A beehive is a wooden structure mainly made of wood, where honey bees live and make combs and honey. These structures are placed outdoors year-round. As such, they should have some kind of protection for the exterior wooden surfaces. beekeepers proofing their hives to protect the wood from the weather elements like sun, rain, wind, and snow. This adds many seasons of life to these structures and saves you time and resources that you could have used to replace or repair them. 

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What is the lifespan of a beehive? How long does a beehive last?

A beehive outlive individual bees. It can last for 1 to 3 decades. The lifespan depends on how well you look after it, proofing used, and quality of the wood.  Expensive and harder woods last longer than soft ones. Unkept hives exposed to the elements will only last for a few  years. Pests will drill holes in them and moisture will act as breeding grounds for fungi leading to decay. 

How many honey bees are usually in a beehive?

A bee colony consists of a queen, hundreds of drones, and thousands of workers. The number of bees in a hive mostly ranges from 50,000 to 80,000. However, the number can reach up to 100,000. Bee populations are usually measured in colonies but not individuals. Each bee caste is assigned a different role. The queen’s duty is to lay eggs, the drones mates with the queen, while workers perform household duties and forage for nectar and pollen. A queen has a long lifespan and can live 2-3 years, while drones and workers live for months or weeks. 

How can l waterproof my beehive?

The common methods that beekeepers use to preserve their hives include painting, staining, and waxing. Some methods are more expensive and labor-intensive than others. 

Painting

This is the cheapest and easiest way to waterproof your hive. It allows you to choose your desired color. A hive will require to be repainted after every few years to keep the seal strong and the paint fresh. Beekeepers mainly use oil-based paints or latex. You should paint only the hive exterior and give it time to off-gass( at least one week). 

Wood Stain

Applying stain on the hive helps seal and give it  great finish. Al though it does not last long like paint, you can expect it to last for several years. The stains bond with wood to create a waterproof surface. It offers great protection against sunlight  by reflecting UV light. 

Wax Sealing

Bees wax and other types of wax form a great protective barrier that allows you to retain the natural wood grain. Some beekeepers melt beeswax and linseed oil together and paint the hive generously after cooling a bit. The wood soaks up the mixture and form a deep seal. Some prefer to seal the interior and exterior as well. 

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Wax dipping

This is the best method of sealing your hive, although extremely expensive and labor intensive. It is practical for beekeepers with many beehives. It entails dipping the hive parts in hot wax, which allows it to penetrate every part of the wood. The hot wax replaces any moisture in the wood. Wax dipping makes incredible durable form of waterproofing. Some beekeeping companies sells hives that are already wax dipped.