screened bottom boards and slatted racks

[Pond Creek Farm]

Is an SBB to be used with the slatted racks that sit on the bottom board?  It seems that the slats may defeat the purpose -at least to a degree- of the SBB. Thoughts?

[Jerrymac]

Brian D. Bray uses them in that fashion. Says it helps keep an air pocket in there for temp control and keeps out the drafts..... something like that.

[KONASDAD]

I use slatted racks w/ SBB. I put closed bottom on for winter on some of mine. I like the combo of the two. It aids ventilation in summer and provides cluster space for bees which results in less bearding. Like chimney effect. In winter , it acts like a baffle, increasing area of warm air inside hive, and clod air underneath, but farther from winmter cluster. Sort of like when you ascend stairs in winter and you hit the pocket of warm air and top of step. The SR is the staircase. The queen lays closer to sides of hive as a result as spring comes along too.

[Brian D. Bray]

I now use SSR (Screened Slatted Racks) instead of bottom boards.  I have changed the hive stand so that it is stacked 4X4 spaced so the the interior of the hive hangs open between the 4X4 on each side of the stand.  By nailing a 1/2 inch lath strip 3/4 below the SSR I can slide a board in for mite count or whatever.   I'm converting all my bottom boards to top entrances, or junking them.