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Thread: Treehouse

  1. #1
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    Default Treehouse

    I've promised my five-year-old daughter I'll build her a treehouse and wondered whether anyone here has experience or suggestions on the project. Unfortunately most of my trees are gums, which make a pretty poor platform because they're essentially big poles - straight up and without interesting lower branches - which also constantly shed bark and the smaller branches. There's one jacaranda-like tree (with yellow rather than purple blossom) that will have to do although it's far from ideal. I'd prefer the house had no direct contact with the ground (supporting posts etc) so my planning involves figuring out how to attach it securely to the tree. I also need to figure out what timber I'll use -- something strong and durable yet inexpensive. Then there's the floor, walls, roof, etc. Found timber or cheap options would be good but of course I don't want the thing collapsing under the weight of half a dozen small girls and boys. Has anyone undertaken a similar project? Apologies if this isn't the right forum or if treehouses have already been well covered here.

    Matt

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  3. #2
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    As a kid our neighbours had the best tree house ever.... massive big tree (no idea what) and their grandad built a platform that in todays terms would be 4 pallets bolted together then built walls around that, THEN... put rope in each corner and had it swing from tree.

    Far out it was amazing. insurance and dopey councils would kill it today but would hold 20 kids up,
    I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds

  4. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manupatree View Post
    I'd prefer the house had no direct contact with the ground (supporting posts etc) so my planning involves figuring out how to attach it securely to the tree.
    I doubt that (especially younger) kids worry about whether the house has supporting posts or not - as long as the house attached in one place would be considered good enough.
    How close are the trees? Can you perhaps coach screw some long beams between tree trunks?
    Even between say two trunks and use one supporting from the ground pole would look OK.

    I wouldn't worry about getting the house too high off the ground either.
    Anything above about 2m looks really high to a little kid.
    This makes it much easier to build and reduces the chance of major injury when (not if) a kid falls out.

  5. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tonto View Post
    As a kid our neighbours had the best tree house ever.... massive big tree (no idea what) and their grandad built a platform that in todays terms would be 4 pallets bolted together then built walls around that, THEN... put rope in each corner and had it swing from tree.

    Far out it was amazing. insurance and dopey councils would kill it today but would hold 20 kids up,
    Googling treehouse images I see your neighbours' grandad was way ahead of his time!

  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    I doubt that (especially younger) kids worry about whether the house has supporting posts or not - as long as the house attached in one place would be considered good enough.
    How close are the trees? Can you perhaps coach screw some long beams between tree trunks?
    Even between say two trunks and use one supporting from the ground pole would look OK.

    I wouldn't worry about getting the house too high off the ground either.
    Anything above about 2m looks really high to a little kid.
    This makes it much easier to build and reduces the chance of major injury when (not if) a kid falls out.
    I need to not crack my head on the joists though!

    It's just one tree with a wide fork quite low down, so effectively like two trees except that one leans towards the horizontal. I'll post a photo. Not wanting ground poles isn't so much for the kids' appeal as the aesthetics of the treehouse, since the tree is in front of our house and not far from the street.

  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manupatree View Post

    Not wanting ground poles isn't so much for the kids' appeal as the aesthetics of the treehouse, since the tree is in front of our house and not far from the street.
    In that case I would check if you need a permit for it.

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sturdee View Post
    In that case I would check if you need a permit for it.
    Thanks, I just did that and it seems technically I do but as long as the neighbours are fine with it and I take it down before selling the house then nobody else need know. I think I'll draw up a nice plan to show the neighbours and, I hope, get their approval.

  9. #8
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    make 2 of them, 1 for the kids and 2nd for the men to gather and bond together. thats your neighbours solved
    I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tonto View Post
    make 2 of them, 1 for the kids and 2nd for the men to gather and bond together. thats your neighbours solved
    Haha! That's the way we roll.

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