Space above roof insulation ok?

[MandF]

I havent been able to track down any offcuts/broken kingspan/celotex, so Im going to buy a sheet of celotex from Wickes - they sell a small piece of 50mm for £5, and there is enough for my 2 hives, so actually not too bad.

I have a "shallow" national roof, so I am sure 50mm is too thick for the roof to sit over - it would be sitting on it. My idea is therefore to buy some wood and make a small eke, the same proportions as the epiguard rim that Thorne sell.

This is 40mm high, plus the 5mm bee space on the crown board, plus the roof space, will mean I think that there will be a gap above the celotex. Just wanted to make sure this was ok?

Alternatively, instead of cutting out a section in the middle to hold a piece of wood to cover the feeding holes, I could put a piece of wood over the holes, then the celotex on top, this would effectively give me a small air layer between the rest of the CB and celotex, and then possibly a small gap between celotex and the roof... again, is this ok? I know air is a good insulator, I am just worried doing either of these things will result in condensation, which is what we are trying to avoid!

Thanks

 

[Skyhook]

Sounds fine to me. I wouldn't go with an air gap under the celotex- I think this will reduce the efficiency. Your idea of 'notching' the celotex should be OK, or you can leave off the bits of wood and just let the celotex close the holes. You do have to put it on a bit sharpish though, before they come up to see what's happening.

Someone at my BKA supplies fondant in small take-away containers. I've made a cut-out in my celotex the right size for one of these. My weaker hives have fondant on, then another thinner piece of celotex over the top. My strong hive doesn't need fondant at the moment, but I have made the cut-out, then pushed the piece back in, so I can add fondant later if needed with the minimum of disturbance.

 

[drstitson]

air gap over the celotex is fine.
re the feed hole - the foil of the celotex will be fine until the feeder piece is removed and hole needs to be open.

 

[MandF]

Thanks. My only concern about putting celotex directly over the holes was that they would either chew the foil, or propolise it which would rip the foil when I took it off?

Is that not the case?

If they dont/wont chew the foil I could always put a sheet of baco-foil over the hole which they can propolise if they want

 

[drstitson]

i'd go with the alu foil then the insulation. good thinking judging by the foil above my HM thymol rx stuff.

 

[Skyhook]

Thanks. My only concern about putting celotex directly over the holes was that they would either chew the foil, or propolise it which would rip the foil when I took it off?

Is that not the case?

If they dont/wont chew the foil I could always put a sheet of baco-foil over the hole which they can propolise if they want

I've found they will chew exposed foam, but not foil. I always check for tears or holes, and cover them with alu tape or gafa tape- otherwise, not a problem.

 

[Finman]

This is 40mm high, plus the 5mm bee space on the crown board, plus the roof space, will mean I think that there will be a gap above the celotex. Just wanted to make sure this was ok?

Thanks

if you mean beespace between frames and inner cover, it should be 10 mm.

.

 

[MandF]

if you mean beespace between frames and inner cover, it should be 10 mm.

.

No I mean the difference between the CB frame and CB panel. Im sure the "lip" is 5mm higher (on both sides obviously)

 

[Skyhook]

No I mean the difference between the CB frame and CB panel. Im sure the "lip" is 5mm higher (on both sides obviously)

\should be a bit more than that for a bee space, 6 at least- but not important for this discussion.

 

[MuswellMetro]

No I mean the difference between the CB frame and CB panel. Im sure the "lip" is 5mm higher (on both sides obviously)

if your crown board has a normal bee space either side then just block the feed holes or porter escape holes with a thin piece of ply, the polystrene or foil backed foam does not then come into contact with bees

i actual just use the thin pieces of clear 4" square twin walled plastic on my single feed holes ( i do not use porter escape Crown/Clearer boards). The clear plastic is there all year round unless i am feeding.....i can peer in and see them without distrubing them...mini glass quilt

 

[Andy Duff]

Why not put a shallow box on top of crown board and cut kingspan to fit inside it. You could cut out a section to allow fondant feeding from a plastic tub, then cut another piece of kingspan to sit on top of the 1st layer. Roof will fit as per normal set up.

Angus.