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An alternative to concrete storage for vegetables is the Tingard plastic cellar, which is gaining popularity among residents of the private sector. Externally, the design is a plastic box equipped with a lid. For strength, stiffening ribs are cast on the cellar. Inside the box there are shelves for vegetables, and the manhole is equipped with a ladder. Tingard cellars are produced in different sizes, which allows the owner of the site to individually choose the right product for himself.
The main characteristics of the Tingard plastic cellar
A big plus of the Tingard seamless plastic cellar is its 100% tightness. The box is made using rotational molding. Thanks to this technology, it is possible to make a seamless container with the required number of stiffeners. If we take a concrete or metal cellar for comparison, then they are stronger, but there is a danger of depressurization of the storage in case of damage to the joints.
Thanks to the seamless technology, the installation of Tingard does without additional waterproofing. Seamless plastic walls will not let moisture through, which means that there will never be mold in the box. Rodents will not be able to penetrate inside the storage, and the sealed lid will become an obstacle to all insects.
For the manufacture of the Tingard cellar, high-quality food-grade plastic of increased strength is used. Walls with a thickness of 15 mm plus stiffening ribs provide greater resistance to the pressure of the earth and groundwater. Even during heaving of the soil, the geometry of the box will remain unchanged.
The manufacturer guarantees the operation of the product up to 50 years.
The video offers an overview of the plastic cellar:
Positive and negative features of plastic storage
Now let’s look at the advantages of Tingard’s seamless cellar, which made it popular among residents of the private sector:
- You can install the cellar Tingard on any site. There are no obstacles if there is a high location of groundwater, heaving of the soil and other negative factors.
- The owner does not need to engage in additional finishing work, as the box is completely ready for use. After installation in storage, you can immediately lower the preservation and vegetables.
- Installation of the box is carried out in an open area and under a garage or house. However, the installation of a storage facility under an already constructed building requires complex construction work, and one cannot do without specialists.
- Products inside the Tingard plastic storage are reliably protected from temperature extremes and dampness. Efficient ventilation increases the quality and shelf life of vegetables.
- A big plus of food grade plastic is that it does not absorb odors. Even if the vegetables accidentally rotted, the walls of the box can be easily disinfected, and then bring in new stocks.
If we talk about the shortcomings of storage, then the main disadvantage is the high cost of the product. The owner of the Tingard cellar will cost half the price of a concrete or metal counterpart, and this is only for the purchase of a box. You also have to add installation costs.
The second disadvantage is the fixed dimensions of the product. For example, the owner is able to make a cellar of any shape and size from cinder blocks. Turnkey plastic storage does not give such a choice.
What to consider when buying a plastic cellar
Before purchasing a box from sellers, you should definitely ask about the availability of related documents for the product. It is important to look at the quality certificate so that you do not slip a fake from low-quality plastic.
The installation of the storage should be done by specialists, so you should immediately find out if the company provides such a service. Do not save on self-assembly. Specialists know all the features of the product, its weaknesses, in addition, they will make a correct assessment of soil mobility and the location of groundwater.
The plastic storage is equipped with a standard ventilation system consisting of air ducts. This system may need to be improved. It depends on how the product is used. Storing large quantities of fruits and vegetables causes condensation to form. To avoid this, only the conversion of natural ventilation to forced ventilation will help, by installing an electric fan.
Stages of installation of the cellar Tingard
So, we have already said that it is better to entrust the installation of plastic storage to specialists. For informational purposes, let’s briefly understand how this all happens:
- At the selected site, a pit is dug under the plastic box. The dimensions of the pit make the cellar larger.
- To prevent groundwater from pushing a light plastic container out of the ground, it must be anchored. To do this, a reinforced concrete slab is laid at the bottom of the pit or a layer of concrete is poured over the reinforcing mesh.
- The mass of the plastic box is within 600 kg, so it is lowered into the pit using lifting equipment.
- The plastic storage is fixed to the concrete bottom with slings, after which the pit is backfilled.
During the installation of the Tingard plastic cellar, some difficulties may arise. One of them is digging a pit. The area of not every site allows the excavator to call. Here there are two difficulties at once. Firstly, many cubes of earth will have to be shoveled by hand. Secondly, it will not work to lay a reinforced concrete slab on the bottom, because the crane will also not be able to enter a small yard. The bottom will only have to be concreted manually. In addition to being physically demanding, this work will also take a lot of time. Of course, concrete can be poured in a day, but it still needs to be given time to solidify for at least a week, and sometimes more.
The video shows the process of installing the Tinger cellar:
Impact of moisture and temperature changes on plastic storage
Plastic walls of a box do not give in to corrosion. The owner may not worry that over time there will be a leak, dampness inside the storage and other unpleasant consequences. However, if the box is installed on a site with a high groundwater location, it will need to be securely anchored. Otherwise, in the spring, the container will push out of the ground like a float.
The second worst enemy of a plastic cellar is temperature changes. Of course, they are not terrible for the box, but the products inside the cellar may disappear. Plastic walls 15 mm thick easily pass heat and cold. In order to maintain the same temperature inside the cellar, it is important to pay attention to reliable thermal insulation.
Now we offer to read real reviews of several owners of Tingard cellar. They will help to avoid the mistakes made in the operation of plastic storage.