The Scale of Rural Maintenance
The lifestyle blocks of Hamurana, Ngongotahā Valley and Horohoro present a different set of maintenance challenges compared to urban properties. The sheer scale of barns, stables and hundreds of metres of post-and-rail fencing requires efficient, industrial‑grade solutions. These structures often stand exposed to northerly winds and rural dust with little shelter. Windblown grit acts like sandpaper on paint films, accelerating wear. Without proactive maintenance, large sections of your property can quickly deteriorate.
Post and Rail Fencing: Beyond Bitumen
Traditionally, rural fences were coated with creosote or bitumen‑based products. While durable, these coatings are environmentally hazardous and can cause skin burns. Modern practice has shifted to penetrating acrylic stains or specialized “fence black” coatings. These products are water‑based, safe for livestock and eco‑friendly, yet they retain the deep, classic rural aesthetic. Application technique is critical for cost control. Professional painters utilize high‑volume airless sprayers to coat fences efficiently. This method forces the stain deep into the timber grain, providing better UV protection than brushing and covering vast distances in a fraction of the time.
Barns and Sheds: Industrial Protection
Farm buildings are functional assets. They are often clad in lower‑grade galvanized iron or timber and subjected to animal waste, fertilizers and machinery exhaust—all of which are corrosive. Maintenance coatings for these structures must be robust. For timber barns, “barn red” iron oxide stains are popular not just for tradition but because iron oxide is an excellent UV blocker. For metal sheds, direct‑to‑metal acrylics or epoxies are used to provide a hard‑wearing shell that resists impact and chemical attack. Tomar Contracting specializes in large‑scale rural spraying, ensuring that high structures are coated safely using compliant access equipment.
Water Tank Safety
Many lifestyle blocks rely on rainwater collection. Maintaining the exterior of concrete or plastic water tanks is vital to prevent algae growth and structural degradation. However, the choice of paint is critical; it must be potable‑water safe to prevent contamination of the drinking supply if rainwater washes over the painted surface into the tank inlet. Specialized acrylics are available that block light transmission (stopping algae) while being non‑toxic.
Geothermal Considerations in Rural Zones
Rural areas like Waikite Valley are active geothermal zones. Fencing wire and metal cladding in these areas corrode rapidly due to hydrogen sulphide. In these specific micro‑climates, standard galvanizing is insufficient. We recommend high‑build polymer coatings for metal posts and gates to create an impermeable barrier against corrosive gases. View our project gallery to see examples of our rural work.
Conclusion
Maintaining a lifestyle property is an ongoing battle against the elements. By leveraging industrial application methods and choosing coatings designed for the rural environment, owners can protect their infrastructure and maintain the aesthetic value of their land without letting maintenance tasks consume their weekends.
Top comments (0)