“I would like to build my daughter a small treehouse. Are redwoods suitable trees for building treehouses in? As you know they are quite fast growing. would a single tree or multiple trees be preferable? not too many branches all trunk. What fasteners would you recommend? I am a contractor and am going to build the treehouse myself. Thank you for any insight you may have.”
Hi Pete,
It sounds like you have done your research on your redwood trees and are asking the right questions to build your treehouse. I know of a lot of treehouses build in Coastal Redwood Trees (Sequoia sempervirens). The two issues to keep in mind with redwood trees are that they grow fast and the wood is soft. These are two reasons to use larger treehouse attachment bolts when building in redwood trees. The larger bolts give you 1) more bearing surface on the tree’s wood, and 2) they space your beams out away from the trunk so that the tree has more room to grow.
The bark of a coastal redwood tree can be several inches thick and it is non-bearing. This means that your load from the treehouse beam is going to be perched out some distance from the bearing surface, and there is significant leverage the further away you place the load. So, unless the treehouse is tiny, I would back up the treehouse attachment bolt with a suspension cable , and then you’re all set. Here is an example of a treehouse bolt that would do the job, and a suspension plate that fits on the end to cable up to reduce leverage. You can connect the suspension plate to a large lag bolt with some cable. This type of a system costs something to buy all the parts, but it will allow your redwood trees the greatest future growth opportunities and still provide more than adequate support for most normal sized treehouses.
Best wishes with your treehouse,
HI Dan – The links to the treehouse bolt and the suspension plate are no longer active. Could you send those links over to me seperately?
Thanks, Jon
Hi Jon: You’re correct! The parts they linked to changed slightly over the years. The links now go to the parts that replaced the originals. I also emailed them to you. Good Luck! -Dan
wow sounds great.
Im looking for same info and a builder in Sonoma
Any help would be appreciated.
Ernie
Hi Ernie – we build all over the country, including California probably every 1-2 years. Would you like to talk with us about what that would look like? -Dan
Does anyone know which is the highest above the forest ground floor,meaning the loftiest treehouse and thus also where the main support beams for the floor of the treehouse is placed,(safety regulations for a sturdy build thoroughly upheld and followed)as far up in any tree as possible in the emtire world by March 2021.It is a must that this treehouse is a full treehouse with a living room,a possibly installed kitchenette a small bathroom,and a bedroom,making it a place to live in for one or two persons,maybe even three. If anyone knows where this fantastic marvel is to be found on this blue ball,please include some photographs,if possible…! The very best greetings from,Lars Jone Larsen, age 50,from Hinna in Stavanger,in the county of Rogaland in the magnificent treehouse country of Norway…! Ps..! Appreciate any help..!
I have pondered and searched the answer to this question to no avail for years and years and years…!
Hi Lars,
Well, we don’t own the record. Our highest build is about 60′ so far. I know someone with a 90′ platform. I have heard of higher treehouses, but that requires taller trees than what grows in our part of the world. Perhaps someone will chime in and answer this for you!
-Dan
Hi I’m looking to build in a grove of redwoods. I have tabs that will be anchored in 4 corners with 3 moving plates 1 fixed. My question is however since I’m attached to 4 differnt trees will the attachment points become un level after time as the trees grow? Any one have issues with different size redwoods growing at different speeds tweeting the support beams?
Hi Ernest,
Sorry for delayed response, was out of state building a treehouse. Trees grow from the terminal buds at the top and branch tips – the tissues in the middle of the trunk don’t extend every year, so your four TABs should not change elevation over time.
Good luck!
-Dan
Hi,
When I do a tri-beam on one tree on a three-tree house, is it ok if it is off center on the tree or is it vital it be balanced? Meaning, can the beam extend 8′ on one side of the tree and 5′ in another?