to insulate or not to insulate

[Rosie gill]

I have an open mesh floor on a national, with a brood box and no super, I live in north Yorkshire. Do I need insulation, if so has anyone used the BBKA insulation pack of polystyrene walls and roof space sheet.
I'm a new beekeeper so please keep it simple, sorry if this has already been raised.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I would just get some 50mm Kingspan/celotex (either buy it in Wickes or try and sponge some offcuts from a building site) cut it to fit and put it above the crownboard (which should have no open holes) I leace one sheet on all year and put another on during the winter. They should fit snugly under the roof. OMF stays open all year

 

[Rosie gill]

Thanks, that's really helpful

 

[drstitson]

space sheet is next to useless.

as above - 1-2x 50mm kingspan/celotex or equivalent over closed off/solid crownboard.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Reminds me of a parody of a Blackadder sketch -
Rosie - strange name for a chap!

 

[Rosie gill]

Along with ..... "I like a woman with a beard, gives me something to hold on to"
am not a bloke by the way!!!

 

[itma]

http://www.wickes.co.uk/celotex-cavity-wall-board-50mmx1200x450/invt/190546/

Easy. Cheap. Works.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Along with ..... "I like a woman with a beard, gives me something to hold on to"
am not a bloke by the way!!!

Thought as much, but you can never tell nowadays!

 

[HM Honey]

Hi Rosie Gill and welcome to the forum.

I'm only down the road from you in Wakefield. I put 100mm (2 x 50mm) of kingspan in a super and have that on above the crownboard over winter. It worked for me last winter and I didnt lose any colonies.

Kingspans expensive but Wickes do a perfectly good cheaper version or as someone said, scrounge some off a building site. There's always some in thier skips and the site foreman will be more than happy for you to take it. Thats how I got mine, and got enough to do 4 colonies.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Of course now I've confirmed Rosie is of the fairer sex I can say what I originally intended - find a local building site and flutter your eyelashes and obtains some celotex buckshee

 

[HM Honey]

Of course now I've confirmed Rosie is of the fairer sex I can say what I originally intended - find a local building site and flutter your eyelashes and obtains some celotex buckshee

The fluttering of eyelashes worked for me, and I'm a 19 stone bloke....lol

 

[NickDub]

I agree - equal opportunity fluttering of eyelashes - definitely a human right

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The fluttering of eyelashes worked for me, and I'm a 19 stone bloke....lol

Yes, builders have never been the same since the village people

 

[user 6228]

Its getting a little late in the year to do this :

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Its getting a little late in the year to do this :

If I was a betting man............... but then i probaly wouldn't have got very good odds

 

[biglongdarren]

this year instead of kingspan i have two black bags each half filled with straw set inside a super on top of the crown board, when the roof i set on it pushes the bags of straw nicely down.
very pleased with it.
Darren

 

[Erichalfbee]

Its getting a little late in the year to do this :

I fancy having a go at this but it's been raining a lot and I guess you need the outside of the hive to be dry?

 

[Luminos]

I have an open mesh floor on a national, with a brood box and no super, I live in north Yorkshire. Do I need insulation, if so has anyone used the BBKA insulation pack of polystyrene walls and roof space sheet.
I'm a new beekeeper so please keep it simple, sorry if this has already been raised.

I'm a bit further south than you and I still put insulation on, the French equivalent to Kingspan

 

[user 6228]

I fancy having a go at this but it's been raining a lot and I guess you need the outside of the hive to be dry?

no ... nice but not necessary

 

[user 6228]

this year instead of kingspan i have two black bags each half filled with straw set inside a super on top of the crown board, when the roof i set on it pushes the bags of straw nicely down.
very pleased with it.
Darren

You need to make sure it seals to the sides properly.