Sometimes, living in a conventional home might get you pretty bored and exhausted. This is when one looks for unconventional options. If you too are looking for something ‘different’ to unwind yourself, what better than planning a Tree House!
A tree house is a special building or construction that is structured around the trunk and branches of strong and developed trees that are above ground level Tree houses typically aren’t built to act as a primary house or a house for permanent residence. Its purpose is entirely to act as a form of recreation or a getaway.
Well, if you are serious about your abode on a tree, then there are a few things to keep in your mind before you begin to build your tree house.
Things to Consider When Building a Treehouse
01. Plan Before Whipping Your Axe Out
Before you decide to carve and cut your wood, it is quite essential to spare a thought to the features that you and your family would like to incorporate in your dream tree house. Setting your priorities straight is also quite critical before building your tree house.
Be it a complete tree house with all the amenities or just a playhouse for kids, you should plan the design and overall space you need within your dream tree house way before you start the work. Test the strength and quality of the tree and calculate the size of the tree that you are going to make use of.
02. Building Codes and Compliance
When you plan to build a tree house, it is of the utmost consideration that you should visualize the pros and cons of attaining a building permit to build your tree house. A permit from the authorities concerned is a must if you plan to use the tree house for commercial purposes.
However, if you intend to just keep your tree house as a residential set up in your property, then you will not necessarily need a license. It is always better to know the authorities’ point of view before building tree house, so as to avoid chaotic situation unfurling at your doorsteps later, as there have been any examples in the past, where the local authorities had forced the tree house owners to dismantle the tree house for various reasons.
Likewise, even protecting and maintaining your tree house can turn out to be a herculean task. Hence deliberate on these points before you enthusiastically plunge into making a tree house.
03. Choose Your Material Wisely
When build a tree house, always go for a hardwood that can give adequate support to the set up. Besides this, make sure the tree has matured and is fit to take the load of the tree house. Never build a tree house on a tree that shows signs of decay, disease or aging. The best trees that people usually go for are:
- Maple trees
- Oak trees
- Fir
- Beech
- Hemlock
Having said that, what needs to be emphasized is that any strong, fully grown tree with well developed branches is fit to accommodate a tree house. This means, if you have a sturdy mango tree or a Jack fruit tree or a Banyan tree or any other such tree endemic to your region, gauge the strength of the tree and go ahead building a tree house.
You can go with any of these trees as per your preference. You don’t have to keep your tree house elevated way off the ground, it just has to be anywhere from 7-10 feet off the ground.
When it all comes down to choosing the ultimate material for your tree house, going with exterior plywood or boards is the best option. Plywood is simple to cut, and they fit in easily. Only overlapping the boards against one another is a simple fix.
04. Foundations, Walls and Roof
When it comes to the base, exterior plywood is again the best possible option to choose from. Plywood, in general, can withstand dampness and resist any form of twisting, thus providing your home a strong and stable ground. Covering your plywood with a roof is a necessary to facilitate ventilation around the house. Laminated hardwood helps in sealing the wood and keeping it waterproof.
While hardwoods and oaks look aesthetically appealing, these woods are, in general, relatively heavy. So, stick to regular woods for your frame, which you can procure from your local building supplier. If you’d prefer your tree house to be a leisure hangout spot and you find the home too cold during winter, you can cut through the frame inside and coat it with insulation to avoid cold drafts from coming through your walls.
Although the bottom layer of the plywood is perfect for adding rigidity and stability to the roof, the plywood alone is not sufficient to protect the house from snow and rain. You will have to count on roofing tar paper, shingles, or an alternative felt on the plywood. Pitch the roof to a minimum of 30 degrees to run off rain quickly. If you reside in an area that receives a lot of snow, then aim to keep your roof slanted at about 50 degrees or even higher to avoid the snow from settling on top of the roof. Accumulated snow can be bulky and can potentially collapse the roof.
05. Hazard Preventions
Steering away from power lines is the first thing to do to avoid fires and abstain from children messing around with the power lines. The wind can sometime be harsh and this can cause branches to fall off on the power lines causing fire accidents that can end in loss of property and life!
Build a tree house away from water features, a working road or hilly areas is a must. Never put your tree house in an uncanny location. Make sure you also have a sandpit underneath the tree house to avoid any form of injuries in case of falls or trips from the tree house.
06. Leave Ample Space for Growth
- Aim to leave spaces around the tree to facilitate growth.
- To facilitate growth, allow spaces around the branches that seep into the tree house.
- Do not restrict the branches by tying them with ropes, wires, or straps. This can destroy and strangle the tree.
- Provide individual spacers between the beams to promote movement. Using longer and larger bolts will leave the shaft exposed, thus allowing you to mount on more items and allowing the tree to grow on and over the shaft.
- It is usually recommended to allow a minimum of two-inch space around the tree if it goes through the floor and a maximum of three inches of space if it goes through the roof.
07. Entryway
One of the most exciting and crucial things to consider when building a treehouse are the entryway to the tree house. Instead of a usual tree house ladder setup, it is quite fancy and appealing to have a climbing system installed as the mode of entry. A climbing system easily replaces ladders and provides a much eco-friendlier alternative.
A climbing system does not require you to nail anything, nor does it require a permanent installation. A climbing system is ideal for those looking to protect their trees for the long run. A necessary tree house ladder does not take the win against a climbing system that has numerous routes of possibilities.
08. Aesthetics and Accessories
a) A Porch:
A porch cannot be built around an individual tree. However, if the tree house is supported by multiple trees, then you can be more creative and will be able to add additional features like the balcony, porch, or any other such elements.
b) A Trap Door:
A trap door adds an element of fun to the tree house. It’s only when you have it in place, you would know how much fun it is to have this simple accessory attached to the tree house.
It is more about just having it in the tree house than about the methods of the ways it can be put to use!
c) A Periscope or Telescope:
When you are sitting atop the tree house, it is impressive and exciting to soak in the serenity around. A telescope or a periscope can add so much more value to your tree house, making your stay in it a memorable one. Stargazing or getting into the shoes of an explorer can be such a fulfilling experience – you can even use a star finder to identify constellations or find nautical stars in the sky.
d) A Pirate Ship Wheel:
If you have kids and you intend to build your tree house for them, then installing a pirate ship wheel can be your showstopper. With just this one accessory in the tree house, you can help your kids have some yippee time in the tree house.
You could even add a flagpole to complete the whole look.
e) A Birdhouse or Birdfeeder:
Trees are the natural homes of the winged beauties. When you try to make your abode in the tree, you may end up destroying their nests for disturbing their pattern. The new set up may also leave the birds uncomfortable. Therefore, always have the heart to compensate! Build a birdhouse or install a birdfeeder to accommodate/feed the birds around you. The kids might also enjoy the little birds chirping around their happy place. DIY birdfeeder ideas can be found here:
f) A Dinner Bell:
Installing a dinner bell at the tree house is not just fun, but a necessity too. Instead of calling the kids for snacks or meals every time, having a bell to call them can be quite a different experience.
g) A Speaking Tube:
Speaking tubes are a must-have in tree houses, if you are looking for ideas to step up the fun element in the tree house. Speaking tube is simple and easy to install. You can even make one for yourself.
h) Basket or Pulley System:
This is an absolute essential system in a tree house! A pulley system with a basket solves so many issues and eases up things. Your kids can take their snacks, belongings, and toys up with it, and you do not have to go up the tree house stairs each time to give them their stuff. Kids are also quite protective and private about their space, so this is your best bet.
09. Cost, Maintenance and Preservation
On an average, a basic, yet comfortable sized tree house can cost you around Rs 4 to 5 lakhs. Having said that, there are tree houses that cost anywhere between Rs 6 to 10 lakhs too. It all depends on what you want inside your tree house and how you accessorize it.
In terms of maintenance, all types of wood are victims to weather-related issues like rain, sun, heavy wind and snow. If wood is not maintained well, then even insects and decayed substance can seep through the wood, causing it to breakdown.
It is therefore advised to coat your tree house with wood sealers and protective material every 4-8 years to extend the life of the wood. With proper maintenance from time to time, you can expect your tree house to stay healthy for at least 15-20 years. It would need some renovation after that.
Bottom Line
Although the above discussed are the basic tips & suggestions which are the common things to consider when building a treehouse. The key is to go with your instinct and test the caliber of the tree by yourself. Experimentation and observation are prime factors when it comes to building up structures and designing tree houses of this type Building a house, whether a conventional one or a tree house, is an experience by itself and having in-depth knowledge and clarity of the concept can make it a memorable experience, or else it will end up being a nightmare!
Building a new dream house is a cherished and emotional ambition that many of us consider throughout our lives. Before you begin building your ideal home, there are a few things you should consider. To learn more, click here –
Things to Keep in Mind While Constructing Your New House!
Image Courtesy: Image 7, Image 12, Image 13
Author Bio
Saikiran – I am an Engineering Graduate who is inclined towards writing good content. I’ve been a freelance content writer for 4 years and I am a full-time content writer now. I offer Ghost writing, copy writing and other blogging services. I’ve written on several niches in which Home Decor is what I am mostly fond about.