r/treehouse

Second attempt to make light duty homemade TABs for a small treehouse. 1” Allthread will go completely through 2 smaller trees, and 12” into a large tree.The bracket has about 3/16” clearance to allow for slight dynamic movement (there are static connections at 2 posts) I’ll also sand down the exposed threads a bit to allow the bracket to slide more freely.

Just finished with most of the framing for this build. At a pause point in this project as I’ll be unable to get back to working on this for the next 3 weeks. Good time to check in with this group on any thoughts at this point before moving into sheathing phase. Might pull 2 rafters to add a small dormer window (mostly to add a window up top to vent heat).

Some challenges thus far, stud spacing is not following 16 on center rule and now I have the headache of needing more sheathing material to cut down to fit these odd spacing distances. My own fault. Also not sure on what to do for the door so anyone with good suggestions and pictures would be welcomed. Not planning on insulating this now, but may do this in a year or so. Depends on how the kids use it.

So, what am I’m missing? Any suggestions or things to fix before I dig back in? Thanks for all the advice from this group thus far.

After looking at TABs and their price tag, came up with this for a homemade light duty alternative. The lag has about 1/4 inch clearance inside the pipe. Wondering if this could work?

So, this weekend i made (my first) treehouse. Quit proud, but offcourse not sure if its needs any modification.

You guys have any feedback or comments? Thanks!

• Main beams are 156x59mm ( dunno bout us sizes). Connected with 2 M16x300mm bolts to tree with 8cm spacers.
• Floorbeams are 44x69mm
• Floor is 28mm thick
• cross beams are 44x94mm
• Most screws are either 140mm or 100mm

Maybe a tiny bit unrealistic.

Somewhere between having two small kids (4 and 1), work, and questionable decision-making, I started building a treehouse atop a living tree in our yard here in northern Sweden.

Originally I thought “simple treehouse.” Somewhere along the way it turned into more of an Adventure HQ inspired by all the childhood exploration stuff I loved growing up — a bit of Treasure Planet, secret places, and the feeling that anything could happen up there.

Summer plans are forest missions, treasure hunts, water battles and general chaos. Winter plans are more about turning it into a little world of its own — a place for indoor adventures, roleplay, cousins sleeping over in bunk beds, and making up ridiculous missions when it’s dark and snowy outside.

Current ideas are bunk beds for the kids and cousins, hidden compartments, water wall with levers, maybe a zip line someday, and possibly a small No Man’s Sky exploration setup later on.

The good news: it’s finally getting close to weatherproof. The bad news: I’ve reached that stage where the exciting structural work is mostly done and only the endless finishing details remain. Energy is running a bit low.

So I’m looking for motivation and ideas: if this was your childhood Adventure HQ, what feature would make it unforgettable?

Hey everyone! I am looking to build a tree fort for my 6 year old son and his buddies. There’s two decent trees in the woods behind our house and that’s about it. They are both strong and healthy but they aren’t huge so they don’t look ideal, but they’re really the only options. One on the right is probably 2-1/2’ diameter and the one on the left is probably around 20”.

I don’t want to build anything crazy complicated, just a platform 8’x10’ or so with rope ladder and some other fun things maybe.

How should I connect to the trees to allow for them to move independently?

Anyone can do it! I learned how to operate a circular saw through the first cuts on this - took a little over a month of spending every spare moment I could on the build. Came out pretty nice, and most importantly: the three kids love it.

We have this rather sizeable honey locust in our backyard. We really want to build a tree house for our kids. Need help with design ideas.

Started work on this last October with some lumber my father reclaimed from a deck rebuild (he is a contractor). Worked on it bit by bit in my free time and finished the whole thing myself. its since been stress tested by about 30 kids at my sons birthday party.

Hey all I want to build a two story tree house with a platform 8x8’ or 10x10’. I wanted to balloon frame the posts. The tree would simply act as one of the 4 posts. For the first level I was going to notch the posts to place a ledger board in the notch. So for example use a 8x8” or 10x10” post. Notch for a 2x10 (or bigger if needed) ledger for the first level. The second level I would put the ledger directly on the posts. I don’t really know if this is reasonable and what size beams etc. I don’t mind over building. I also didn’t know what I need to help with racking or lateral stability. Attached is a pic of the tree. I live if Denver if that matters. Thanks

Hey y’all, first time building a treehouse. I’m a carpenter by trade but haven’t messed with any trees. I have plenty of wood left over from jobs to start with. I’m thinking of setting 6x6s around the base but am curious as to if I should tie into the tree itself I’ve seen it’s harmful and that it’s a good idea, thanks for any help in advance.

what would you build here

I plan to partially enclose this treehouse and am kicking around ideas about how to roof it with a dual trunk.
Do I stick with a traditional octagon roof and frame around the two trucks?

Do two peak roofs?
A single slope roof (might be easiest but have never seen it done)?
I plan on doing a "widows walk" kind of platform a little higher up one of the trunks.

Any suggestions?
Also, I'm in California where weather isnt really a concern of how its done.
Thanks!