Celotex insulation

[Cussword]

Both of my hives are in breezy locations and I'm thinking of insulating for the winter. Would a five sided "bonnet" as I've read somewhere on the forum, be suitable? Or is there a better way?

 

[Erichalfbee]

All I can say is that I covered three of my wooden hives this way last year.
(Derek reckons you should leave them on all the time)
I lifted the covers off a few times out of curiosity and every time I could feel the boxes were warm to the touch, not just the crown board but the sides too. Just shows how much heat is lost.
All colonies made it healthily through the winter with frames of stores to spare (I had to take them out)

 

[BeeJayBee]

Both of my hives are in breezy locations and I'm thinking of insulating for the winter. Would a five sided "bonnet" as I've read somewhere on the forum, be suitable?

Yes, it would and your bees will thank you for it. Well, they would if they could!

Check the size gap to leave between box and 'bonnet' before making.

 

[Cussword]

Thanks Erica, I know the Skewer technique and I have aluminium tape, (or as my wife from the colonies says, "aluminum") is there a special glue that you can use?
Thanks again.

 

[Cussword]

Yes, it would and your bees will thank you for it. Well, they would if they could!

Check the size gap to leave between box and 'bonnet' before making.

Gap?
I was going to make the top with a 50 mil overlap (using 50mil Celotex) on all sides & fasten the sides up to that. That would leave a gap between the sides and the bonnet, is that not right?

 

[user 6228]

Gap?
I was going to make the top with a 50 mil overlap (using 50mil Celotex) on all sides & fasten the sides up to that. That would leave a gap between the sides and the bonnet, is that not right?

you need 5 to 10mm clearance all round to get the bonnet on and off.
The glue is uni-bond mega grip+ outdoor grab glue. (solvent based)

 

[Cussword]

Thanks BJB and Derek. Trip to B&Q on Wed, (using OAP card)

 

[user 6228]

Thanks BJB and Derek. Trip to B&Q on Wed, (using OAP card)

Screwfix have the glue, dont get the water soluble one.

 

[Cussword]

Thanks again Derek.

 

[enrico]

Do you leave the roofs on or do you remove it for a closer fit to the sides of the hives? Just wondered!
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

My roof comes off and is replaced with a layer of the Recticel, so with the cosy there is 100mm of insulation over the crownboard. Then the whole lot is strapped down.

 

[enrico]

Thanks, might try it with a hive this year just to see if I notice a difference!
E

 

[user 6228]

Do you leave the roofs on or do you remove it for a closer fit to the sides of the hives? Just wondered!
E

The bonnet goes on to the crown board

 

[Cussword]

The bonnet goes on to the crown board

I'm so glad you said that before I started cutting. I thought it went on over the roof.

I did wonder about the gap at the sides.

 

[Millet]

Does anyone have any picture's of Correx and a hive that has been insulated with the product as i find some of the above conversation hard to get my head around.. but then again that's not hard..

 

[itma]

The bonnet goes on to the crown board

And, it should go without saying, but, for the avoidance of doubt let's make clear, no need for holes in that crown board!


/// ADDED - I made up such a 'bonnet' for a rather small colony in a nuc. They overwintered very well using so little stores as to surprise me.

 

[theeggman]

Does anyone have any picture's of Correx and a hive that has been insulated with the product as i find some of the above conversation hard to get my head around.. but then again that's not hard..

There appears to be an element of confusion here.

The thread is talking about Celotex, Kingspan, Reticel foil covered foam insulation.
Correx is a twin wall plastic sheet.
But I don't want you go way more confused than we all are.

Derek has built a hive out of the material in question, post 8 in this thread.
http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=500253#post500253

 

[itma]

There appears to be an element of confusion here.

The thread is talking about Celotex, Kingspan, Reticel foil covered foam insulation.
...

For example - http://www.wickes.co.uk/Celotex-50mm-High-Performance-Cavity-Wall-Board-450x1200mm/p/190546

 

[user 6228]

Does anyone have any picture's of Correx and a hive that has been insulated with the product as i find some of the above conversation hard to get my head around.. but then again that's not hard..

 

[Millet]

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