Top 10 Tree House Building Mistakes
1. Choosing a tree without consulting an expert
Building a tree house starts with a foundation analysis. What species is the tree? Where is the tree in its natural life cycle? Is the tree healthy – free of defects, decay, disease? You may not need a professional tree house builder or arborist to look at the tree if you know the basics or research your tree online. But first consider the level of investment you are making in the tree house before bypassing this step to save a few hundred bucks. How much time and money will you spend on the tree house? What is the intrinsic value of your tree? Every ground house starts with the footer inspection and then concrete, and every tree house starts with the tree’s structural grounding, core integrity, and health.
2. Neglecting to have even a reasonably basic tree house plan
It can be fun to build your tree house one board at a time. It certainly gets you started sooner. But this causes a few common mistakes. When there are multiple branches or trunks, your eye-balling methods may deceive you. You may find that in order to pass a main tree house beam where you thought you could, you have to cut a major branch (bad idea). Secondly, most people have trouble sighting level, especially when the grade is sloped. Note that a tree house platform constructed perfectly level will not necessarily be parallel with the ground. This matters because you may find that what you thought was a 10-11′ span may actually be 13′, which would require a stiffer beam and more support. So it’s back to the lumber store to return the 12′ joists and get some 16’s, and now you need 2x10s instead of 2x8s, increasing the weight, cost, and difficulty of the tree house unexpectedly. Even if you can sight level and your beams and spans work out, you may still end up trying to improvise extra tree house attachment points on the fly, which may lead to less than optimal decisions for the tree house and/or the tree. Our advice: climb the tree, take measurements, temporarily mark each beam, draw the tree house platform on paper, and do whatever else it takes to reduce the surprises once you start building.
3. Using too small or the wrong fasteners
Don’t assume that the biggest lag bolt on the shelf at your local big box home improvement retailer is suitable for holding up your tree house. Even a kids tree house with walls, windows, and a roof, will probably use a couple thousand pounds of materials. And then you need to allow for the tree house to also support live loads to cover as many people as can fit up there. It always pays to use the right fastener. Use screws or carraige bolts for places where the tree house will primarily be subject to pullout or tension forces. Use nails where shear forces are primary. Be careful to use approved fasteners for treated lumber. Beware that most of these mistakes will not cause tree house failure in the short term, so you might not necessarily know you made a mistake right away.
4. Using too many fasteners
Never place tree house fasteners too close together in the tree. Remember that trees don’t heal, they seal, or compartmentalize around each wound. If wounds are too close together, the tree may treat them as one wound, which will cause the wood between the fasteners to decay. This will almost certainly cause the tree house to fail. A better approach: Use one, large tree house fastener, instead of multiple smaller ones. I know it’s tempting to use the smaller ones because that’s what you can buy on the shelf, but don’t be lazy with tree house safety.
5. Pinning a beam to a tree
When a tree house beam is pinned to the tree, one of two bad things WILL happen: 1) the beam will restrict growth on that side of the tree, causing it to suffer, or 2) the tree will continue to grow, pushing the beam outward and right off the bolts it was secured with! Eventually, it will fall off and the tree house will fall down. It is advisable to “perch” the beam on a super strong professional tree house fastener like an artificial limb, rather than pinning a beam to the tree.
6. Inadequate stabilization of the platform
The tree house platform should be stable because any movement will wear parts loose over time and become more dangerous. We usually see problems with knee braces not being installed tightly to reduce movement. If the tree house fasteners themselves are moving, you have a big problem because the tree will never seal that wound properly. You will likely see liquid coming from the spot, the wound will remain open, the tree will suffer, and the fastener will get looser and looser and probably fall out.
7. Girdling the tree with rope, cable, or 2x4s
Don’t wrap anything around the tree to support the tree house. You can completely kill the limb or trunk if you do. Even if the tree survives, it will certainly suffer. We see this a lot on zip lines, and when cables or chains are used for tree house supports. We have also seen many people nail short 2x4s into the trunk to space the chains or cables 1.5″ away from the branch or trunk. That will lessen girdling, but it breaks rules #4 and #5. Get the right tree house fasteners to keep your tree happy.
8. Not leaving room for the tree to grow – boxing around
The tree house should only touch the tree where necessary. This means when you frame your beams, joists, rafters, etc., that they all need to allow the tree sufficient room to grow over time and sway in the breeze without rubbing the tree house. If you don’t do this, you risk girdling the tree and reducing the life of your tree house. If you later decide to extend the life of the tree house, your maintenance will be harder, so plan for growth. Ask an expert how fast your tree will grow.
9. Nailing ladder rungs onto the tree trunk
You may have seen a picture of 2×4 ladder rungs each nailed into a tree for tree house access. That is not nice to the tree. As a general rule, no part of the tree house should touch the tree unless it has too. There are many other ways to build a ladder or access the tree house. These types of ladders are repeat offenders for breaking rule #4.
10. Not bothering to preserve natural wood surfaces
Wood, whether pressure treated, cedar, or even bald-cypress has a clock. The sun, rain and snow will cause them to decay and the tree house will look older faster, and need replacement sooner. Commercially produced lumber does not last as long as the old growth forests. Profit drives companies to grow timbers faster, so they don’t build their natural resistance to decay and pests. If your tree house is built with reclaimed lumber, this might not apply, however, treatment will extend the life and beauty of any wood. At a minimum, protect your tree house by applying a clear sealant on the exterior floors, stairs, and railings every 1-3 years.
Questions? Contact Tree Top Builders for more information on safely building tree houses.
I was wondering is there something to treat a log you want to use as a vertical support so it doesn’t rot. I am planning on building a tree house, around a locust, in the area, several locust and a black walnut came down as a result of a big wind storm and I wanted to use the trunks as a vertical support, but wanted to treat them so they don’t rot. Thanks.
Hello Emily,
I want to be sure I am understanding you properly. You have trees that have fallen and you would like to use them as supports for your treehouse? If this is the case, you would need to encase the logs (as you call them) if you put them in the ground (i.e. concrete footer, plastic sheath, etc.). But having them outside in the elements (air, rain, humidity, airborne fungus, etc.) it will be hard to prevent them from rotting. Your best solution is to be sure to address the issue at the base and be sure wood doesn’t come in contact with soil where bugs and moisture can cultivate rot. There are many blogs and products on the market for wood rot (i.e. Smith-CPES, Abatron) and harsh chemicals like wood-tar creosote (which I wouldn’t recommend due to its toxicity). There was a recommendation from a client once saying he sprayed anti-freeze on wood to help prevent rot.
With all that being said, if it is outside in the elements it will be hard to prevent rot from occurring in wood. You can help prolong the life by avoiding direct contact to dirt and sealing it with a clear coat epoxy.
I hope this helps. Best of luck!
from what I know,locust last a very long time. this is why people like locust fence posts.
Black locust lasts forever, but honey locust is a different thing altogether. They are not even related.
They are related, both members of the bean family, just not as closely related as you or me.
So I have built a treehouse on an 8×12 platform. The platform rests on 3 2×10 beams attached to 4 large lodgepole pine trees. Each of these beams have one end screwed to a tree and the othe end resting in a bracket attached to another tree that allows for movement of the trees. In any case, on a windy day the treehouse can move, sometimes up to 3-4 inches. My question is this: Do you have any ideas for how to attach stairs to the treehouse that would also allow for movement without damage to the house or the stairs?
Hello Doug,
The best way is to allow one end of the stairs to float. So the top stringer can be made to slide in a contained slot (hopefully with UHMW or another low friction material screwed to stringer and platform). Or, you can rigidly attach the top, but make a small ramp at the bottom that the bottom stringers can slide on.
This is a difficult task, so a perfect solution takes some thought and effort to create. If you create something and want feedback, please post a photo for us.
Good luck,
-Dan
Because attaching a platform to our tree is beyond our budget and capabilities, we are building it freestanding around it. The tree is large, healthy, and coniferous. The floor level will be 5-6′ up. How much space should I leave between the tree and the deck?
Hi Starkey,
There is no black and white answer, but three principles to consider: movement, growth, and pinching.
Movement: At 5-6′ above ground, the tree probably moves less than 1/4″ in the wind.
Growth: North American trees generally grow at 1/8″ to 1/2″ per year. As the tree grows, you may need to enlarge the hole. Try to space joists further away and let decking cantilever so that trimming the hole is easy.
Pinching: If the space is 3/4″, and a child has fingers in the hole and then the wind blows, it can hurt.
If the space is 3″ or more, some clients are worried that a foot could slip through. I think a happy medium is about a 1.5″ to 2″ space.
Good luck!
-Dan
hey, im building a treehouse and was just wondering would it be okay to use just 6
5mmx100mm screws on each end of the beams?
Hello Chris,
6 screws of 5mm diameter would not be the best choice. It would be better to use fewer, larger fasteners. I don’t know how big your project is, so I can’t make a recommendation without more information. The fastener choice is determined by the expected loads, the type of tree, the desired lifespan of the project, and a few other factors. If you make a sketch of your plan and send it in, then we can help you with more specific advice and provide you with any custom materials you may need.
Good luck,
-Dan
I am using coated lag bolts to attach 2x8s to the tree. Is that ok for the tree? It is the same type of coating for screws used in joining treated lumber.
Thanks,
Dave
Hi Dave, What type of coating is it? There are many coatings approved for use in treated lumber. However, you should be more concerned about the fastener where it passes through treated lumber, than with the coating causing trouble for the tree. I’ve seen galvanized, ceramic, triple zinc, proprietary mixes, and in the new PT lumber, none of them really last that long. Trees generally do not have reaction problems with hardware of any kind, but I am not aware of any scientific studies on the subject. I am just answering based on theory and assessment of the few trees that I have dissected. -Dan
Hi. I have a maple that needs to come down, and I want to have the crew leave a 6-foot stump that I can use as a base. Since I don’t have to worry about wind movement, growth, or the health of the tree, do I need to bear in mind any of these concerns about bolts, not-attaching-to-the-tree, etc? Thanks!
Hello Dex,
Lots of people build on large stumps and there are pros and cons. To address your question, you can use conventional methods to attach to a stump. The tree is dead, so girdling is not an issue. You can cut notches into the tree with a chainsaw and set beams directly onto the heartwood, something I would never do with a live tree. This will save some money, too, since custom treehouse bolts (TABs) are not cheap – very high quality, but not cheap.
The downside that I must warn you about is that the stump is dead and will start to decay immediately. I don’t know how many years you’ve got until the trunk will fall over. Some species vary and there are other unknown potential factors. Also, if the wood that your structural members are attached to rots, then the treehouse could still fall before the trunk falls over. When the stump becomes unstable, you can add posts to the ground to help carry the treehouse for a few more years… Good luck, -Dan
I’m building a treehouse with a deck and I would like to use branches from cedar trees and other trees that have fallen as posts for the railings. I know cedar is a good wood to use, what about maple, oak and ash? Should I put a water sealant on the posts over the bark or should I strip the bark? I could use treated wood from the lumber store, but I think the tree branches will look better. Will they be strong enough and last long?
Thanks
Natural branches generally do not last as long as pressure treated parts for railings. The problem with the smaller parts is that they are mostly sapwood, which rots in a matter of 1-5 years outside for most species. The heartwood, however, can last a very long time. Definitely strip the back before preserving – this eliminates a hiding spot for bugs, and also allows a penetrating stain to change the color, if you prefer.
One other trick, for safety, is to use a sturdy rail frame (PT wood, locust, white oak, etc…) and install netting as fill, and then put branches over the netting. That way, if a branch rots, people are still safe. Eyes are drawn to the branches instead of the frame.
Dave
My grandson’s treehouse was built free standing aroung a 40 ft or so now 25 year old tree with the platform about 8 ft above ground level with split tree trunk sections going throught the outer decking. A couple of the trunks, which are 22 to 25 inches in diameter are now close enough to the house (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 Inches) that when they sway in the wind they rub against the upper side wall of the house with the bark wearing. Is there a good would to reduce the wearing and swaying of the trunk section. Thought of putting either a wood spacer (that may need to be reduced in size over time) to snug the trunk to the house or a padded wood spacer or padded material of some sort at the interference points. Do have concerns of the effect this may have on the tree house Please advise.
Thanks
Arnie
Hello Arnie,
UHMW would be better than wood. But another idea is horse stall matting. Rubber matting of any kind would also be better than wood. We don’t sell much of the stuff but we could cut and sell you a small piece if you don’t want to buy a full sheet at a place like tractor supply. If you want us to ship it to you, please tell us how big of a piece you want. I suggest getting it a little bigger so that you have room to nail it to the treehouse walls around each edge of the tree trunk. The trunk will continue to get bigger.
Thank you and good luck,
-Dan
Hi,
I am in the middle of building a tree house from a Black and Decker tree house book. I did everything as they said except that they suggested using 2×2 or 2×3 lumber for the wall framing which I could not find. It hadn’t occurred to me at the time to cut the 2×4’s down the middle and now I already have all my walls framed with 2×4’s.
I was wondering if this is going to be way too heavy. The 8×8 platform seems incredibly sturdy and secure and I plan on using a very light wood siding and sheets of light polycarbonate roof panels.
Because the walls are already framed I do plan on using them, but I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Thanks,
Matt
Hello Matt,
When engineering a treehouse, the live loads (those from people, snow, etc) generally are more significant than the dead loads (those from lumber). If your design is safe with a 2×2 wall, but unsafe with a 2×4 wall, then you have no safety factor for an extra kid or two to climb up, which in my mind is dangerous. Be careful when using cheap off the shelf books to build treehouses. Companies like Black & Decker and television shows like Extreme Makeover are not experts at building treehouses. They are far from it. When we build treehouses, our tree attachment systems are much more robust than anything in that book – you can’t compare the two. I wish I could be more help, but anything I say is more than you’ll get if you try to contact the publisher or author of the book you bought. You get what you pay for. If you want to use the treehouse plans from our supply company, then they will provide unlimited phone or email support for questions like this. We unfortunately can’t offer free support for treehouse plans from other companies, especially companies that don’t know enough about treehouse building to begin with.
Good luck,
-Dan
Thanks Dan,
Thanks for your input! I found this blog through a Google search and was under the impression that you were accepting general questions about tree house construction regardless of what book the plans came from, if any book at all. I didn’t realize this comment section was meant for your customers! Didn’t mean to offend!
Thanks,
Matt
Hello
Your site is very helpful.
I am building a 10 x 10 platform on a single tree. Tree diameter is 2.7 ft. I wanted to use 10 ft long 2×10 boards for beams. With beams that long I was wondering if I needed to support them other than attaching them to the tree.
I plan on having 4 braces (1 at each corner) tied back to the base of the tree.
Thanks
Hi Chris: I hate to say it, but I need more information to give a confident answer. If I make an assumption that you are building with a plan similar to the 10×10 treehouse plan on http://www.treehousesupplies.com, then the 10′ board will have support at the middle and be tied into rim joists which have knee brace support, in which case, a 2×10 should be sufficient. However, I would consider using a 4×10 or 2 2x10s for balance on the TAB. If that’s overkill, then consider downsizing the lumber but using 2 pieces, such as 2 2x8s. The width really does make it fit on the brackets and TABs better. Good luck, -Dan
I’m planning on building a tree house on four Doug firs. I will build a movable platform first and then the tree house on top of the platform. Will the supports (and consequently the tree house) move in a vertical direction as the tree grows.
Thanks,
Alejandro
Hello Alejandro,
The TABs in the tree will always remain at the same height above ground. Tree tissues only elongate at the tips of the branches. The tree will, however, increase in girth and grow around the edges of the bolt over time. Generally, on four trees, we’re using one fixed bracket and 3 floating brackets. This makes the treehouse move with one of the trees (either the biggest or the one closest to the middle), and the other 3 trees can move independently without stressing the platform.
Good luck,
-Dan
Good morning Dan,
I am in the planning stages of building a treehouse overlooking a pool in our backyard. We have a large Live Oak approximately 20-24″ in diameter. The tree forks \I/ almost evenly around 6 1/2 feet. This is/was the location I was planning for running two 4x6x12′ beams. My question is, and this maybe a dumb one, but can that even fork serve as the rest for the beam?
Thanks in advance for you’re advice,
Seth
Hi Seth,
Firstly, you should assess whether the tree is safe. When a tree splits into 2 roughly even leaders (tree-speak for central trunks), each stem is called “Co-Dominant.” In general, if the shape made by the union is rounded like the letter “U”, then it is more likely to be strong. If the shape is like the letter “V”, then you have to look to see if bark from each side is touching in the center (included bark) which prevents the structural attachment of both sides of the tree. If you see a deep crevice that collects dirt and leaves and has little plants growing in it, then the tree is likely to split and fail. If in doubt, always hire an arborist to assess the tree.
Assuming that the tree is safe, I have built plenty of platforms in this type of tree. For small platforms, it is a 4-TAB platform, with 2 parallel beams. Each trunk gets 2 TABs on opposite sides. One tree uses a rigid fixed bracket such as a pipe bracket for treehouse and the other tree gets floating brackets for treehouse. Larger or heavier use platforms may need more support.
I hope this points you in the right direction. Good luck,
-Dan
Hi Dan,
Is there anywhere online where they list beam sizes for span distances? I have two 24″ diameter Douglas Fir trees that are 15′ apart. I planned to use a beam that was 18′ so I have a decent overhang at each of the TAB’s. But I can’t find any place that tells me what size beam I would need for that span.
Thanks for any advise you can provide.
Mike
Hello Mike,
Usually I ask our engineer when in doubt and he knows where to get all of that data. I assume you are not working with an engineer, so for common materials like pressure treated lumber, most lumber yards will have tables available if you ask at the lumber sales desk. For engineered beams, I would go to the manufacturer’s website and/or call one of their reps. We use a lot of engineered pressure treated beams these days, where in the past we would fasten two 2x12s together…
Good luck,
-Dan
Hi Dan,
I’m looking at building a multitude treehouse with the central. tree bing a 2’2″ cedar. The cedar tree is quite healthy but has a slight lean to it. (about 5 degrees) ca you tell me if this would put excessive strain on the tree. The other tree’s that would be used are in the direction of the lean and also at 90 and 140 degrees.
Thanks,
Joy
Joy: All else being okay, a 5 degree lean is not a concern. Do you have a sketch of what you want to build or some pictures of the three trees? -Dan
Dan
I am ready to put siding on treehouse – need about 300 sq ft
I don’t want to use any product that might be toxic to grandchildren
What do you recommend?
Jim
Hi Jim,
My favorite siding for basic backyard treehouses is T1-11. It is inexpensive and easy to install. There are fancier versions of this if you order through a lumber yard.
Another option is any type of shiplap or board & batten wood siding, such as cedar, pine, or spruce. These will cost a bit more, take longer to install, but have more character.
To avoid toxicity, stay clear of pressure treated wood and most preservatives.
Best Wishes,
-Dan
Dan,
I need to top some trees that have been topped before. There are multiple tops on one and three 20″ tops on the other. I would like to build a platform on. Is this fesable? The trees are green and healthy. Are there any specific building techniques I could use for this perch?
Hi Kj,
This isn’t good for the trees. You probably know that. But the methods of tree attachments will vary according to whether or not you expect the tree to survive at all. How much of the green branch tissue will be removed? If enough remains near the attachment bolts, then our proprietary methods are preferable. If the tree will not have any green left, then it will likely not regrow, and you might as well notch the trunk and bolt beams onto it according to general carpentry principles.
Good luck,
-Dan
I am building a tree house between two trees with an 8′ x 8′ platform around each tree. One platform will have walls and a covered roof, the other will have spindles and a railing similar to a deck railing. They are planned to be connected with a bridge between them. The platforms will be 7′ above the ground. Are there any concerns with independent movement of the trees wither connected together in this fashion?
Also, I was planning to support theses platforms with (4) treated posts on each platform, one at each corner.
Hi Jason,
Be sure to add bracing underneath the platforms and/or connect the bridge tension to the trunk of the trees. A tension bridge can pull two treehouses together when people jump in the middle. Our treehouse bridge kits are tension style bridges. But if the bridge is rigid, then you just have to leave enough space for the trees to sway. If you are using 100% ground support for each platform, then just leave a space around each tree trunk so that the trees can move without yanking the structure around. Make sense? Does that help? -Dan
Hi Dan, I have 3 black walnut trees with about 24″ diameter trunks they are 15feet apart in a triangle shape. Are black walnuts good trees to build on.? They look very healthy but they do drop those baseball size nuts every year.
Vono: I like working in walnut except when bombs are dropping. They are good trees otherwise! Very hard wood – so keep that in mind while installing your TABs… -Dan
I’m hoping to build a platform (maybe 8ft x 6 ft) on a big old conifer that has many branches and so would offer lots of support. Trouble is, the tree is dead, so we plan to cut it down to a stump of about 6 ft tall. I live in New Zealand, so the climate is mild and there are no extremes of cold, no frosts, but warm summers and lots of rain. The timber has not deteriorated and the limbs are incredibly dense. Is this a viable proposition, and would the stumps need treatment? I would really appreciate your ideas, thank you
Hello Chris, I can’t promise to you how long the stump will last. The roots may rot underground before the trunk does above ground. I am aware of no research to rest upon that will give you confidence to build on a stump. This is a good time to use posts on the corners… -Dan
Dan, I’m planning on building my first treehouse – I’ve always wanted a medium size house about 15 feet up a tree. Since we got a new property in Fredericksburg Virginia, that’s a possibility now. However, most of the trees around our house are very thin (6-8″ diameter). I have found three trees that could work for the house, though. My favorite tree is (I believe) a healthy Yellow Poplar with a 24″ diameter trunk. The other two trees I like are (again, I believe) White Oak, but with 13″ and 15.6″ trunks, respectively. The smaller of the two aforementioned trees is 11.7 feet away from my favorite, while the larger is about 6 feet away. My desired house would be 11×8′, and built between trees, not around them.
I will look at the rest of your site to determine how I should build the rest, or simply ask another question. The only real answers I’m looking for are 1) whether a 13″ diameter trunk is thick enough for a White Oak, and 2) which trees of the two smaller ones I mentioned would you recommend I use?
Thanks, J.S.H.
Hello Jack,
A 13″ white oak is a good candidate for a multi-tree platform, but not a single tree platform. The 20″ poplar is better for a single tree platform. However, it is challenging to use 6-8″ trees for significant loads. I have done it, but it must be done carefully, and I can’t get more specific until we see a sketch of the trees and the desired treehouse to make sure it will work. I can help you with that if you want a building quote. If you are going to build it yourself, you will want to work with Scott: design at treehousesupplies dot com. He can help with basic plans and hardware specifications. We have a 7″ black oak that we tested to 7200 lbs. load with a modified 6×12 TAB bolt. We are watching the tree and it seems good after 14 months. If you use the smaller trees, make sure that Scott or I review what you’re doing so that we can suggest the best attachment method, which may be non-standard. Also, be sure to get the exact diameter measurement at the height where the bolt will be installed before we finalize the plan.
Good luck,
-Dan
I built a 12 x 12 foot tree house platform and used treated 5/4″ deck boards spaced about 1/4″ apart on 16″ centers.
A year later we are now ready to add a house on the railed platform. We want the house to be dry and will have windows and doors. What do you suggest I put on the floor? Since it will be laying on the treated deck boards, can I just lay exterior plywood and then put any flooring on top of that? Will the plywood rot because of water working its way across exposed deck boards and end up between the de King and the plywood? The platform will have 2′ exposed walkway (no roof over that part of the platform) all around the house that is centered on the platform.
Hi Terry,
It depends on whether you are going for perfectly dry or not. For 95% of backyard treehouses, you don’t need to worry about water wicking. Here are some hints if you are in the other 5%.
1. On sides where the wall is on the edge of the tree platform, let sheathing & siding overlap the rim joists.
2. On sides where the wall is on the interior of the tree platform, use a roof overhang, cut the flashing through or into the decking (like a masonry chimney flashing), or caulk & flash the floor to framing connections.
3. Caulk the inside framing to wall connection.
4. good idea to use exterior plywood for the buildup, allowing a 1/4″ to 1/2″ space from the framing, and then put finish flooring over the top. If climate controlling the treehouse, then put flooring paper down just like you would do in a ground house.
Good luck!
-Dan
Hey. I plan on building my kids their first tree house. I am planning on a 10×16 platform with an additional raised crows nest of 4×4 platform so it will be a fairly large tree house. I have researched and read up on countless sites and books and have seen many different kinds of wood used. I have several mills located in my area and have decided to use green white oak for the entire tree house, structural and finish, with the hopes of adding in eastern red cedar where I can. I cannot find any mill that will cut eastern red cedar of any size for structural purposes; 4x or larger, for me which would have been my first choice based on its weather and bug resistance. I do plan to use oil based stain or paint once complete. Have you or anyone used a majority of green oak and could there be another more reasonable choice of wood to use that would be easier but have the strength as well? I will be completing this project alone and I know that green oak will have massive weight on larger rough cut 2x and 4xs.
Thanks
Danny
Holy Cow, I’ve never attempted to build a treehouse entirely out of green oak. We have used oak beams, both green and dry (reclaimed). There was this one project in Panama where we used nothing but tropical hardwoods with rare names but similar to mahogany and cumaru. Typically, for cost and weight reasons, we’re switching to PT lumber for joists and using pine or similar for framing. Heartwood white oak is worth the weight for exterior flooring and railings. Most of the time I’ve heard of green white oak, it’s for bending and projects like wine barrels or boats. I would not use something so heavy for wall studs, rafters, siding, etc… unless I had something to prove by using that material exclusively or if it had sentimental value. If you can use cedar for the framing, siding, & trim (and maybe railings too, but white oak makes nice railings too) then this will save a bunch of weight. I know someone who can supply green eastern red cedar – I buy a lot from the guy in various sizes. He grows it in upstate New York and delivers it down to us in PA. If you need a lot of it, then we could send it through our freight account, which gets pretty decent rates based on our volumes… Where are you located? I might know someone closer to you…
Thank you,
-Dan
Hi,
I built a treehouse on a large maple (11 x 11 platform, 8 ft above ground ). The platform was stable as I was building it, but now that the walls and rood are finished there is a bit of shaking when kids/adults move inside. Is that shaking normal?
The frame rests on 4 diagonal beams attached to the trunk at about 45 degree angles, and I built it so there was space for the tree to grow and move.
Thanks
Francisco
Hi Francisco,
Normally, all single tree platforms have some rotational movement to them. However, this is unusual because the movement generally reduces as you build. It is most shaky when less wood is attached. As more wood is added, the ratio of the momentum a person can generate to the steady mass of the structure decreases, making it feel more stable. If you doubt the structural integrity of your treehouse, then you could have it evaluated. I would need a video or to visit the site myself to be able to tell you if the movement you are feeling is normal.
Be safe,
-Dan
Hi Dan,
Thanks for following up. I could try sending you a video but it might be difficult to see. Please feel free to email me to let me know where to send you the video.
Thanks again,
Francisco
Hi Dan, thanks for the article. I’m bought some plans for a tree house that I want to build from treehouseguides.com Before I go out and purchase my supplies, I was wondering if you know anything about their plans, or if you would be willing to take a look at them? The platform seems to – perhaps – violate your rule 5. However, I’m not really clear on what you mean by pinning a beam to a tree. The plans call for building two supports and attaching them to the tree with three 10″x3/4″ lag bolts each.
Thanks for your time!
Jed
also, if I buy normal 2x4s and 2x6s from lowes and seal them with Thompson’s sealer, will that be okay? I’m not too keen on using pressure treated lumber around my son!
Hi again, Jed, – You can do what you’re saying. PT lumber will last longer, however, so keep that in mind. Another option is to buy cedar or redwood. If you’re going to use regular wood such as spruce or pine or fir, then I’d go with a semi transparent or a solid color stain instead of thompsons because the more solid the coating, the longer it should last outdoors. Given the extra labor and cost of stain, you’re not skipping the PT wood to save money, but if you prefer the chemicals in stain or thompsons instead of the chemicals in the PT wood, then you have the option. -Dan
Great! Thank you so much for the guidance!
Hi Jed,
Sorry for the late response! I missed your message earlier in the month. Yes, I am familiar with the plans you’re talking about. They are easier to build, but they do not allow room for the tree to expand in girth as it grows. There is a tradeoff, you see, where those plans will be easier to build and cost less for materials, but the tree will suffer more and more as the years go on. Our design style will cost a bit more and be a little harder to install (though we have free DIY install videos), but the damage to the tree and growth interference get less over time, rather than the other way around. So if you want a long term treehouse, I would rethink the direction you are heading. I like that website and it was an inspiration to me before I started Tree Top Builders, but I don’t like the tree attachment methodology that Patrick is suggesting with his plans.
Best Wishes,
-Dan
Hello, I’ve ordered two of your floating TABs and plan on building a square house with two corners supported by trees and two corners supported by posts. My question is should my post and trees both be on the same sides or would it be better if they were diagonal from each other?
Also wondering if it’s necessary to use treated joists if my house is going to have a roof and water tight walls?
Hi!
I can’t think of a reason where the configuration of attachment points would matter unless there is more to the story…
Treated joists are less tasty to bees. But you can spray if that becomes a problem in the future.
If you order the TABs and brackets from our treehouse store (http://www.treehousesupplies.com), then they will offer free support in answering questions like this. You can pick up the phone and call them too at 610.701.2458.
Good luck,
-Dan
Hi there. Great website.
I am in the process of building a 16×10 platform that I will use to support an 8×10 enclosed house . I have built the platform much like any other deck using all PT lumber for beams, joists, deck boards, etc. As I build the house I was planning to use PT lumber for the bottom plates of the walls with flashing and overlaps as needed to shed the water away where the walls meet the platform deck. Do I need to use PT lumber for the studs and rafters inside the enclosed house? What type of plywood should I install over the decking inside the enclosed house for use as a subfloor – does it need to be PT? Thanks.
Hi Ryan,
It sounds like you know what you’re doing. I probably wouldn’t go with PT subfloor, especially since it is going over the top of decking. The flashing is key, and making sure that siding overlaps as much as possible. You can also consider letting the flashing through the decking – sometimes we frame the deck to allow a slot for wall sheathing to pass through, but you’re already past that point.
Good luck!
-Dan
Hello, I’m building a 8×12 platform 8ft off ground
Planning on 2 2x10x12 glued and screwed together for the main beams.
Tree is a 35 inch diameter oak
2x6x8 joist 16″ center
? Will 2 4x6s serving as knee braces work 1 on each side of tree?
Brian
Hi Brian,
We generally use more than 2 knee braces on a single tree platform, but 4×6 is probably a good sized knee brace for this size of treehouse. It’s tough to be precise without knowing what plan you are building from. I know the customer support at http://www.treehousesupplies.com has over 50 different plans to choose from and will help with questions about plans, tree attachment hardware, and accessories. That way you can use something that we know works, rather than reinventing the treehouse!
Happy building,
-Dan
Hi Dan,
I’m wondering if a pine tree is ok to build a tree platform in. It’s the only large tree in our yard but I know pine is a soft wood and we don’t want to damage the tree.
Hi Christina,
We have built many treehouses in pine trees. Some pines are soft while others are a medium density wood. We have built in several species of pine with no problems. There is no reason to believe that building a treehouse would damage a pine tree any more than it would damage another species. Let me know if you need any other help getting started – we have plans, hardware, and offer full service construction.
Arboreally Yours,
-Dan
I’m building a tree house in a very large and mature maple tree. The tree is split at the base into four seperate somewhat evenly spaced trunks. These trunks however are at various angles. My question is, is it possible to notch out the tree to secure the floor joists? I planned to use lag bolts in addition to seating the 2×12 in the notch. Appreciate your time.
Hello Thomas,
It is possible to do what you are asking about. In fact, I have seen other people do that. However, it is very bad for the trees to build like this. We design treehouses that require minimal cutting of the tree. Preferably, the only tree damage we do is installing the main bolts and the rest of the structure doesn’t actually contact the tree at all.
I hope this helps,
-Dan
love this dialog, Dan
I am soon to sell my home (maybe in a year) which has a, what appears to be failing, 125 yo black walnut in the front yard. If in fact my arborist tells me to cut it this spring, I was thinking of having something built in the lower 15-20 ft on a 3′ trunk and 1′ branches. Not sure if I can build a treehouse by permit yet but have you any other ideas for what to perch in those branches until the roots rot? I’ve lived in its shade for 30 years. I can’t bear to just annihilate it. Thanks for your time.
Hi Gail,
I can appreciate your connection to this tree and desire to see it continue in your life somehow. If you build a treehouse in it, keep the project close to the ground 10′ high or less, and be advised that the wood will not last forever and the project will not be safe when the roots rot. Another option for you would be to remove the tree, mill it into lumber, and build something for your home with it – keeping it out of soil contact and weather conditions will preserve the beauty of walnut flooring or furniture for generations…
Best Wishes,
-Dan
How do I determine what size tabs to buy for my platform? My plan is for double 2×6 pressure treated joists on the outside of the two for trees I have, which are 54″ and 48″ diameter and 28 inches part. The platform is about 10’x10′. The other end of the 2×6 joists would have 3-4″ diameter pipe holding the house up. Single story 10’x7′ footprint….perhaps a half length loft .
Hi Adam,
TAB sizes vary according to the design load that they will carry and the hardness of the wood species they are installed into. Given only 100 square feet, and some ground support, it is unlikely that you’ll need the largest size TABs, but I’d rather direct you to our treehouse supplies sister company for some personal correspondence regarding your project. If you make a very simple 2D sketch of the 10×10 area showing a circle where each tree is, then they will be able to size the TABs, spec brackets, and anything else you may have questions about. Hardware questions are answered free.
Thank you,
-Dan
I’m building a pair of 15’x12’x10’x12′ trapezoidal platforms between 4 Ponderosa pines, one at 6’6″ and the other almost ground level at about 4″.
I’m using treated pine wood and a mixture of 2x4s and 2x8s.
The pines are located at the 4 corners of the trapezoid with trunk diameters ranging from 11″ to well over 18″.
During high winds, the trees will bend or move a couple of inches even at the 6′ height.
I can either attach them to the trees, or use 6x6s “inside” the corners of the trapezoid, and not connect to the trees at all.
What would be the best method to attach these platforms?
Thank you.
SG
Hi Scott,
You could really build it either way. The floating brackets & TABs at our affiliate company Treehouse Supplies can allow 2″ of tree movement. Ponderosa Pine is really soft wood, however, so I’d use a 3×9 or bigger TAB, one per tree.
Happy Treehouse Building
I have a massive oak tree: seven different trunks coming out of the same base, all at an angle. The base must be 5′ in diameter and almost all of the trunks are at least 18″ in diameter. About 15′ up, they all separate enough to make a large open area. I have a lot of building experience (I built my house). I want to make a platform by connecting beams to the trunks. Because the angle of the trunks, i shouldn’t need diagonal support; a few beams should be the whole structure. How do I make sure the beams will limit natural movement, but allow natural growth? If I use Treehouse attachment bolts, with slots, will that be enough to accommodate the natural growth? Is there a better method? Thanks.
Hi Josh,
These types of trees present a lot of intermediate level challenges for a pro treehouse builder. I find that cabled platforms do alright if done properly, but those are advanced techniques. An easier method to understand would be to pass a central beam through the center attached to 2 trees – one fixed bracket and one floating. Then perpendicular joists on top. The joists will need at least 4 other floating attachments which can be slotted brackets or short suspension often works better when trees are leaning like yours. I would like to help you with the specifics, but we would need to see photos showing the lean, a diagram of the spacing of the 7 trunks, and a quick sketch with dimensions of the shape of platform you intend to build. I prefer to use TABs under the central beam, but the other points might use smaller hardware depending on the size and loads on each point.
I hope this points you in the right direction. I can help more but you’ll need to email the information I mentioned and then I can spec and supply the correct hardware or generate a construction quote if you want us to build the platform and let you take over from there…
Thank you,
-Dan
I’m planning to build a 13’x14′ platform with a small treehouse on it (about 7’x7′). I’m not sure where exactly the treehouse will be located because there are branches in the way and it’s hard to take accurate measurements without the platform in place. Am I better off building the platform, covering it with decking boards and then figuring out where exactly to put down the plywood subfloor for the treehouse? Or should I decide ahead of time where exactly the treehouse is going to go and put down plywood there instead of decking boards? It would save me 50 sqft of decking. Does it matter if the house plywood subfloor is attached onto the deck or directly onto the joists? Thanks.
Hi Lauren,
We have built treehouses both ways that you are describing. Step #1, Install TABs, beams, & floor joists. Then, the frame is in place to take measurements and you can decide whether to run decking on the whole platform or lay plywood first and then decking around it. The easiest method for beginners is probably to run decking first, then plywood on top. The other way around requires you to visualize where you will allow drainage and where you will need nailers ahead of time.
Good luck,
-Dan
-Dan