Paint? 1 part beeswax to 20 parts boiled linseed oil. Wondering when you're going to transition to top bar hives.

Some folks don't even paint their boxes, and I was tempted to give that a shot. They say that the unpainted wood lasts longer than painted because it can breathe better. Still, we had that can of paint in the barn leftover from the previous boxes, so paint we did.

One of these days I'll probably try top bar, but we had so much free Langstroth equipment that I couldn't imagine letting it go to waste! And I really do enjoy the modular nature... Maybe this winter I'll read up on top bar and be sold on the concept.

My father had several hives of bees years ago, and he always painted his hives white to help protect the hives from excessive heat. With you living farther south I would think that you would want to paint your hives white.

I've read various studies on bee box color, and they all end up concluding that it's six of one and half a dozen of the other unless you live in an extremely hot or cold climate. White hives do help with summer heat, but dark hives help with winter cold. If anything, our bees have a harder time with the latter than the former --- after all, bees aim for keeping the hive's internal temperature at about 93 degrees Fahrenheit. If we saw them on the outside of the hive fanning a lot, then we'd think they were too hot, but we only see that now and then.