# Mildew in Hive lid **URL:** \ **Category:** Beekeeping - Basics\ **Created:** [June 13, 2017, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613 "2017-06-13T08:43:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dianne\_Toshack](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dianne_toshack/32/7074_2.png) [@Dianne\_Toshack](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dianne_Toshack)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/1 "2017-06-13T08:43:05Z")
We’ve had a lot of rain lately and last week I discovered both of my hive lids are leaking. I dried the water on the top board and then covered my hives with plastic which has fixed the problem, so far. I will fill the gaps with bees wax when we have a couple of fine days. Today I have found mould forming in the top of my new hive lid which I wiped off. What I need to know, what do I do to eradicate the mould without compromising my darling girls. ---
**Author:** ![Dee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dee/32/5840_2.png) [@Dee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:46am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/2 "2017-06-13T09:46:45Z")
Just dry it thoroughly It’s always handy to have a spare roof or two ---
**Author:** ![skeggley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/skeggley/32/27522_2.png) [@skeggley](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/skeggley)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/3 "2017-06-13T13:46:11Z")
And a spare box or two, bottom board or two, spare frames or twenty… Where does it end!!! 😳 ---
**Author:** ![Webclan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/webclan/32/11252_2.png) [@Webclan](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Webclan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/4 "2017-06-13T14:41:30Z")
Except flow isn’t selling any spare roofs. That fact wrecked my enthusiasm for my boutique apiary. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/5 "2017-06-13T15:52:17Z")
> [@Dianne\_Toshack](#): > > what do I do to eradicate the mould without compromising my darling girls As the others have said, just keep it dry. Bees have lived with mould for millions of years. If you feel totally compelled to remove the mould, dilute some household chlorine bleach about 1 part bleach in 10 parts water and spray it onto the mould. Leave in the sun for a couple of hours, then hose off thoroughly and allow to dry in the sun. Bees don’t mind dilute chlorine - they drink swimming pool water all the time! 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Dee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dee/32/5840_2.png) [@Dee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/6 "2017-06-13T17:40:12Z")
Why do you need a Flow roof? Any roof will do till it dries out ---
**Author:** ![Dee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dee/32/5840_2.png) [@Dee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/7 "2017-06-13T17:40:53Z")
Never. You know that! ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/8 "2017-06-13T18:42:28Z")
> [@Dee](#): > > Why do you need a Flow roof? The key was in the descriptor… She wants a “boutique” apiary = pretty and expensive. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Dee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dee/32/5840_2.png) [@Dee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/9 "2017-06-13T19:06:26Z")
Ah. I am an apiary slob. Mine look a mess. ---
**Author:** ![Dianne\_Toshack](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dianne_toshack/32/7074_2.png) [@Dianne\_Toshack](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dianne_Toshack)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/10 "2017-06-13T23:21:57Z")
WOW dawn, you are just a very rude person. I have had an interest in bees for a very long time and did not take the plunge for an equally long time because I wanted to get it right. Your comments are un-called for and I can only deduce that you are a typically classic Flow Hive snob and typical of the English, very resistant to change. ( I know this as my heritage is (sadly) English ). If you can’t help on this forum, DON’T comment!! ---
**Author:** ![Dianne\_Toshack](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dianne_toshack/32/7074_2.png) [@Dianne\_Toshack](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dianne_Toshack)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/11 "2017-06-13T23:23:46Z")
Thank you Dee. Your help is much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/12 "2017-06-14T00:11:46Z")
> [@Dianne\_Toshack](#): > > WOW dawn, you are just a very rude person Wow, Dianne, I am flabbergasted and gob-smacked. 😰 You obviously don’t know me, or anything about me, but why should you? So sorry you feel that way. I actually know @Webclan pretty well, and she is very particular about how she does things. I am about to send her family a pot of honey, so I hope that she thinks I am OK. The comments I made were to amuse her and @Dee. If either of them are offended, I will immediately erase my post and stop posting on this forum. Plus I promise never to reply to any of your questions again, in case I say something bad. 😨 ---
**Author:** ![Webclan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/webclan/32/11252_2.png) [@Webclan](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Webclan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/13 "2017-06-14T01:05:40Z")
Hi Dawn, there is obviously a misunderstanding here. I loved your comment, and it was directed at me. Of course I am very particular about things, especially my flow hives. And I thought I will barge in with a comment because I am very upset that I can’t buy more flow roofs. I love this forum and I love your comments. You have helped so many people and your patience is unfathomable. Please stay, for all of us. Dianne just thought the comment was for her. Maybe as a flow hiver she had some unsavory remarks to deal with before. We all have to. ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/14 "2017-06-14T03:45:59Z")
I think you misunderstood what Dawn meant- there was no intention to be rude… and Dawn actually spends a lot of time helping folks here- indeed she is one the **most** prolific helpers… getting back to the roof: can I suggest you upgrade it by removing it: Take off the wooden slats and tack/staple a layer of aluminum flashing over the wooden A-Frame part of the roof and then screw the slats back on through that layer? This will make the roof watertight and increase the insulation value. If you have the cedar version of the hive this is particularly a good idea as it is not particularly waterproof as is and on our Cedar hive we noticed after 12 months that the gaps between the slats etc had widened and were allowing water and wind to enter that space… I have done this to all my flow hive roofs- it’s a 20 minute job once you have the flashing. ---
**Author:** ![Rodadon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Rodadon](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Rodadon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/15 "2017-06-14T04:40:35Z")
Dianne, Dawn is not rude, ive read hundreds of her posts and shes generous with her time and knowledge to newbs and the olds alike. I dont post much but ive followed many on here, she’s fine ya know. Yr misunderstanding me thinks ---
**Author:** ![busso](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/busso/32/16301_2.png) [@busso](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/busso)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 12:21pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/16 "2017-06-14T12:21:26Z")
> [@Dianne\_Toshack](#): > > WOW dawn, you are just a very rude person. Sometimes I misread things and go off at a tangent. I believe you thought the comments may have been directed at you…if you re read the posts, they obviously were not. Dawn has a wicked sense of humour and in this case was having some fun with her mates. There is room in this forum for a bit of light hearted banter . ---
**Author:** ![busso](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/busso/32/16301_2.png) [@busso](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/busso)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/17 "2017-06-14T12:27:39Z")
> [@Dawn\_SD](#): > > and stop posting on this forum. Hey DD you can’t do that. Who would answer all those questions people ask when they can’t be bothered of looking in the search box. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/9/9703e38f5daff6cf8af95b2f8139ded68e550b12.png) ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_Nickel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/gerald_nickel/32/1910_2.png) [@Gerald\_Nickel](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Gerald_Nickel)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/18 "2017-06-14T17:44:05Z")
Dianne, Hang in there Dianne … This is a great FORUM but few of us including yours truely have a little witty humor at times … Beekeeping encompasses a huge cross section of dudes n dudette old, young n inbetween … Trust me this maybe be A Flow-Hive forum but I for one only have 2 out of eight … Some on here don’t at all or are “Dreaming” about ownership. What’s awesome is the free exchange of great info n comments. ![](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/a/aa84bae572b405241de391dcb1ab5275cfb47d19.jpg) ![](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/5/5ad0ec615b21e6e2f89322d533f2e5dabeb383a0.jpg) ![](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/8/865800fb6d00a3101e8a678210b8bf1bbfb2fac3.jpg) Like I said earlier… "Hang in there n read the threads … Many of us have been aboard awhile now but do WELCOME All ! Cheers to you n yours . Happy Beekeeping ! Gerald ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_Nickel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/gerald_nickel/32/1910_2.png) [@Gerald\_Nickel](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Gerald_Nickel)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/19 "2017-06-14T18:22:18Z")
Dee, Maybe I’d better go back out n see which lid/roof is actually on my flow-hive … Been having issues earlier … It was the only colony that Swarmed on me. Queenie left cells but they didn’t rekindle the Fire ! So finally requeened … That wasn’t instant back on track so to help I had one 5 frame deep Nuc that was only " So So " … I made/did one of those “Newspaper Mergers”. Now the the joined colony is fighting it’s way up to a viable head-count to survive our winter a ways ahead. I’ll be happy just to have the girls put up winter rations. I had a second colony/hive that’s 8 frame so in hopes of a Flow-Super dribble I moved it to that Fir House in HOPEs I might get to turn a harvest time Flow-Key n see something dribble into a jar or two. Our main flow is on so we will watch n see. Fir isn’t totally up to snuf but way better than my actually Maple Hive/Flow-hive ! Nuc’s n Queens (because of the longer, wetter, cooler atmospheric conditions have been a little disappointing this season. We got wet/cold stuff forecast again next 24 to 48 hours again. We are hanging on n surviving here in Puget Sound. Here’s couple pix’s (one of my Flow-hive n other of another 8 frame hive (Fir Hive) that I topped with the 6 frame Flow-Super. ![](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/b/bc28e41a2d3f09234834b283936e06420ae8b312.jpg) ![](https://cdck-file-uploads-us1.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/f/f38835cf6fa0ed0a68b0b2b46c8b8b514e32db1f.jpg) Ta Ta , Gerald ---
**Author:** ![Dee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dee/32/5840_2.png) [@Dee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613/20 "2017-06-14T19:43:57Z")
Lovely Gerald 🙂 That roof is pretty but I’m sure it needs proper weatherproofing underneath [Next page](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/mildew-in-hive-lid/11613.md?page=2)