how to build a treehouseThere’s no other place to sit and dream, get away from it all and immerse yourself in nature than in a tree house. Kids love them, but who says adults can’t enjoy them too? With a little creativity, a specific budget and a solid tree, you can craft your own eco-conscious sanctuary. Understanding the basics in five manageable steps will get you one step closer to your dream house – among the trees!

  1. Find the perfect tree. Tree houses are heavy and can put a lot of stress on a tree, so find one that can withstand the extra weight. A professional tree service company can survey your trees to find a sturdy match. Consider using multiple trees that are clustered together to make for a larger, safer tree house.
  2. Tree preparation. Even the most robust tree can have weak spots or lose its heartiness after years of use. Preparing your tree for the heavy load will ensure your tree house provides you with years of entertainment. Cabling and bracing techniques as well as proper tree pruning strengthens young branches and corrects any growth anomalies. An initial tree spraying will also help rid your tree of burrowed pests and protect it from any tree diseases. These procedures will fortify your arbor before construction begins.
  3. Eco-friendly building. Consider working with your trees and not abusing them. Tree houses are not natural structures, but they can be made as naturally as possible with the right tools. Like cabling and bracing, arborists prefer not to drill or otherwise attach metal hardware into a tree’s trunk. These foreign bodies can scar trees and weaken their structure. There are many tree house designs that do not require inserting hardware into the tree’s flesh.
  4. Choose a natural design. The whole essence of a tree house is to work around the natural features of the tree. Choose a design that allows the branches to weave in and out of the floor and walls.  The trunk of the tree is a natural support beam. Think about connecting multiple trees to make a bigger, more secure structure as well. Several tree house designs sit high above the canopy to make greater use of the interconnected branches as a support system. Also remember to give your tree room to grow. Keep a few inches of clearance around the trunk and branches to allow the tree to mature over the years.
  5. Tree maintenance. The initial preparation for a tree house ensures that your dream design comes to fruition, but regular maintenance is imperative. Tree services like tree spraying help keep your tree house – and the tree – in tiptop shape. Typically tree house structures last from 10-25 years depending on the type of building materials, the strength and general health of the tree and the weather conditions in the area.

Though tree houses allow us to revert back to childhood – complete with trap doors, handmade curtains, drop ladders and other fantastical elements – they connect us with nature.  Looking out the window at a bird’s nest a few feet away or hearing the rain bounce off the leaves in a rainstorm makes us feel like we’re a part of the world we live in, not just observers.

But be forewarned, you may become a tree hugger! Building a tree house takes commitment and a love of nature. However, nature can be a bit harsh on manmade structures. Geographical locales that have strong winds, heavy snowfalls, or other extreme weather conditions may require a more basic design and utilize a stockier tree. Tree houses in areas that are prone to drought or high temperatures can prevent rain from reaching essential tree roots, which may require soil aeration.

Syd Martin writes for Premiere Tree Services and likes blogging about trees, nature and green living.

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Filed under: Family and Children

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