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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 consists of 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 hole is equipped with a ladder. Tingard cellars are produced in different sizes, which allows the owner of the site to individually select the appropriate product for himself.
Main characteristics of a Tingard plastic cellar
The 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, they are stronger, but there is a danger of the storage depressurization if the joints are damaged.
Thanks to seamless technology, installation of Tingard does not require additional waterproofing. Seamless plastic walls will not allow moisture to pass through, which means there will never be mold in the box.Rodents will not be able to get inside the storage, and the sealed lid will become an obstacle for all insects.
To make the Tingard cellar, high-quality food-grade plastic of increased strength is used. The walls are 15 mm thick plus stiffening ribs to ensure greater resistance of the structure to the pressure of earth and groundwater. Even during soil heaving, the geometry of the box will remain unchanged.
The manufacturer guarantees the operation of the product for up to 50 years.
The video offers an overview of the plastic cellar:
Pros and cons of plastic storage
Now let's look at the advantages of the Tingard seamless cellar, which made it popular among residents of the private sector:
- You can install a Tingard cellar on any site. There are no obstacles if there is a high location of groundwater, heaving soil and other negative factors.
- The owner does not need to do any additional finishing work, since the box is completely ready for use. After installation, you can immediately put canned food and vegetables into storage.
- The box is installed in open areas and under a garage or house. However, installing a storage facility under an already constructed building requires complex construction work, and this cannot be done without specialists.
- Products inside the Tingard plastic storage facility are reliably protected from temperature changes and dampness.Thanks to effective ventilation, the quality and shelf life of vegetables increases.
- The big advantage of food-grade plastic is that it does not absorb foreign odors. Even if the vegetables accidentally rot, the walls of the box can be easily disinfected, and then new supplies can be brought in.
If we talk about the disadvantages of storage, the main disadvantage is the high cost of the product. A Tingard cellar will cost the owner half as much as a concrete or metal counterpart, and this is only for the purchase of the box. You also need to add installation costs.
The second disadvantage is the fixed dimensions of the product. Let’s say the owner is able to make a cellar of any shape and size from cinder blocks. Turnkey plastic storage does not provide this right of choice.
What to consider when buying a plastic cellar
Before purchasing a box from sellers, you should definitely inquire about the availability of accompanying documents for the product. It is important to look at the quality certificate so that you are not handed a fake made of low-quality plastic.
The installation of the storage facility should be carried out by specialists, so you should immediately find out whether the company provides such a service. Don't skimp on installation yourself. Specialists know all the features of the product, its weak points, and they will also make a correct assessment of the mobility of the soil and the location of groundwater.
The plastic storage facility is equipped with a standard ventilation system consisting of air ducts. This system may need to be improved. This depends on the nuances of use of the product. Storing large quantities of fruits and vegetables causes condensation to form.The only way to avoid this is to convert natural ventilation to forced ventilation by installing an electric fan.
Stages of installation of a Tingard cellar
So, we have already said that it is better to entrust the installation of plastic storage to specialists. For informational purposes, let's briefly look at how this all happens:
- In the selected area, a pit is dug under the plastic box. The dimensions of the pit make the cellar larger.
- To prevent a light plastic container from being pushed out of the ground by groundwater, 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 secured 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. Not every site is large enough to accommodate an excavator. Here two difficulties arise at once. Firstly, many cubes of earth will have to be shoveled by hand. Secondly, laying a reinforced concrete slab on the bottom will not work, because the crane will also not be able to enter the small yard. The bottom will only have to be concreted manually. Besides the fact that this work is physically difficult, it 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 harden for at least a week, and sometimes more.
The video shows the installation process of the Tinger cellar:
Impact of moisture and temperature changes on plastic storage
The plastic walls of the box are resistant to corrosion.The owner does not have to worry that leaks, dampness inside the storage unit and other unpleasant consequences will appear over time. However, if the box is installed in an area with high groundwater, it will need to be securely anchored. Otherwise, in the spring the container will be pushed out of the ground like a float.
The second worst enemy of a plastic cellar is temperature changes. Of course, they are not harmful to the box, but the food inside the cellar may go missing. Plastic walls with a thickness of 15 mm easily allow heat and cold to pass through. In order to maintain the same temperature inside the cellar, it is important to pay attention to reliable thermal insulation.
Now we suggest reading real reviews from several Tingard cellar owners. They will help you avoid mistakes made in using plastic storage.
