OK all you paint experts, I need some advice

[Robo]

Just got a bunch of polystyrene supers to try out.  It says to give them 2 coats of exterior latex paint.  Looking for recommendations as I don't won't to have to re-paint them every year (preferrable never again :-P).

[pttom]

I would use Lowe's best paint, about 25.00 a gal. Use the semi gloss. I think it is Tradition Exterior.

[NWIN Beekeeper]

 Excellent Choice !!

Most paints have gotten cheaper in quality in the last few years.
I have had very good experiences with this paint.

The paint is almost like a gel pudding - it doesn't run everywhere on everything.
It stays where you put it.
It has very good first coat coverage - superior to everything else.
Because of this you use a lot less paint for quicker results.
Second coat is awesome and levels to a very nice finish.
It has a very reasonable dry time - Often can do several coats in the same day, or even evening if the humidity is low.

I enjoy working with this paint, its not a burden like other brands.
The results are always very rewarding.

You can't beat latex for clean up.

-Jeff

[TwT]

Just got a bunch of polystyrene supers to try out.  It says to give them 2 coats of exterior latex paint.  Looking for recommendations as I don't won't to have to re-paint them every year (preferable never again :-P).

I don't see what the deal is, I have  polystyrene top feeders that are 3 years old and I never painted mine and they still look like new, I would just use 2 coats of the cheapest latex out there, but that's just me, I still ain't painting mine, they still like new after 3 years, just be easy with the hive tool removing them ;)

[Zoot]

I would have concerns about bonding to such a material with either latex or an alkyd. I'd lave them unpainted.

[czech bee]

Mainly you should paint the polystyren boxes, because bees could see light through. Do you see any light through wall? if yes, they need to painted. Here we have special paints, which are used on polystyren. czech bee 

[Jerrymac]

I don't think a little light is an issue. Bees do build nest right out in the open.

[czech bee]

Hi, I forgot to put why light. Quite often bees makes holes through walls due light, that is why I was asking.
I have nice example, how you could do very nice suppers and even brood boxes from paper... sorry it is in czech, but it is mostly pictures. This web is realy interesting, this guy is teaching beekeeping. And most of hi equipment is homemade.
www.sweb.cz/jjvcela/zima/zima.htm

[Joseph Clemens]

Hi, I forgot to put why light. Quite often bees makes holes through walls due light, that is why I was asking.
I have nice example, how you could do very nice suppers and even brood boxes from paper... sorry it is in czech, but it is mostly pictures. This web is realy interesting, this guy is teaching beekeeping. And most of hi equipment is homemade.
www.sweb.cz/jjvcela/zima/zima.htm

Fascinating idea described in these photographs. I feel inspired to make myself some 8 frame medium supers out of cardboard

[czech bee]

Hi Josef,

this cardboar boxes are painted with paint which is used for plastered houses. on top of that it is put screen, which is used on top of the polystyren, which is used for insulating houses.
Lumir 

[Kev]

Ultraviolet light is the enemy of Polystyrene and most other plastics. The point of painting plastic hives (and other stuff like your house for that matter) is to protect the more valuable hive with something cheaper...paint. UV will eventually wreck the paint, but you should get several years out of it before you have to repaint.

I don't know about brand, but a good exterior semi-gloss latex is a great choice.  I just painted my polystyrene hives with leftover paint I had around here from painting the house. I don't mind painting hives in the basement on a winter afternoon.

kev