Glass Wine Cellar Door Over Converted Garage Inspection Pit, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Dio-Met supplied a bespoke double door hinged glass wine cellar door system to James in Ashbourne, Derbyshire — not for a traditional wine cellar, but for something considerably more unusual. An old garage inspection pit beneath the floor of his home had been converted into a pair of illuminated display cases, and the brief was to cover both openings with a glass floor system that put the contents on show rather than hiding them.
Project Overview
| Client | James, Residential |
| Location | Ashbourne, Derbyshire |
| System | Bespoke Double Door Hinged Glass Floor |
| Frame/Finish | Powder coated black mild steel |
| Glass | 25.5mm toughened laminated |
| Operation | Gas strut assisted opening, ring pull handles |
| Opening Width | Approximately 2250mm across both doors |
| Scope | Supply and delivery |
The Brief: An Inspection Pit Reimagined
Most people inheriting a garage inspection pit from a previous era either fill it in or ignore it. James had a better idea. The pit had already been lined, shelved and fitted with LED lighting across two separate bays before he came to Dio-Met — one bay housing motorsport memorabilia including a steering wheel, trophies and Sparco branded racing gear, the other displaying champagne, glasses and a collection of figurines. What was missing was a floor covering that showcased rather than concealed.
A standard solid floor covering would have buried the display entirely. A single hinged glass door would not have spanned the full 2250mm width of the combined opening without exceeding the structural limits of gas strut operation on a single panel. The solution was a custom double door system, each panel independently gas strut assisted, spanning the full width of both bays while keeping the contents permanently on display through the glass above.
Why a Double Door System?
This is worth explaining because it comes up regularly when customers have wider than standard openings. Our standard single door gas strut hinged glass floor system operates reliably up to approximately 2000mm in width. Beyond that, the weight of the glass panel and the geometry of the gas strut operation mean a single door becomes impractical — the struts cannot hold a panel of that size reliably in the open position, and the manual effort required to lift it becomes significant.
For openings between 2000mm and 2300mm, a double door configuration is the correct solution. Each panel operates independently within its own structural limits, with its own gas struts and its own ring pull handle. The two doors meet at a central frame member which also provides the structural division between the two display bays below.
For openings above 2300mm, or where hands-free operation is required, our electric motorised glass floor systems can achieve significantly wider spans — though at a considerably higher cost than the gas strut alternative.
The Ring Pull Handles
James specifically requested ring pull handles rather than the streamline bar handles we fit as standard on more contemporary installations. This was a deliberate styling choice — the ring pull sits flush within a recessed housing in the frame when not in use, giving a cleaner floor level appearance, and its aesthetic suits a more traditional or industrial interior rather than a minimal modern one. Both handles operate independently, allowing either door to be opened without disturbing the other.
Technical Insight
An inspection pit conversion like this one sits at the more creative end of what our hinged glass floor systems get used for. The product was originally designed for wine cellars and basement access, but the underlying engineering — a structural steel frame, laminated walk-on glass rated to 2.0kN concentrated load, gas strut assistance and lockable handles — works equally well over any below-floor void where you want visibility, access and a safe walkable surface. We have supplied systems over air raid shelters, fish ponds, garage pits and decorative floor voids. The brief changes, the general engineering does not.
The LED lighting in James's display bays is entirely his own work and not part of our supply — but it is worth noting how dramatically it changes the visual impact of the installation. If you are planning a display pit of this kind, good lighting below the glass is at least as important as the glass system above it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a hinged glass floor system be used for something other than a wine cellar? Absolutely. While the product is most commonly used for wine cellar access and display, it works over any below-floor void where you want a safe, walkable glass covering with access. We have supplied systems for garage inspection pits, air raid shelters, fish pond viewing panels and decorative display cases. The general engineering is the same regardless of what is stored or displayed below.
What is the maximum width for a single door gas strut system? Our standard single door gas strut hinged glass floor operates reliably up to approximately 2000mm in width. For wider openings, a double door configuration splits the span across two independently operated panels, each within its own structural limits. For openings above 2000mm or where hands-free operation is preferred, our electric motorised systems can achieve wider spans upto 2300mm in a single door.
What is the difference between ring pull and streamline handles? Our ring pull handle sits flush within a recessed housing in the frame when not in use, giving a clean floor level appearance. It suits more traditional or industrial interiors. Our streamline bar handle sits slightly proud of the frame and has a more contemporary look. Both are lockable as standard. Handle choice is specified at order stage.
Is the glass safe to walk on? Yes. All our hinged glass floor panels use 25.5mm toughened and laminated glass rated to a concentrated load of 2.0kN in accordance with BS EN 1991-1-1 2002. The laminated construction means that if one layer were ever to break, the second layer and interlayer continue to carry load. The systems are UKCA certified to BS 1090-2.
Do you install nationwide? Yes. This project was a supply and delivery to Ashbourne, Derbyshire. We also offer full installation for more complex projects. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Explore More From Dio-Met
- Hinged Glass Floor Framework - the base product used on this project
- Bespoke Glass Wine Cellar Doors - custom configurations and non-standard openings
- Electric Motorised Glass Floor - hands-free electric opening for wider spans
- Wine Cellar Doors Full Range - all hinged glass floor systems
- Bespoke Glass Floor, Burwash, East Sussex - further bespoke glass floor project
- Underground Wine Cellar, Sheffield - related wine cellar project
Thinking About a Similar Project?
We'd love to hear about it. Call us on 0114 243 9009 or email sales@diometonline.co.uk
Check out our glass flooring guide too as a useful starting point.
Tags: wine cellar door, basement access hatch, glass trapdoor, cellar hatch, glass basement door, inspection pit conversion, glass floor display case, double door glass floor, hinged glass floor Derbyshire, bespoke glass floor hatch
