Painting Apideas

[OldFarm]

Someone told me today that apideas should be painted inside and out with masonry paint. That didn't sound right to me, so I thought this might be a good place to raise the question? Also wondering if the advice changes with the cheap Chinese imports, the Swi-bine and the National Bee Supplies (brown) apideas?

 

[Ian123]

It’s not a bad idea to paint them, it certainly adds protection, in differing colours it is also thought to help the returning queens. Some paint the inside of feeders to stop syrup/mould penetrating. Not sure about the apideas feeders though as I have used kieler type and they are different.

 

[Antipodes]

Someone told me today that apideas should be painted inside and out with masonry paint. That didn't sound right to me, so I thought this might be a good place to raise the question? Also wondering if the advice changes with the cheap Chinese imports, the Swi-bine and the National Bee Supplies (brown) apideas?

The cheaper ones need painting in my experience. The bees will chew away unpainted areas.

 

[OldFarm]

The cheaper ones need painting in my experience. The bees will chew away unpainted areas.

Good point. It's not just the cheaper ones they will chew on, I have a Paynes 6 frame nuc that has a lot of chomping on the floor around the mesh.

 

[ericbeaumont]

painted inside and out with masonry paint

Masonry paint is the routine recommendation but I find adhesion variable. Have in use on a project Swienty poly hives (unfortunately) painted with Dulux Weathershield and that is tough and almost like a satin gloss.

Murray McGregor of Denrosa Apairies (ITLD here) has painted thousands of poly hives and found that gloss on the exterior bonds to the poly better. I mean to try it next time.

Feeder interior can develop mould as syrup or wet sugar will seep between the poly granules. Don't bother to paint inside the the boxes: bees will do that.

6 frame nuc that has a lot of chomping on the floor around the mesh.

They're telling you they've run out of space.

 

[OldFarm]

Masonry paint is the routine recommendation but I find adhesion variable. Have in use on a project Swienty poly hives (unfortunately) painted with Dulux Weathershield and that is tough and almost like a satin gloss.

Murray McGregor of Denrosa Apairies (ITLD here) has painted thousands of poly hives and found that gloss on the exterior bonds to the poly better. I mean to try it next time.

Feeder interior can develop mould as syrup or wet sugar will seep between the poly granules. Don't bother to paint inside the the boxes: bees will do that.


They're telling you they've run out of space.

Second hand nucs, I didn't realise what the damage was until I read your post. The beek developed an allergy to stings and just left them until he could find someone to take them away.

 

[SWEET]

Someone told me today that apideas should be painted inside and out with masonry paint. That didn't sound right to me, so I thought this might be a good place to raise the question? Also wondering if the advice changes with the cheap Chinese imports, the Swi-bine and the National Bee Supplies (brown) apideas?

Sandtex masonry paint, very good and can be sprayed (with a bit of water). If loads of time try hammerite, creates a tough plastic shell.