Primal Bee hives are fully modular, so every component — lids, supers, foundations, and more — can be ordered and replaced individually. Because EPS behaves differently from wood, cleaning takes a gentler touch — but in return, Primal Bee hives need far less cleaning than traditional wooden hives. Tight component fit (the same coupling profiles that produce the adiabatic seal) leaves fewer gaps for bees to propolize.

This article covers replacement parts, cleaning best practices, foundation options, and how to keep your hive in good shape year-round.

The Primal Bee hive is fully modular. Individual components — lids, supers, and other parts — can be ordered separately as replacements. Share your order details and a description of the part you need with the team, and we'll get it sorted.

Tip: When gluing supers, keep them separated from other components while the glue dries. Use a strap or tape to hold only the pieces being bonded. Water-based glue only — solvent-based glues aren't EPS-safe.

If the EPS beads appear loose or insufficiently compressed in a specific area, that may indicate a molding defect rather than shipping damage. Signs of a manufacturing issue:

We replace any component with a confirmed molding defect at no charge. Share photos of the affected area along with your order number, and we'll assess the issue and ship a replacement right away.

Unlike wooden hives, EPS doesn't tolerate aggressive scraping — digging in with a hive tool will mark or gouge the surface. The trade-off is that Primal Bee hives accumulate far less propolis than wooden hives, because the precise component fit leaves fewer gaps for bees to seal. Deep cleaning is needed less frequently as a result.

A gentle rinse with a garden hose is fine for the exterior, but avoid high-pressure washing directly into the EPS — sustained high-pressure water can erode the surface. For routine cleaning, a damp cloth or soft brush is all you need.

Important: If you're sanitizing after disease such as AFB (American Foulbrood), follow the bleach protocol in Sanitizing your hive after American Foulbrood (AFB). The EPS handles immersion in a dilute bleach solution (0.5% sodium hypochlorite) very well.

A thorough cleaning once a year — typically in early spring before installing a new colony, or when rotating out old comb — is sufficient for most hives. The rest of the year, a light scrape of the frame rests and a check of the entrance components during each inspection keeps things in good order.

Primal Bee offers proprietary click-in plastic foundations available on primalbee.com in packs of 4 and packs of 8 (a pack of 8 covers one full nest). They click into the frames and need a thin coat of melted beeswax — the wax provides a familiar scent and a surface that encourages bees to build comb quickly and evenly.

For traditional beekeepers, beeswax foundations can also be wired and fitted manually to the nest frames. See Foundation installation and beeswax coating for the step-by-step.

Yes. The Primal Bee hive is fully modular, so individual components — lids, supers, and other parts — can be ordered separately as replacements. Share your order details and a description of the part you need with the team, and we'll get it sorted.

If the EPS beads appear loose or insufficiently compressed in a specific area, that may indicate a molding defect rather than shipping damage. We take quality control seriously — if a component shows signs of a manufacturing issue (under-compressed EPS beads, structural inconsistencies), we'll replace it at no charge. Share photos of the affected area along with your order number, and we'll assess and ship a replacement right away.

With wooden hives, beekeepers routinely scrape heavily propolized boxes with a hive tool — the wood is hard enough to tolerate this. EPS is different: aggressive scraping will mark or gouge the surface. The trade-off is that Primal Bee hives accumulate far less propolis because the precise component fit leaves fewer gaps for bees to seal. Deep cleaning is needed less frequently.

Use a plastic scraper, a paint stirrer, or the flat edge of a hive tool applied very lightly. Avoid digging or leveraging against the EPS surface. Clean in cool weather (below 60°F) when propolis is brittle and pops off cleanly. A thin interior propolis film is antimicrobial and beneficial — only remove significant buildups around frame rests, connection points, or anywhere it interferes with assembly. For stubborn wax, a hair dryer on low heat softens it for easier removal.

A gentle rinse with a garden hose is fine for the exterior, but avoid high-pressure washing directly into the EPS — sustained high-pressure water can erode the surface. For routine cleaning, a damp cloth or soft brush is all you need. If sanitizing after disease such as AFB (American Foulbrood), follow the bleach protocol in Sanitizing your hive after American Foulbrood (AFB) — the EPS handles immersion in a dilute bleach solution (0.5% sodium hypochlorite) very well.

A thorough cleaning once a year — typically in early spring before installing a new colony, or when rotating out old comb — is sufficient for most hives. The rest of the year, a light scrape of the frame rests and a check of the entrance components during each inspection keeps things in good order.

Primal Bee offers proprietary click-in plastic foundations available on primalbee.com in packs of 4 and packs of 8 (a pack of 8 covers one full nest). They click into the frames and need a thin coat of melted beeswax. Beeswax foundations can also be wired and fitted manually to the nest frames if you prefer a traditional approach.