{"product_id":"oz-armour-3-level-gabled-flat-pack-beehive-mesh-bottom-board","title":"OZ ARMOUR 3-Level Gabled Flat Pack Hive - Mesh Board","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cottage-Roof Hive as a Kit: Roof and Floor Built, Boxes and Paint Left to You\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA gabled roof is the part of a hive most people would not want to build themselves. Getting the pitch even, the ridge tight and the telescopic rim square is fiddly work, and a roof with a gap in it leaks. The boxes, on the other hand, are four panels and a handful of screws. So this kit builds the hard part and leaves the easy part.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou get \u003cstrong\u003ethree full-depth boxes in 22mm pine\u003c\/strong\u003e as flat panels with \u003cstrong\u003escrews and step-by-step instructions\u003c\/strong\u003e, a \u003cstrong\u003egabled telescopic roof already assembled\u003c\/strong\u003e, an \u003cstrong\u003einner cover\u003c\/strong\u003e, and a \u003cstrong\u003emesh bottom board with beetle trap tray\u003c\/strong\u003e. Choose \u003cstrong\u003e8 frame or 10 frame\u003c\/strong\u003e. The timber is \u003cstrong\u003eunpainted\u003c\/strong\u003e, so the colour is yours to pick.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGabled Telescopic Roof, Ready to Fit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pitched roof sends rain off both sides, and the telescopic rim overhangs the top box so water never reaches the joint where rot usually starts. Hot air gets room to rise away from the frames and a way out, which keeps the colony cooler and the foragers foraging instead of fanning at the entrance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInner Cover Included\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA gabled roof leaves a cavity above the frames, and bees will fill it with comb if you let them. The \u003cstrong\u003einner cover\u003c\/strong\u003e closes the top of the hive, stops the comb building, adds insulation over the brood and lets the roof lift off without tearing anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMesh Bottom Board With Beetle Trap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStainless mesh\u003c\/strong\u003e sits over a \u003cstrong\u003eremovable tray\u003c\/strong\u003e. Beetles chased by the bees drop through and cannot climb back, and \u003cstrong\u003ediatomaceous earth\u003c\/strong\u003e in the tray finishes them with nothing near the comb. The same tray is a \u003cstrong\u003evarroa monitoring board\u003c\/strong\u003e: grease it, leave it in for \u003cstrong\u003e24 to 48 hours\u003c\/strong\u003e and count the mite drop. This is the standard timber mesh board, so paint it with the boxes. The wax-dipped mesh bottom board is sold separately and swaps straight in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e22mm Pine Boxes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe panels are \u003cstrong\u003e22mm\u003c\/strong\u003e, 3mm thicker than the 19mm timber in most imported flat packs. Thicker walls insulate better, give the screws plenty of timber to bite into and are less likely to twist while you clamp them square. Painted and kept off the ground, they last \u003cstrong\u003e15 to 20 years or more\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat You Will Be Doing on the Weekend\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach box is \u003cstrong\u003efour panels\u003c\/strong\u003e. Dry-fit the corners, run a bead of exterior wood glue along the joints, drive the screws and measure corner to corner before the glue sets. Three boxes take an hour or two with a cordless drill and a square. Then apply two coats of exterior acrylic to the outside of the boxes and the bottom board, leaving the inside bare, and allow a few days to cure. Order a fortnight before your bees are due.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrames, 8 Frame or 10 Frame\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose frames \u003cstrong\u003eassembled and wired\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eunassembled\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003enone\u003c\/strong\u003e. Either frame option gives \u003cstrong\u003e24 frames\u003c\/strong\u003e for the 8-frame hive or \u003cstrong\u003e30\u003c\/strong\u003e for the 10-frame, enough for all three boxes. Foundation is not included. \u003cstrong\u003eTen-frame\u003c\/strong\u003e is the Australian standard and holds more honey per box, while \u003cstrong\u003eeight-frame\u003c\/strong\u003e boxes are lighter and suit a smaller garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRunning Three Boxes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn spring, run two brood boxes under one super. Once the flow is on, drop to one brood box with two supers above. A queen excluder is needed between brood and supers and is not part of this kit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlat Pack or Assembled and Painted\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe assembled and painted 3-level gabled hive has the same roof and inner cover on the same 22mm boxes, built, painted white, on the wax-dipped mesh bottom board with a galvanised queen excluder included. This kit asks for the weekend, the paint and the excluder back. For one hive in a hurry, buy the assembled one. For more than one hive, or a colour other than white, this is the better value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e OZ ARMOUR\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTimber:\u003c\/strong\u003e 22mm pine, unpainted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 full-depth boxes (flat pack, screws and instructions supplied), 1 assembled gabled telescopic roof, 1 inner cover, 1 mesh bottom board with beetle trap tray\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBottom board:\u003c\/strong\u003e standard timber mesh board, paint with the boxes (wax-dipped version sold separately)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSizes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 frame or 10 frame Langstroth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrames:\u003c\/strong\u003e assembled and wired, unassembled, or without; 24 frames (8 frame) or 30 frames (10 frame)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot included:\u003c\/strong\u003e paint, wood glue, foundation, queen excluder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e all standard Langstroth components\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Beekeeping Gear","offers":[{"title":"10 Frames \/ Assembled \u0026 Wired","offer_id":40054156001365,"sku":null,"price":355.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10 Frames \/ Unassembeld","offer_id":40054156034133,"sku":null,"price":303.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10 Frames \/ Without Frames","offer_id":40054158917717,"sku":null,"price":244.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 Frames \/ Assembled \u0026 Wired","offer_id":40054156066901,"sku":null,"price":346.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 Frames \/ Unassembeld","offer_id":40054156099669,"sku":null,"price":294.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 Frames \/ Without Frames","offer_id":40054158950485,"sku":null,"price":244.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0062\/5029\/9477\/files\/6756607819861.jpg?v=1756981346","url":"https:\/\/www.beekeepinggear.com.au\/products\/oz-armour-3-level-gabled-flat-pack-beehive-mesh-bottom-board","provider":"Beekeeping Gear","version":"1.0","type":"link"}