Tree Houses
Who has not, at some time, wished they had a treehouse? For a kid a tree house is a fort, a club house, a hideaway, a private refuge, a place to dream of adventure, and a great (safe) place to sleep overnight with friends. Sleeping in a treehouse is like camping out in your own backyard.
Treehouses, however, are not just for children. Some spectacular – and absolutely practical – homes have been designed for, and built in trees. These tree houses are fully functional homes for entire families, complete with all the necessary utilities.
Quite likely, though, if you are thinking of building a tree house, you are considering something on a somewhat smaller scale; you’re probably considering building a kids tree house. Kid tree houses are not difficult to construct, and need not be very expensive – although for those people willing to spend the money, you can get a very elaborate tree house design. Some treehouse designs, in fact, call for the use of several trees.
You can usually get treehouse plans at your local building supply centre. If you cannot find them there, check your library for books on tree house plans, or search for them on the internet. There you will find all the information you need on how to build a tree house. The tree house builders cover everything from the tools you will require, to the best types of materials.
The most commonly used lumber for treehouse construction is softwood. Red pine that has been “pressure treated” is one of the best materials. Using re-claimed lumber can help cut costs, and is a good environmental practice, but do this only if the re-claimed lumber is suitable to your purposes. The tree house plans you use will, of course, have to be adapted to the tree in which you are building. There will always be a branch in the wrong place, or no branch where you could really use one. You will have to improvise.
Some experienced treehouse builders say that Canadian cedar shingles are the best roofing material. They are light, flexible, naturally water resistant, and long lasting. They also make a very good looking roof.
When you build the decking around your treehouse, be sure to leave gaps between the floorboards for the runoff of rainwater. One of your important considerations will be on how you want to access your tree house. Will you want a rope ladder, a wooden ladder, a tree-trunk ladder, or a stairway? You must consider who is going to be using the treehouse, and keep matters of safety in mind.
When your treehouse is finished, you can enjoy a tree house vacation whenever you want. If, for some reason, you can’t make your kids a treehouse, they might enjoy a Battat Tree House. This is a beautiful model of a house in a tree, above a barnyard complete with animals. It is designed for children three years and older.
