Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[AndyC]

Just did the TBH making Day with Jim the Bee in Southampton.
Really nice design of TBH from a very full kit of timber and fittings, all of which was good quality and well cut.
Even included an angle iron stake for wind resistant siting.
All tools and fitting supplied plus a bottomless teapot and very nice cakes.
In all a very satisfying day and everyone ended up with a fully workable and complete TBH, well thought out and of good timber.
Lots of good chat over lunch too.
Recommended.

Is it OK to give the link?

Jimthebee.co.uk

[ingo50]

Glad you enjoyed making a TBH Andy. Could you tell me about the roof design, a good friend bought a hive from your tutor I believe, and it leaked during a wet and windy winter. It was made from overlapping cedar planks. Her son in-law covered it in roofing felt and it is watertight now.

[AndyC]

Hiya

Yep overlapping cedar feather-edge board.

I think the lap has been increased over the original TBH design it was developed from and it's about 75mm now.

i would be concerned that my apiary site needs looking at if water gets under the lid. . . . . .but a layer of roofing felt is a good extra protection if the weather where you are is particularly wet and windy.

Not all hives suit all sites.

[ingo50]

Thanks Andy, don't think the site a problem, as her other TBH did not leak at all. We are in Wales and it can be very wet and windy a lot of the year. I would keep an eye on your roof anyway.
BW Ingo.

[AndyC]

OH Wales? That explains it.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have the end of a roll of the new fangled breathable roofing material in the shed thats very lightweight so will keep it handy if needed.

Also the lids of these hives can be very heavy and some sort of hinge is not a bad idea.

Mine has two angle brackets screwed to the ends so the lid can be lifted one side and propped open with a spare top bar.

[trekmate]

When I have built roofs with overlapping cedar planks, I sealed the overlap with silicon during construction. Invisible when complete, stops rain blowing up-hill and is out-side of the area used by bees so chemical use is low/no impact.

[AndyC]

sounds reasonable.