How to Make a Screened Bottom Board for Beehives

Adding a screened bottom board to your beehive helps you trap harmful mites and provides an area from which you can observe and manage the beehive. As mites fall off the bees, they fall through the screen and are unable to climb back up and latch onto any other bees. Building the screened bottom board yourself from loose wood lets you save money and customize the board to your specific needs.

Three 16-1/4-inch-by-2-inch wooden boards
One 16-1/4-inch-by-3-3/4-inch wooden board
Two 22-inch-by-3/4-inch sheet of 3/4-inch-thick wood
One 14-3/4-inch-by-3/4-inch sheet of 3/4-inch-thick wood
Two 22-inch-by-1/2-inch sheet of 3/4-inch-thick wood
One 14-inch-by-18-inch piece of No. 8 screen
Wood glue
Nail gun
Staple gun
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the 16-1/4-inch-by-3-3/4-inch wooden landing board down on a flat surface. Arrange the three 16-1/4-inch-by-2-inch wooden boards above it to create a square wooden frame. Glue the four boards together.
- 2
  Nail the two 22-inch-by-1/2-inch wooden runners to the bottom of the frame's two side boards. Each runner has an "L" shape and should interlock over the corresponding frame board.
- 3
  Nail the two 22-inch-by-3/4-inch wooden runners to the top of the frame's two side boards.
- 4
  Nail the 14-3/4-inch-by-3/4-inch wooden runner to the back of the frame.
- 5
  Tap the corners of the boards with a hammer to tighten everything.
- 6
  Lay the screen down on the frame and staple it on with a staple gun. The screened bottom board is now ready to use with your beehive.

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