Choose the right tree. We attached the top of the ladder with loose bolts on the basis that it could be pulled up at some point in the future. Let's be blunt. Eight-inch (20 cm) coach screws might seem excessive to attach the four diagonals to the trunk, but everything rests on them. Do not try and walk on the platform before it is supported at each corner. Choose the height of the base from the ground. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. When you have completed your base/platform section you will need to construct your floor. Community It is a thing of beauty. will be published daily in dedicated articles. try again, the name must be unique, Please We are well aware of the satisfaction gained from nailing bits of wood to a tree, but for something that looks right, is strong and safe and will last more than just a few months, you need a bit more than that. Planning, building and maintenance of your treehouse. Measure it all twice. Step 5: Finishing Touches. It has the advantage of being treated against damp. Drill through the four inch length of the diagonal beam, so another four inches of steel goes into the tree. Applying for planning permission entails filling in an application form, which you can download from www.planningportal.gov.uk. It really should have a skull and crossbones on it somewhere, as well. 'active' : ''"> Trees are very resilient and a good park keeper's pruning does more damage than this. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to "Raised" is defined as anything over 30cm. It was absolutely crucial to have a drill powerful enough to send screws straight into the wood without pre-drilling. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Are you sure you want to submit this vote? This should be placed as near to the trunk of the tree as possible for stability, using the strong and stable branches or supported with posts. Newest first, -1) ? Most liked, -1) ? We used standard pine decking available from any DIY store. We used a plastic roof membrane tacked to the eight joists with clout nails. Independent Premium. Access to your tree house, permanently fixed ladders, and a safety harness may need to be considered too for safety. You don’t want it to be looking over your neighbours or your neighbours might not want it over looking their garden. To say the very least, this is extremely dangerous and for dads only. Apologies, but we don't seem to have a video for this project yet, but we will do our best to get one up soon. To prevent the trap door dropping on small fingers, it's worthwhile counterweighting it. We work with the industries best to ensure that we recommend only reliable and trustworthy tradesmen. We would advise using Perspex. It takes something like 60 man hours start to finish and costs more than £100 in wood and materials. When it comes to windows you have the choice of leaving them as just an opening or you can construct proper opening windows. You can also bolt your structure to the tree. Use screws instead of nails as these will be more secure at holding your structure together. Don't fancy doing this project yourself? language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification, -1) ? Let's be blunt. After you’ve selected the most suitable tree, you can decide what kind of treehouse you want to build. We screwed the decking straight into the bracers and main beams of the platform, using a jigsaw to shape it around the actual trunk. Including information on planning issues, building methods, and advice on safety. The roof was probably the most time-consuming part of the whole process – and a good safety rope at that height was absolutely crucial. Please Download the Planning Advice Note, which contains a checklist of all the documents you will need. If your tree is large enough, you may be able to construct a platform outside your tree house. All project content written and produced by Mike Edwards, founder of DIY Doctor and industry expert in building technology. real-world solutions, and more. Run a rope through the trap door, with the knot on the underside. Measure and cut very carefully here as one end will be in contact with an uneven trunk. 'active' : ''"> try again, the name must be unique, Please For each wall, 4 x 2in (10 x 5cm) beams were used, with four-inch coach screws holding them together. Supporting documents will be required. For a previous job, we had attached a table saw to an old table and it proved extremely useful to be able to cut wood as required. The coach screws need to have holes pre-drilled, so make sure you have a suitable drill bit and a long enough extension lead to reach the tree. The roof will also add stability. Cut from the edge inwards. they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. We went with five foot six inches, which was probably generous. Let us help you find a tradesman local to you. 2 × 4 timber for roof joists and walls – 2ft + 152ft (10m + 46m): 184ft (56m), Pine decking to cover the area of the platform – 49sq ft (4.5sq m), Pine decking for the ladder – 27sq ft (2.5sq m).