Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: orbweaver on September 03, 2011, 03:08:36 PM

Title: english garden top
Post by: orbweaver on September 03, 2011, 03:08:36 PM
i see on most hives that a block is used for weight so they don't blow off. I was thinking of getting the English garden top but i was wondering if they also needed to be weighted down...thank for any advice
Title: Re: english garden top
Post by: BlueBee on September 03, 2011, 03:31:46 PM
I have one hive with a shed roof, it is a heavy roof.  My guess is it would take 60mph+ to blow it off, but I hedged my bets and put a stone on it.  I think there are other ways to keep a top on a hive besides a big stone, but since the stone is cheap and works for me, I haven't done much experimenting in this area.

I would speculate that a heavy top with an apron prevent it from sliding off an inner cover and top body might work without a rock.  If not, you could add more force between the top and the hive by using neodymium magnets or quick release latches of some sort.

If you want the look of the English garden top, I say go for it.
Title: Re: english garden top
Post by: edward on September 03, 2011, 05:54:00 PM
Lost three hives last winter , i had a large rock on the roof . Storms blue the roof off

Not taking any chances this winter, all hives will bee tied down with straps

replacing a lost hive i spring costs 100X the cost of a strap + I had unused straps in my shed  :oops:

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: english garden top
Post by: Sundog on September 03, 2011, 07:59:04 PM

You could get some ribbon and tie a nice bow on top.  :-D

Have fun!
Title: Re: english garden top
Post by: Michael Bush on September 03, 2011, 10:15:09 PM
I like flat tops.  I can put bricks or rocks on them AND I can stack boxes on them...
Title: Re: english garden top
Post by: sweet bee on September 04, 2011, 12:02:31 AM
I have two of the English garden style hives and I absolutely love them! The tops seem pretty solid to me .

~Angie