Beehives
Beehives are made of wood because of the insulating and breathing properties of timber.
Beehives are always kept in the open. In addition to normal damp from rain, dew etc, the colony of bees create high humidity - nectar with a moisture content of 80% must be converted to honey with a moisture content below about 25%.
Bee colonies also naturally give off heat. This means that a wet, warm climate is maintained around the wood, and these are ideal conditions for the development of fungal decay.
Decay normally starts in the lower part of the hive, particularly in the base board of the brood chamber, but all parts are eventually liable to rot.
Preservation of beehives
Due to EU legislation Cuprinol has had to change the active ingredients which are used in its wood preservers. New formulations have not been tested for use on beehives and as a result Cuprinol cannot recommend any of its wood preservers on beehives.
It has also been known for woodworm to attack beehives. Do not use any wood preservers that contain insecticides (e.g. Cuprinol Woodworm Killer or Cuprinol 5 Star Complete Wood Treatment) as these are likely to be harmful to bees.
Painted hives
When used alone, conventional paint will protect against rain and water from the outside, but it does not prevent decay or the absorption of water from inside the hive.
Instead, it will prevent this moisture drying out through the outside surface and so may result in wood being wetter than if unpainted and, if not preserved, the wood will rot. It may be best to leave beehives untreated and uncoated to allow maximum drying out hence reducing the potential for decay.
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