Assembled Telescopic Beehive Lid Unpainted - Galvanised Top, 8 or 10 Frame

An Assembled Telescopic Lid With a Galvanised Steel Top, Ready for the Hive

The lid cops more weather than any other part of the hive: sun all summer, rain tracking across the top, and the slow swelling and splitting that comes when bare timber sits wet for a week. A failing lid does not announce itself. You find out when you lift it and the top bars are damp, or when the bees have sealed the join with propolis because draughts were getting in.

This is a telescopic lid for 8 or 10 frame Langstroth hives, with a galvanised steel top, and it arrives fully assembled. Choose your frame size at checkout, take it out of the box and put it on the hive. There is no nailing, no squaring up and no folding sheet metal around corners on a Saturday morning. It is the lid only, so the boxes underneath are sold separately.

Why a Telescopic Lid

A telescopic lid drops down over the outside of the top box rather than sitting flat on it. That overlap matters: rain running off the top drips clear of the joint instead of wicking into it, and the lid stays put in wind without a brick on top. The trade-off is stacking. If you move hives in bulk on a truck, a flat migratory lid packs tighter. For hives that stay where they are, telescopic is the better lid.

A Galvanised Top That Takes the Weather

The top is galvanised steel, folded down over the edges. Zinc does not rust the way bare steel does, and it keeps the timber beneath it dry, which is what stops a lid from swelling, splitting and warping over the years. A light metal top also reflects more sun than dark painted timber, so the top box runs a little cooler on a hot afternoon.

Less Room for Burr Comb

Bees fill space. Give them a deep cavity above the frames and they will build comb up into it, and you will be scraping the lid at every inspection. The shallow cavity under this lid gives them less to work with. Run a hive mat under it and the lid stays clean, the mat takes the propolis and inspections start faster.

Specifications

• Style: telescopic, overlaps the top box on all four sides
• Top: galvanised steel sheet
• Sizes: 8 frame or 10 frame, chosen at checkout
• Fits: standard Langstroth 8 and 10 frame boxes
• Assembly: fully assembled
• Includes: lid only, hive boxes and hive mat sold separately

Does the lid arrive assembled?

Yes. It is fully assembled, so there is no nailing, squaring up or folding sheet metal. Take it out of the box and put it on the hive.

What sizes are available?

8 frame or 10 frame, chosen at checkout. It fits standard Langstroth 8 and 10 frame boxes.

What is the top made of?

Galvanised steel sheet folded down over the edges. The zinc coating resists rust and keeps the timber beneath dry.

Why choose a telescopic lid?

It overlaps the top box on all four sides, so rain drips clear of the joint and the lid stays put in wind without a brick on top.

Is a telescopic lid good for migratory beekeeping?

A flat migratory lid packs tighter on a truck. For hives that stay where they are, telescopic is the better lid.

Does the metal top keep the hive cooler?

A light metal top reflects more sun than dark painted timber, so the top box runs a little cooler on a hot afternoon.

Will bees build comb under the lid?

The shallow cavity under this lid gives them less room. Run a hive mat under it to keep the lid clean.

Does it include a hive mat or hive boxes?

No. It is the lid only. Hive boxes and the hive mat are sold separately.

Do I need a brick on top?

No. The telescopic overlap helps the lid stay put in wind without a brick on top.

How do I stop propolis sealing the lid down?

Run a hive mat under the lid. The mat takes the propolis, so the lid stays clean and inspections start faster.