I do things a bit differently. I paint the entire bottom board, inside and out. Even though I have my hives tipped forward, rain and snow can still drive in and rot the floor. I use a coat of primer, and 2 coats of latex. I figure when I'm doing it, why not? The box joints are the weakest part, because even the best wood will shrink over time, and the joints will open up. Look at most beekeeping vids, and this is where the rot starts, so make sure you brush these places and work the paint into any openings. I started off painting my hives white, because the paint was cheaper, but last year, I repainted everything in a dark color. I live in Nova Scotia where it doesn't get really hot, and the mornings are cool and damp. I found that with the dark color, the bees were able to break the swarm and get foraging up to an hour earlier. I also locate my hives in full sunshine for the same reason. Make these choices depending on your climate. Our Winters are pretty mild. I don't wrap my hives because the dark color helps. I restrict the bottom entrance, have a top entrance, and add a piece of 3/4" foam board on top of the inner cover and under the screened bottom board.
Thank you so much! I just got my beehive yesterday and wanted to paint but wasn’t sure what was safe to paint! Excellent video! You have a new subscriber 😊🐝🌺
Most definitely paint the landing board HEAVILY. It catches ALL of the weather and millions of tiny feet. I bought a budget kit and sure wish I'd painted mine. In less than 3 years it needs to be repaired at the least and most probably replaced. :(
I use 3/4 in Plywood to make my boxes and paint the inside and the outside. I use a primer and then an Exterior white latex. Works like a charm. Forget the dovetail edges. I use a Craig jig and glue em' and screw em' together. Got boxes over 10 years old that are just as strong as my new ones. Not to say you won't want to maybe repaint the outsides after a while but short of that, they're good to go. Zero issues ! ! (And yes, paint the bottom board if you want it to last more than 3 yrs ! )
Thank you for taking the time to give good info.....iv been painting inside and out for meny yr..ive found that it makes hives last a great deal longer and there is no ill affects to the bees...my colonies...depending on the time of yr can be about 30 to 40 thousand strong and maybe stronger..its great that you are willing to share knowledge.
Hi, if you don't paint your bottom board what about the landing that sticks out past the hive body that the bees land on? I am thinking I should paint my bottom board so the landing in protected.
I saw another video on YT in which the lady used cedar shavings in a super (without frames) over the winter to help control varroa mites. It also helped to reduce condensation inside the hive too. So perhaps there are other benefits to using cedar in addition to being long-lasting.
thank you for the video. i just decided to try to recondition the hive i've had out back for years that no one ever found attractive enough to move into and was disappointed to discover a few powderpost beetle holes in the bottom board. i understand using pine because it is inexpensive (well i paid plenty for this thing) but it seems to me this wood is prone to getting damaged and i don't want to harm the bees by painting areas i'm not supposed to. i could pry this one piece off but am thinking of treating it and then painting the underside of the bottom board. i was so lazy when i assembled this thing that i didn't prime it, knowing at the time that that wasn't a good idea. the hive didn't come with an internal cover or screen so i will have to read up on those but i don't really want to buy more parts. thanks again. maybe you have videos that address these other topics.
Latex paint is non-toxic, and it won't hurt the bees or the honey. I know a successful beekeeper that paints the inside of his hives as well, although I don't think it's necessary because the bees will propolise it anyway. I paint the entire bottom board because it is exposed to the damp ground and rain can drive into the entrance. At the least paint the outside and edges of the hive bodies and the outside of the outer cover. One coat of primer and two coats of exterior latex, and make sure the nail/screw holes are well filled, as well as the end grain. You can also use a non-toxic wood preservative as well.
In a hive, heated air will rise and exit on the top vent in the summer like a attic would. So no gases will go back into the hive from the cover. My greatest concern would be in cooler weather where condensate will hang from the inside painted surface that will drip on bees and cool them down that will kill them. Bare wood in the inside will not condensate water and will not start to drip either.
Water WILL condense on unpainted wood. The bees make use of the water on the insides because they can't get out to collect water. The danger comes when water drips off the inner cover onto the cluster and chills it. In cold climates, it's important to add some insulation on top of the inner cover to prevent this.
If it's just the inside of the telescoping cover, it's likely not too bad, but I would try and sand it off as much as possible, simply because that top cover can get pretty hot, and it might off-gas your paint inside the hive. Bees don't have too much contact with the telescoping cover otherwise.
There are some videos on YT that show beekeepers soaking the new wood ware in a mixture of hot paraffin wax and gum rosin. If you search "beehive wax dipping" or "me2denver" you will find it. I guess it's faster if you have a lot of wood ware to weather-proof. I don't know how well the bees tolerate the paraffin wax on the inside surfaces of the hive though.
My greatest concern would be in cooler weather where condensate will hang from the inside sealed waxed surface that will drip on bees and cool them down that will kill them. Bare wood in the inside will not condensate water and will not start to drip either. It is like a drinking glass with ice-water in it, where moister condensates on the outside.
You're definitely correct that the price of cedar is way more than pine. That's why most people use pine and then paint. Some purists prefer cedar because it resists rot without any harmful chemicals. As long as you only paint the outside parts of the hive and use a water-based acrylic latex paint, it shouldn't be too bad. Of course, you could always leave the pine without paint as well, but you may find yourself replacing your woodenware more frequently.
The price of Cedar beehive almost twice as much as Pine. £195 compared with £95 it's worth spending on paint, although not sure if painted pine would last as long as Cedar wood. Thanks for the video
Pine wouldn't last as long, but as long as the paint keeps the water out, it should not rot. Brother Adam cycled and refurbed his boxes on a 4 year cycle, which seems like a good idea. He also replace about 25% of his comb each year.
okay, I've already screwed up and painted the inside of the telescoping cover- should I panic and somehow try to remove the paint? I didn't paint anywhere else the bees would touch. I thought since the inner cover was next to the bees I was suppose to paint the inside of the telescoping cover.
I was told I should paint the inside and outside with two coats of marine varnish first and the paint the outside with two coats of white latex. He said the insides painted with the marine varnish would help the bees keep the insides cleaner.
I am just starting with beekeeping. Bees do not eat and chew away from wood or painted wood as far as I know, so there should be no problem to even paint the inside. The problem I see when painting inside that condense water could condensate on the paint inside and start to drip on bees which can kill them by cooling them down. Bare wood on the inside will not condensate water in cooler weather. I painted everything outside with an brush twice in cool weather so the paint will have time to penetrate the wood fibers which will seal good with paint . The bottom board was painted inside and outside and special attention was given to cracks and filled with paint where mites and other small critters could hide. It is way easier to clean a painted bottom board and it will last way longer. Also the bottom board has the entrance, so there is an airflow and there will not be any condensation on the bottom board.
J & B Homeliving bee has to drink so bit of water is good, we put plastic foil on top so the moisture is trapped. I do have unpainted inside off the hive. And it's bit drafty since many have tiny splits.
I do things a bit differently. I paint the entire bottom board, inside and out. Even though I have my hives tipped forward, rain and snow can still drive in and rot the floor. I use a coat of primer, and 2 coats of latex. I figure when I'm doing it, why not?
The box joints are the weakest part, because even the best wood will shrink over time, and the joints will open up. Look at most beekeeping vids, and this is where the rot starts, so make sure you brush these places and work the paint into any openings.
I started off painting my hives white, because the paint was cheaper, but last year, I repainted everything in a dark color. I live in Nova Scotia where it doesn't get really hot, and the mornings are cool and damp. I found that with the dark color, the bees were able to break the swarm and get foraging up to an hour earlier. I also locate my hives in full sunshine for the same reason. Make these choices depending on your climate.
Our Winters are pretty mild. I don't wrap my hives because the dark color helps. I restrict the bottom entrance, have a top entrance, and add a piece of 3/4" foam board on top of the inner cover and under the screened bottom board.
Thank you so much! I just got my beehive yesterday and wanted to paint but wasn’t sure what was safe to paint! Excellent video! You have a new subscriber 😊🐝🌺
Most definitely paint the landing board HEAVILY. It catches ALL of the weather and millions of tiny feet. I bought a budget kit and sure wish I'd painted mine. In less than 3 years it needs to be repaired at the least and most probably replaced. :(
I use 3/4 in Plywood to make my boxes and paint the inside and the outside. I use a primer and then an Exterior white latex. Works like a charm. Forget the dovetail edges. I use a Craig jig and glue em' and screw em' together. Got boxes over 10 years old that are just as strong as my new ones. Not to say you won't want to maybe repaint the outsides after a while but short of that, they're good to go. Zero issues ! ! (And yes, paint the bottom board if you want it to last more than 3 yrs ! )
Thank you for taking the time to give good info.....iv been painting inside and out for meny yr..ive found that it makes hives last a great deal longer and there is no ill affects to the bees...my colonies...depending on the time of yr can be about 30 to 40 thousand strong and maybe stronger..its great that you are willing to share knowledge.
Hi, if you don't paint your bottom board what about the landing that sticks out past the hive body that the bees land on? I am thinking I should paint my bottom board so the landing in protected.
I saw another video on YT in which the lady used cedar shavings in a super (without frames) over the winter to help control varroa mites. It also helped to reduce condensation inside the hive too. So perhaps there are other benefits to using cedar in addition to being long-lasting.
thank you for the video. i just decided to try to recondition the hive i've had out back for years that no one ever found attractive enough to move into and was disappointed to discover a few powderpost beetle holes in the bottom board. i understand using pine because it is inexpensive (well i paid plenty for this thing) but it seems to me this wood is prone to getting damaged and i don't want to harm the bees by painting areas i'm not supposed to. i could pry this one piece off but am thinking of treating it and then painting the underside of the bottom board. i was so lazy when i assembled this thing that i didn't prime it, knowing at the time that that wasn't a good idea. the hive didn't come with an internal cover or screen so i will have to read up on those but i don't really want to buy more parts. thanks again. maybe you have videos that address these other topics.
The paint has held up very well and not peeling. A good outdoor primer and paint and you should be set for years.
Latex paint is non-toxic, and it won't hurt the bees or the honey. I know a successful beekeeper that paints the inside of his hives as well, although I don't think it's necessary because the bees will propolise it anyway. I paint the entire bottom board because it is exposed to the damp ground and rain can drive into the entrance. At the least paint the outside and edges of the hive bodies and the outside of the outer cover. One coat of primer and two coats of exterior latex, and make sure the nail/screw holes are well filled, as well as the end grain.
You can also use a non-toxic wood preservative as well.
In a hive, heated air will rise and exit on the top vent in the summer
like a attic would.
So no gases will go back into the hive from the cover.
My greatest concern would be in cooler weather where condensate will
hang from the inside painted surface that will drip on bees and cool
them down that will kill them. Bare wood in the inside will not
condensate water and will not start to drip either.
Water WILL condense on unpainted wood. The bees make use of the water on the insides because they can't get out to collect water. The danger comes when water drips off the inner cover onto the cluster and chills it. In cold climates, it's important to add some insulation on top of the inner cover to prevent this.
How is the paint holding up? Has that Latex begun to peal off yet?
If it's just the inside of the telescoping cover, it's likely not too bad, but I would try and sand it off as much as possible, simply because that top cover can get pretty hot, and it might off-gas your paint inside the hive. Bees don't have too much contact with the telescoping cover otherwise.
There are some videos on YT that show beekeepers soaking the new wood ware in a mixture of hot paraffin wax and gum rosin. If you search "beehive wax dipping" or "me2denver" you will find it. I guess it's faster if you have a lot of wood ware to weather-proof. I don't know how well the bees tolerate the paraffin wax on the inside surfaces of the hive though.
My greatest concern would be in cooler weather where condensate will
hang from the inside sealed waxed surface that will drip on bees and cool
them down that will kill them. Bare wood in the inside will not
condensate water and will not start to drip either.
It is like a drinking glass with ice-water in it, where moister condensates on the outside.
You're definitely correct that the price of cedar is way more than pine. That's why most people use pine and then paint. Some purists prefer cedar because it resists rot without any harmful chemicals.
As long as you only paint the outside parts of the hive and use a water-based acrylic latex paint, it shouldn't be too bad. Of course, you could always leave the pine without paint as well, but you may find yourself replacing your woodenware more frequently.
The price of Cedar beehive almost twice as much as Pine. £195 compared with £95 it's worth spending on paint, although not sure if painted pine would last as long as Cedar wood. Thanks for the video
And as far as I know, yo still have to painted so it will not rot.
Pine wouldn't last as long, but as long as the paint keeps the water out, it should not rot.
Brother Adam cycled and refurbed his boxes on a 4 year cycle, which seems like a good idea. He also replace about 25% of his comb each year.
okay, I've already screwed up and painted the inside of the telescoping cover- should I panic and somehow try to remove the paint? I didn't paint anywhere else the bees would touch. I thought since the inner cover was next to the bees I was suppose to paint the inside of the telescoping cover.
Absolutely no problem
I'd go ahead and panic. It has always served me well in the past ;>)
Thanks very much! Very helpful. :)
Hello from Alberta cheers
I was told I should paint the inside and outside with two coats of marine varnish first and the paint the outside with two coats of white latex. He said the insides painted with the marine varnish would help the bees keep the insides cleaner.
I am just starting with beekeeping.
Bees do not eat and chew away from wood or painted wood as far as I know, so there should be no problem to even paint the inside.
The problem I see when painting inside that condense water could condensate on the paint inside and start to drip on bees which can kill them by cooling them down. Bare wood on the inside will not condensate water in cooler weather.
I painted everything outside with an brush twice in cool weather so the paint will have time to penetrate the wood fibers which will seal good with paint .
The bottom board was painted inside and outside and special attention was given to cracks and filled with paint where mites and other small critters could hide. It is way easier to clean a painted bottom board and it will last way longer. Also the bottom board has the entrance, so there is an airflow and there will not be any condensation on the bottom board.
J & B Homeliving bee has to drink so bit of water is good, we put plastic foil on top so the moisture is trapped. I do have unpainted inside off the hive. And it's bit drafty since many have tiny splits.
from start to end of video, all talk, no paint, maybe you have to paint
i paint everything