Tips To Build The Perfect Treehouse
Whether you want one for your kids or you want to create a little hideaway, a treehouse is a brilliant addition to any garden. Here are a few tips to remember when building one to ensure you create the perfect space.
Have the Right Tools
The first thing you need to do is ensure you have the right tools for the job. A treehouse needs to be structurally sound and safe, and you can’t do that if you don’t have the necessary tools.
A hammer, chainsaws, nails, bolt fastener, etc, are all necessary for creating the structure. While you don’t need a fully equipped tool shed, a screwdriver and some elbow grease can’t and won’t replace a drill, for example.
Materials
Next, you need to pick suitable materials. Hardwood is an obvious and the right choice for most of the structure, but you can incorporate other materials. For instance, steel joining plates are ideal for securing pieces of wood together, as they are more robust and last a long time.
When choosing materials, there are two main points to consider: overall strength and When choosing materials, there are two main points: overall strength and longevity. The first point is self-explanatory, but the second refers to how long the material will last while being exposed to changing weather, heat, rain, potentially snow, high winds, etc.
What to Avoid
If this is your first time building a treehouse, don’t be tempted to include glass windows or skylights. Glass can easily shatter if not installed correctly and exposed to severe weather, such as strong winds that can move and shift the structure.
Integrity Before Size
Don’t get too caught up in how big the treehouse will be, but rather focus on its strength and integrity. The one issue many first-time treehouse builders have is creating something so big that there are large parts that aren’t as solid as they could be.
Instead, focus on building a super-strong and stable core that can be used as either the entire treehouse, or base for expansion further down the line.
The Tree
Not all trees can be home to a treehouse, so choosing the right one is important. Firstly, it should be an older tree with a thick trunk, as it will almost always have the best roots and, therefore, the best stability.
For the sake of safety, don’t use any branches as part of the base structure, but rather incorporate them into the build in another way. No matter how thick or strong them seem, the downward pressure that would be applied to them can make them break eventually.
Don’t Restrict Tree Growth
This is a small detail, but one that makes a huge difference. Don’t build your treehouse in a way that restricts or stops the growth of the tree itself. As a tree grows, it gains strength, and that is exactly what you need for a long-lasting treehouse.
For example, the hole in the floor around the trunk should be a couple of inches wider than the trunk itself. This applies to every hole or gap in the structure that has a piece of the tree running through it.
Height
This point builds on one of the previous points surrounding stability. Don’t feel the need to build your treehouse as high up the tree as possible; instead, build it where the tree is the strongest.
Unless you are building your treehouse on a 100-year-old California redwood, the tree you are using will most likely become thinner, and therefore weaker, the higher you go. Find the midpoint of the tree, between the ground and when it starts to thin, and build there.
Don’t Attach Wood Directly to Wood
Anther small point to keep in mind is to not attach wood directly to other pieces of wood. For example, leaving a small gap between the pieces will stop water from building up between them, which can lead to rot.
There are plenty of pieces of hardware, plates, etc, that will allow you to attach the wood together, while leaving a gap and keeping the structure strong.
Build on the Ground
Another great tip you use is to build parts of the structure on the ground, and then lift them into place and secure them. Unless you have access to a small crane or backhoe, lifting an entire treehouse can and will be almost impossible.
However, securing parts together can be done by as few as two people, and you also don’t run the risk of damaging the tree or dropping your finished treehouse.
Make it Customizable
Finally, make the structure customizable and build with the future in mind. This is particularly true if you are building this for your young children; the aren’t going to stay the same height, weight, etc, for years to come.
An easy way to get around this is to simply build it bigger to begin with. Another route to take is to build it in a way that allows for expansion and is, therefore, potentially a bit smaller, but new sections can be added if and when needed.
