roofing paper question-update

Kathyp · November 10, 2006, 12:16:32 PM

if you all have watched the news and have seen the flooding in the PNW, you know we have been very wet!! yesterday, during a break in the weather, i popped the top of the hive to make sure it was not getting wet under there. it was. the inside of the cover was wet and the inner cover had some water on it. i guess rain blew up the sides during the storms. bees were crowded on the lid above the inner cover hole. trying to keep moisture from dripping down??

i considered a number of options. what i ended up doing was taking a wide strip of roofing paper and putting it between the inner and outer cover. the outer cover now fits more snugly and the overlap should shed water even when the wind blows.

does anyone see any problems with this solution? my only concern is that the bees chew up and remove everything that gets near the hive.

thegolfpsycho · November 10, 2006, 01:26:37 PM

Do they have stores? Seems awful early for them to be up against the inner cover. The bees respiration is going to make a good amount of condensation. Make sure you have adequate top ventilation to help reduce it. Personally, I wouldn't put the tar paper inside. Instead, I would put some newspaper, or some other medium to wick up the moisture. Last year, I had some colonies on the verge of starvation. I poured sugar between the inner and outer covers. It really absorbed alot of moisture as the bees made short work of it.

Finsky · November 10, 2006, 01:35:14 PM

What kind of structure you have in your covers? Water does not go upwards. But I have put paper or sometging between inner and outer cover and it leaded water between covers.

If you inner cover is moist it is better to take off and dry up both cover and insulation. Otherwise it generates mold inside the hive. I have just two that kind of cases.

If ventilation between covers are not good and there is not enough gap, condensation water rains back into inner cover. It is very normal. There must go wind trough the cover gap.

Kathyp · November 10, 2006, 01:43:39 PM

they have plenty to eat. they are pretty crowded in there still. the weather has been mild, but we have had 30 mile an hour winds and heavy rain. i'm thinking that the rain just blew up the side and under the cover. it was more than condensation, it was puddles on the inner cover.

i would have tacked the paper to the outside as an overhang, but that wind will rip of anything that is outside i think. even if i have bricks on top.

there is good ventilation. the bottom is open and there is a vent hole in the top box.

what would you suggest as an alternative? the storms come again today.

finsky:

QuoteWater does not go upwards

it does when the wind is slamming it into the hive at that speed. i can't take the cover off and dry it...unless i go buy another one today....i could do that.

this is a bummer. i thought i was really ready for winter......

Finsky · November 10, 2006, 02:32:02 PM

Quote from: kathyp on November 10, 2006, 01:43:39 PM
what would you suggest as an alternative? the storms come again today.....

http://pix.epodunk.com/locatorMaps/or/OR_15184.gif

If you have such a situation, you may make some kind of shelter around the hive.

Kathyp · November 10, 2006, 03:59:39 PM

i think i'm going to leave things as they are until these storms pass. after that, i'll look for a new solution. at this point, i'm not so sure that the whole hive won't blow over.

i would consider moving them into the back of the barn, but there is not way i can do that by my self at this point.

guess it's just one of those learning things. :(

Brian D. Bray · November 10, 2006, 10:30:30 PM

Paper makes a pretty good gasket. The only problem I see with putting the tar paper above the inner top is that you are now trapping the moisture that's occuring inside the hive in the inner top. A few very small air holes to vent the moisture migh be necessary. Also a SBB would allow the moisture to rain out the bottom. alleviating the problem.

Kathyp · November 14, 2006, 03:38:01 PM

the roofing paper worked well. so did the tie down straps :-) the inner cover is dry and even though the paper and top are damp, they are not dripping as before. it appears that the paper is working similar to a barn moisture barrier. because of the overlap, the edges are held at a downward angle by the tie straps and the tighter fit kept water from blowing upward and under the lid during the wind.

i do not think that roofing paper is a good medium for mold or bacterial growth, but i will keep an eye on it and on the inner and outer cover.

Finsky · November 14, 2006, 03:45:46 PM

One way is that you move hive inside the barn and drill a hole through the wall for entrance.

Kathyp · November 14, 2006, 05:50:06 PM

QuoteOne way is that you move hive inside the barn and drill a hole through the wall for entrance.

i will consider that, but it is unusual for us to get weather from the south and southwest. i positioned the hive to protect from the weather we frequently get. i hope not to move them because i don't want to have to do it again in the spring, and i'd hate to have them miss those occasional good days (like today).