most part, an eight- by eight-foot root cellar offers decent storage space for the average homeowner. Not to mention, they’re easier to maintain and regulate. If you find your estimated costs to be higher than your budget, consider decreasing the size of the space to accommodate your project.

Budgeting and Planning for the Excavation

If you already have a basement or dark space to build a root cellar, you have an advantage because you don’t need to invest in excavation costs. If you don’t yet have a space for your root cellar and plan on excavating or building an above-ground berm, you’ll need to factor these costs in. 

Excavating a basement costs anywhere from $5 to $200 per cubic yard. If you’re adding a basement to your home or converting a crawl space into a basement before you DIY your root cellar, this will cost more—at least $75 to $150 per cubic yard of dirt. You’ll also need a permit to excavate below a building, which can cost $1,200 to $2,000. 

Budgeting for the Materials

You can easily spend as much or as little as you want on a root cellar, but these investments are necessary:

• Refrigeration: $1,000–$10,000

• Floors and Walls: $2,500–$8,000

• Temperature and Humidity Control: $100–$3,500

• Door(s): $500–$3,500

• Storage shelves and/or Containers: $250–$1,500

Make sure you have all the required materials for keeping your root cellar cool, dark, and at the proper humidity levels. For storage, you can purchase basic wood shelving to save money or invest in walk-in pantry shelving for a luxurious root cellar.

It’s time to get to work. But before you do, put on the proper safety gear. Eye protection, and face shields if you plan on cutting wood are a must. If you’re demolishing an old basement to make room for the root cellar, you should wear respiratory protection to remove old insulation. 

Installing spray foam insulation requires respiratory protection. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that exposure to polyurethane foam can potentially cause several health effects, such as asthma, asthma attacks, lung damage, skin and eye irritation, and breathing problems, so always follow safety guidelines.

Now that you’re ready to get started on the active part of your root cellar project, it’s time to dig the space for the root cellar. This step is only necessary if you don’t already have an established structure, like a crawl space or area under the stairs. You can either rent an excavator for larger projects or start digging on your own with a good, old shovel if you’re burying a small container.  If this part of the project feels like too much to DIY, you can call a local excavation company to do it for you.

Next, you’ll want to add insulation to the walls of your root cellar. For underground or berm projects, do not put insulation on walls in direct contact with soil. You’ll need to use cinder blocks, bags of sand, or tires to create a protective barrier between the root cellar and Mother Nature.

For indoor root cellars, add your rigid insulation (preferred) or spray foam to all of the walls to keep the cellar insulated.

Either create ventilation holes or use a window with mesh screening and a vent to keep out light and allow for air to pass in and out. Ventilation keeps air circulating in your root cellar, which prevents humidity from spoiling produce and keeps the gases emitted from fruits and vegetables from lingering in the air. 

Many plants release ethylene gas when their seeds ripen. A few common culprits include apples, tomatoes, avocadoes, and bananas. On the other hand, some plants actually ripen faster when exposed to ethylene gas. These plants include broccoli, asparagus, cucumbers, and carrots.

Now that your structure is properly insulated and ventilated, it’s time for the fun part—organizing your storage! Again, wooden shelving is the most ideal option for storing your produce. Wood won’t rust in humid climates, and it conducts less heat than metal shelving. If shelves aren’t your aesthetic, you can also use barrels to store fruits, vegetables, and bottled or jarred liquids.