# Painting vs Stain/Seal Flow Hive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Beekeeping - Basics\ **Created:** [March 29, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836 "2021-03-29T21:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GraceRidgeFarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/958977/32.png) [@GraceRidgeFarm](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/GraceRidgeFarm)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836/1 "2021-03-29T21:54:59Z")
Good day all. We have 2 cedar FH2’s and are looking to paint/seal/stain for longevity. Would love to hear some recommendations for that. Looking to do sooner than later because I will be picking up the nucs in the beginning of May. Ps from NJ with all 4 seasons. Thank you!! Mike ---
**Author:** ![chau06](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/chau06/32/25515_2.png) [@chau06](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/chau06)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836/2 "2021-03-29T22:52:08Z")
I’m a fan of hot wax dipping if it is available around where you are! > [@Wax Dipping Flow Hive](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/wax-dipping-flow-hive/29289/1): > > wax dip ---
**Author:** ![GraceRidgeFarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/958977/32.png) [@GraceRidgeFarm](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/GraceRidgeFarm)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836/3 "2021-03-29T23:26:03Z")
Thank you for the response. I did look into that but doesn’t seem like an option at this time. ---
**Author:** ![HappyHibee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/happyhibee/32/27808_2.png) [@HappyHibee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/HappyHibee)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836/4 "2021-03-31T18:54:13Z")
Tung oil on cedar. It brings out the deep shades and protects. Ceder doesn’t need treating but 3 years my ceder flow huve 2 looks like new and UK winters see the worst of weather. ---
**Author:** ![BeeMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/beemike/32/27050_2.png) [@BeeMike](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/BeeMike)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2021, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836/5 "2021-12-04T10:00:04Z")
I got my first FH2+ recently and as the cedar is so beautiful I didn’t want to paint it. just gave it a few coats of Tung oil picked up from the local hardware store. It’s looking marvellous! I did use some outdoor paint for the roof though ---
**Author:** ![Wizard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/wizard/32/27689_2.png) [@Wizard](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Wizard)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836/6 "2021-12-04T21:58:07Z")
I used olympic brand transparent woodland oil lifetime deck sealer on mine. Love the results. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyFarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ea924/32.png) [@GrumpyFarmer](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/GrumpyFarmer)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/painting-vs-stain-seal-flow-hive/29836/7 "2025-06-09T22:51:13Z")
Good day. How has the Olympic stain/ sealer held up? Did it have any negative effects on the bees? Would you use again? How did you determine it was safe to use for the bees? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.