A detailed guide on how to build a treehouse?
Ever you think about constructing your own beautiful treehouse? It’s a fantastic experience to build a treehouse and spend time inside. Some people merely take it as a carpentry task. However, it is something exciting, from construction to enjoying time in it. It is like having a fantasy house in the sky surrounded by charming birds and other small creatures. Well, if you want to build your dream tree house, let’s move with the flow of this blog post. Here, you will discover a comprehensive treehouse guide with all the vital information. Let’s start this blog.
Table of Content
- Benefits of Your Lovely Treehouse
- Things to Consider When Constructing a Treehouse
- 10 Steps Guide: How to Construct a Treehouse
- Ensuring the Safety of Your Treehouse
- Significant Treehouse Construction Points
- Positive & Negative Impacts of Treehouses on the Environment
- Building an Eco-friendly Treehouse
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
Benefits of Your Lovely Treehouse
Treehouse is not just a place for kids, but you can also enjoy your “Me Time” or “Partner Time” in this magical place. As time is running fast and everyone is busy with his personal routine, an incredible treehouse can provide a cozy, relaxing spot. Having a cute treehouse in your yard can furnish you with multiple benefits;
-
Connection with Nature
Imagine! You are having a fantastic time in your treehouse after a tiring day in your workplace. What would be your feeling? The surrounding of your tree house will freshen up your mind for the next day. Spending an hour daily at such a charming place benefits your mental and physical health. The greenery of the tree will release your stress and fill your body with positive energy.
-
An Interesting Home for Kids
A superbly constructed treehouse can be an interesting place for your kids to study and play. Bringing your kids every evening to a treehouse to do homework is a good idea. You can let them enjoy learning inside this beautiful house. Moreover, parents can teach their kids about energy-efficient treehouse designs and protecting our natural resources. After completing school tasks, you can also spend valuable time with your kids and play different games in this magical world.
-
Increased Outdoor Activities
The world is more than working or studying and spending time on mobile. Your body demands fresh air for proper working. A treehouse is a source that encourages people to come out of their homes and spend time in a beautiful environment. Letting your children climb and jump while playing in a treehouse can increase their physical and mental health. It can also boost your children’s creativity and enable them to do something extraordinary in their life.
Things to Consider When Constructing a Treehouse
When you target the answer to the question “How to make a treehouse,” it is mandatory to consider some beneficial points so you can execute your ideas efficiently.
- Get assistance from construction estimators and contractors to build a robust and safe treehouse.
- Choose the energy-efficient and environment-friendly treehouse design to preserve your natural resources.
- Attentively select the tree for treehouse construction. It should be solid so that you can enjoy your treehouse time reliably.
- Pick high-quality, durable construction materials, including wood, plastic, or metal, to ensure your safety.
- Follow building codes and regulations and ask for a permit from your local government.
10 Steps Guide: How to Construct a Treehouse
-
Choose a Suitable Tree
When constructing a simple treehouse, you must first choose the right tree or trees. The number of trees can decide how your treehouse will look like. Moreover, if you have some beautiful and simple treehouse ideas, you must present your treehouse image to your building contractor. Remember to select a solid tree that can withstand harsh weather conditions. In the following chart, you can find the most suitable trees for treehouse construction.
European Tree Species Suitable for Tree House Construction Rotbuche Larche
Esche
Robinie
Tanne
Roteiche Bergahorn
Platane
Doughlasie
Birke
Linde Gemeine Kiefer
Edelkastani
Nussbaum
Ulme
-
Make a Treehouse Design
Once you have a clear image of your future treehouse in your mind, start making your tree house designs. Hiring a professional designer who can provide you with outstanding blueprints is better. At this stage, your architect will list all construction materials and measurements and create a takeoff sheet. Likewise, he will create a building plan to execute your project efficiently. Well, when you are at the treehouse blueprinting stage, you must understand the different styles of the treehouse to make better decisions.
Different Treehouse Styles
There are 5 standard treehouse designs that most people prefer. Let’s discover them together;
-
-
Platform Treehouse
It is the most uncomplicated treehouse design that consists of a floor. You can cover this with a roof, but most people like it without a covering wall. You can support a treehouse floor with single or multiple trees, according to your choice. Furthermore, you can construct a simple platform treehouse within a budget of $400.
-
Suspended Treehouse
It is a treehouse design that architects build in an area surrounded by trees. They support this treehouse with ropes or cables by connecting them with branches of trees.
-
Cube Treehouse
As the name shows, a cube treehouse is a box-shaped room constructed with wood, plastic, and metal. You can divide this treehouse into multiple portions according to your choice.
-
Round Treehouse
Like a cube-shaped tree house, you can also construct a round treehouse. It is similar to a platform treehouse and only different in shape. Whether you want to cover the floor or not, it will give you a great feel. You can build this beautiful treehouse on the thick branches of trees.
-
Treehouse Villages
It is a collection of multiple treehouses that are connected through walkways. It is an eco-friendly practice that does not harm the earth’s surface and plants. Furthermore, it is a treehouse design that promotes sustainable living standards.
-
-
-
Construction Materials & Tools
After finalizing a treehouse design as per your preferences, wind up the list of materials and tools required for the treehouse construction. Count all the essential materials, including joists, fasteners, rafter ties, washers, and lag screws. Here, you can also take advantage of cost estimating services to manage your treehouse construction project perfectly.
-
Construct Treehouse Platform
Now, you have arranged all essential resources. It is time to begin your treehouse platform construction. At this stage, you will build a floor and the other structures of your treehouse. Once you have completed a treehouse podium, raise it to the appropriate level and fix it with support. Its overall cost, including railings and ladder, falls around $4,000.
-
Add Braces as Required
Ensure the safety of your treehouse by connecting all supports. Every treehouse has different supporting systems. Therefore, it is essential to arrange supports according to your treehouse design. You can use diagonal bracing techniques if you need to back the treehouse with ground, trunk, or additional tree branches.
-
Set Your Treehouse Flooring
Your treehouse platform is ready and its structure is well-prepared to withstand the weight of other features. Now, you can add a floor of your choice. You can choose one of the simple or the most advanced flooring, including plywood deck boards and cedar, respectively. Whatever option you prefer, remember that it will add significant weight to the frame of your treehouse. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure that all supporting systems are properly attached and work efficiently. Additionally, remember to add a trapdoor or firepole in your treehouse while installing its floor.
-
Install Walls, Entrances, Railings, & Windows
After setting your treehouse floor, shift your attention to the walls and railings. While installing these features, leave the area for the entrance door and windows. Fences provide you and your kids’ with safety, and this addition is only applicable if your treehouse has a porch. Furthermore, you can make your treehouse more and more outstanding by adding some attractive features. You can attach slides or construct bridges if you have enough space around your treehouse. Moreover, you can add a zip line or climbing nets or walls to your treehouse.
-
Build the Treehouse Roof
If you are not targeting a treehouse without a roof, it is a point where you can install a ceiling. The top of your treehouse must be waterproofed so you can enjoy the rainy days more joyfully. Shingle, farming, waterproofing, and prefabricated roofing are the best options to furnish your treehouse with a reliable roof.
-
Construct & Attach a Ladder
Wow! Your tree house is giving an appealing look. Do you not want to check the view from the treetop? Let’s construct and install a safe and solid ladder. A simple ladder is okay, but you can choose a rope ladder or a climbing wall if your kids are mature enough to use these things. However, you can also include these features to enrich the looks of your treehouse.
-
Add Final Touch of Finishing
Treehouse is actually an area where you can add anything to make it more alluring. You can think about hanging a swing or building a slide with your treehouse. For proper finishing, install doorknobs and lighting sources. Furthermore, you can add some decorative elements to increase its interior beauty.
Ensuring the Safety of Your Treehouse
While building your treehouse, it is mandatory to ensure its safety at each step. But you might have confusion about how to ensure the safety of your treehouse. Following are some aspects that you can consider to confirm the security of your sweet treehouse.
- First and foremost, choose a suitable tree with solid foundations that can withstand heavy treehouses.
- Secondly, choose reliable and long-lasting construction techniques. Moreover, add solid support systems that can bear harsh weather conditions.
- Besides solid supportive systems, choose high-quality and reliable construction materials, including plastic, metal, and wood.
- During and after your treehouse construction, make it your routine to inspect your treehouse properly. This strategy will enable you to identify and solve minor risks on point. Otherwise, you can experience a significant expense on big repairing.
- When you spend time in your treehouse, be careful and use it wisely to elongate its lifespan.
Significant Treehouse Construction Points
-
Use the Suitable Fasteners
When constructing a treehouse, always ensure that you are using suitable fasteners. Also, be careful while using them because too many pins can damage the supports of your treehouse. Under high stress, they come out of the trees while destroying your treehouse structures.
-
Don’t Pin Beams
Avoid pinning or fastening beams into the tree trunk or its major branches. These beams can directly slow down the rate of tree growth and sometimes cause significant harm. This way, your treehouse can collapse within a short period.
-
Avoid Girding
Never do girding or surround the tree with wires. Trees have small veins that go up and down freely. But when wires ring a tree, they disturb the movement of nutrients into different parts of a tree while significantly damaging the veins. And without proper nutrients, your kids’ treehouse can fall anytime. Therefore, it is essential to be careful about trees and their health.
-
Let the Tree Grow
While building your treehouse, make sure that you leave the proper place to let your tree grow freely. Even if you unintentionally slowdowns its growth due to less spacing, it will die soon and destroy your beloved treehouse. If you are not an expert at managing space, talk to a tree master and take each step correctly.
-
Pre-treated Wood
Use pre-treated wood to ensure the quality and longevity of your treehouse. Choose the wood that can bear the hardness of summer shine and winter cold. Moreover, apply a coating of sealant on the treehouse after every three years to increase its lifespan and reduce its decaying speed.
Positive & Negative Impacts of Treehouses on the Environment
When you think about building a sweet treehouse in your yard, it is essential to consider its positive and negative impacts on our environment.
Bright Side of Treehouse Construction Regarding Environment
- Treehouses enable people to come out of their homes and spend time with nature.
- Environment-friendly treehouse construction materials are trending in the market. You must use these building materials for significant damage.
Dark Side of Treehouse Construction Regarding Environment
- Cutting down the trees or restricting their natural growth cause their early death. And their early death means the reduction of an essential component from the environment. The specific climatic conditions will change due to this loss and generate negative impacts, such as Global Warming.
- Making a treehouse can also influence soil conditions, which can further generate significant changes in our ecosystem.
- Moreover, if you do not use eco-friendly construction materials for any reason, it can add significant carbon to our environment. The increased carbon footprints in climate can generate different issues, such as Ozone depletion and skin cancer.
Building an Eco-friendly Treehouse
If you really want to construct a treehouse for your kids on your lawn, you must adopt environment-friendly practices so that your treehouse does not harm anything, including your primary source of oxygen, which is air. These environment-friendly practices include;
-
Using Eco-friendly Construction Material
Using eco-friendly construction materials can reduce the destructive impacts of treehouse construction on our environment. These materials do not cause an increase in carbon footprints and hence protect us and our environment from multiple negative consequences. The environment-friendly materials you can use in your treehouse construction include Stone, Cob, Bamboo, Cork, Barn wood, Wooden pallets, Scrap lumber, Adobe brick, Straw bale, Cordwood, Earthbags, and many more.
-
Taking Care of Trees
While building your treehouse, remember that plants can also respire. They also own life and make our environment beautiful in many ways. Besides these benefits, they also provide us with essential oxygen for life. Hence, it is our duty to take care of trees and use them kindly. Avoid doing extra drilling, beam pinning, and branch cutting when constructing a treehouse. All such activities can significantly harm the trees and restrict the free movement of nutrients inside their bodies.
-
Choosing Energy-efficient Designs
If you love your environment, you must prefer energy-efficient treehouse designs that never harm our ecosystem. First and foremost, you can utilize eco-friendly treehouse construction materials. Second, you can install high-performance windows with quality insulated glass. Moreover, you can use those artificial lights that use less energy and decrease electricity bills. Besides these, you can install a roof that provides a comfortable environment in all seasons. Simply put, you have many options to protect your environment while constructing a graceful treehouse.
Final Thoughts
Treehouse is a place where you can release tension and talk to nature to refresh your mood. Likewise, it is the best place to develop creativity in your kids. All the parents wish to construct a dreamy treehouse for their kids. But most of them do not know how to make it effortlessly. Well, in this blog post, we have discussed a 10-steps detailed guide on how to build a sweet treehouse without damaging the trees. Just follow our comprehensive guide and fulfill your treehouse dream efficiently! Lastly, if you want to read more informative blogs, stay connected with Nedes Estimating!
FAQs
How much does it cost to build a treehouse?
The cost of building a tree house depends on its simplicity and complexity. If you target a classic treehouse with a floor, walls, and a simple roof, its cost will be around $3,500. However, if you need something lavishing, its construction budget can reach up to $225,000.
How long does it take to build a treehouse?
The time duration to construct a treehouse is dependent on its nature. If you only want an ordinary treehouse for your kids, it will take around a week to complete its construction. However, if you have a significant budget and want to add something extraordinary to your lawn, it will take approximately 2-6 weeks to meet your expectations.
What is the lifespan of a treehouse?
The lifespan of a treehouse is dependent on the material quality used in its construction and the way you utilize it. However, an excellently constructed and well-maintained treehouse can last for more than 25 years.
How do you build a treehouse without hurting the tree?
By following some beneficial practices, we can construct a beautiful treehouse without hurting the trees. These practices include;
- Avoid cutting the significant parts of a tree.
- Put enough weight that a tree can withstand.
- Avoid drilling and pinning too much.
- Provide a tree and enough space to grow freely.
- Never do wiring around a tree.
What are the problems living in a tree house?
Treehouse is different from your traditional home. It is a place only to spend some time. Moreover, it is essential to live inside it carefully because it can cause many problems;
- The open wiring around the treehouse is dangerous.
- Using a ladder without railings can injure your kids.
- Harsh weather conditions can disturb the supports of the treehouse.
What kind of wood is used for tree houses?
The varieties of hardwood, including hickory, maple, and oak are the best wood options to use in the construction of your treehouse. Some other options include barn wood, cordwood, and wooden pallets.