[AndyMorton]

Quick Question....do many people paint their hives? If so....have you used a primer? Which brand of paint have you found the best?

Any pointers on which one to use would be much appreciated

 

Andy

[starcana]

I've just done mine as they were quite cheap quality and the wood protector I'd put on hadn't really 'protected'. I read that you have to use water based acrylic paint - I did, and they look quite smart.

[AndyMorton]

That's great - thank you very much!!

What colour did you go for?

Andy

[Beewyched]

Hiya 

Have just started keeping myself & was lucky that my OH bought me a lovely (expensive) cedar hive last year, so I don't need to treat it for ages 

I used to help my dad with his bees & he used to paint his hives each a different colour - suppose it works ok with the WBCs, would look a bit odd with the Nationals after a while (unless you fussed about changing frames across & annoying the bees).

ANYWAY - what ever colour he painted them, he would always make sure he used light, pastel colours - he reckoned dark colours got too hot in the summer. 

[starcana]

mine are white! Very traditional.

[OhLaLa]

If you have WBC hives they can be painted as they are 'double walled', white is traditional.

I wouldn't, and don't like, to see hives such as Commercial or National painted, they just don't look right and being single walled they need to breathe. Ideally use an exterior water soluble satin varnish type product. Check the tin so you get something ecologically (and bee) friendly.

 

[lazybee]

Cuprinol clear. the one without the insecticide........obviously. Here in France there's a silver coating we use that reflect some of the sun's heat. It gets bl**dy here in the summer.

There's a saying in the UK "bees in a wood, never do good"

here bees in a wood is sometimes the only way, so is common

LB

[cluckingnuts]

Cuprinol have recently advised beekeepers not to use it on hives any longer. Something to do with EU making them change the ingredients.