Build you own hive - Healthy bees - ZEST hive

How to build your own bee hive - ZEST hive
Join the ZEST hive revolution for health and happy bees, in this video we show you how to build your own ZEST bee hive using the 440mm Aerated concrete block size.
This is your shopping list in order of making the hive as shown in the video
Buying the ZEST hive bits
Your shopping list to build a ZEST hive is now as follows:-
1. 1 of the 600x600 paving slab for the foundation.
2. 4 of the 440x215x100 heavy weight concrete blocks. To raise the ZEST above the ground on the paving slab.
3. 2 of the 1200x100x50 wood beams to support the ZEST floor.
4. 2 pieces of 1220x660x6mm plywood to go under the floor and the roof blocks.
5. 34 of the 440x215x100mm. light weight aerated concrete blocks.
Cut 6 of them in half making 12 half blocks for use in the floor and roof.
6. 1 ZEST carrier frame.
7. 2 boxes of 12 forever boxes of ZEST plastic frames.
8. 1 box of ZEST 2 queen excluders and 2 partitions.
9. Another cavity batt to cut 2 pieces of partition insulation that match the ZEST internal profile.
10. A 1200x450x50mm cavity batt to further insulate the roof blocks.
Other items to be obtained are as follows, better found from scrap:-
1. 1. A 1200x500 polythene cover sheet
2. 2. A metal roof sheet to protect against rain.
3. 3. 2 roof holding down ropes or straps
Items 6,7 and 8 can be obtained from the ZEST on-line shop at www.thezesthiv...
choose ‘THE ZEST PACK 1’ sufficient for a ZEST with 2 overwintering colonies or 1 summer colony.
Building the ZEST hive.
* A. Lay a 600x600 paving slab flat and level on the ground.
* B. Lay 4# 440x215x100 concrete foundation blocks as shown so the long axis of the hive runs North/South
* C. Place on the blocks 2# 1200x100x50 softwood beams.
* D. Lay one of the 2 plywood sheets centred on the beams in both directions.
* E. Lay the floor blocks on the plywood staggered as shown.
* F. Assemble the ZEST carrier frame and lay it centralised in both direction on the floor blocks. Hold it down and score the floor blocks with a screwdriver at the inside edges. Set the carrier frame aside.
* G. Build the first course of wall blocks at the scored line.
* H. Build the second course of blocks staggered over the first course.
* I. Lay the carrier frame back on top of the second course of blocks.
* J. Place the ZEST queen excluders and partitions on the carrier frame and inside the zest volume. Ensure that the queen cannot pass them and are a good fit. Install the 2 cavity batts against the partitions, outside the colony space.
* K. Put the remaining frames in thee ZEST.
* L. Place the polythene cover sheet over the entire assembly.
* M. Place the other plywood sheet centrally on top of the polythene cover sheet.
* N. Lay the roof blocks on the plywood staggered as the floor.
* O. Lay the cavity batt centrally on the block roof to give even better insulation
* P. Lay a metal flexible waterproof sheet over the entire assembly and use 2 straps to hold it down under stress at each end.
* Q. Set the bee openings in the carrier frame. Adjust to suit the seasons and the pests.
*
Music from Ben Sound - Happiness