Treehouse Safety Guidelines and Advice (2023)

FAQs

How will you keep your treehouse safe? ›

Choose a Tree

Type: Hardwood varieties like oak, maple and hickory are ideal for treehouses. Height: The tree should be high enough for a nice view, but consider the safety of the builder and children as well. We recommend staying between 6 to 10 feet high.

The right treehouse tree

For large treehouses, the tree must be able to support several tonnes of weight and withstand extreme weather situations. The house must be anchored securely and gently to the tree without overloading it. With a few exceptions, most trees with a trunk diameter > 30 cm (12 in) are suitable.

The magic lies in the Treehouse Attachment Bolt, or “TAB”.

When installed correctly into the trees, a Standard Limb TAB may support between 8,000 and 10,000 pounds of force (softer trees like pines and cedars may support less force, while harder trees like oak and hickory may support more force).

What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Tree House? Our Tree Houses have an average life span of 10-25 years, but can be made to last as long as the life of the tree.

Generally 3' is sufficiently deep. The posts are positioned accurately using a temporary framework and concrete is poured around the post in the hole.

The distance between the trees should ideally be less than 6 m (20 ft). If the distance / span is even greater, the wooden support beam must be so massive that it becomes very difficult to carry around. In professional treehouse construction, however, spans of up to 8 m are not uncommon.

Oak is an excellent choice, as is maple. Apple, beech, hemlock or cedar can also work very well. All of these are strong trees that grow large and can weather many different climates, which is absolutely essential when constructing a treehouse.

Can a tree be too top heavy? ›

The thick re-growth of new branches (sprouts) caused by topping makes the tree top-heavy and more likely to catch the wind.

Trees not only grow vertically as branches and trunks lengthen, their branches and trunks also increase in girth. But treehouses can limit this growth and prevent branches from increasing their diameter. Anything that constricts a tree's ability to grow can reduce the tree's vigor and may lead to weak spots.

Do I need pressure-treated wood for the treehouse? Yes. We recommend using pressure-treated lumber because it is resistant to rot, decay and termites. The only type of non-treated lumber we recommend is cedar, but it must be treated with a preservative before you install it in your treehouse.

Connections to the tree should be made using nails or construction screws. Lag screws can be used for added stability and a more durable structure. Avoid lashing the connections with rope, cable or wire, as each can strangle the tree or limb as it grows.

For the Flooring

You want to look for a hardwood product that's naturally rot-resistant. Although technically a softwood, Cypress makes a great choice as well. We have a great range of durable and long-lasting hardwood products great for treehouse flooring.

Floor: Whether you have boys or girls, the floors of the tree house are going to take a beating, so you definitely don't want to skimp on the quality of wood you're using. Just like with your home, we advise using hardwood for the floors. Oak or black locust are great choices because they're rot and insect resistant.

Generally, no, something the size of a nail hammered into a tree won't hurt it. The nail would most likely be inserted about an inch to an inch and a half into the bark. "The tree should compartmentalize and heal the wound around it," says Grant Jones, technical advisor with Davey Tree Company in Kent, Ohio.

Your tree's bark is designed to protect the inner rings of your tree from damage. When you insert a nail, screw or staple into your tree, it damages the bark and punctures the inside of the tree. This can cause stress that inhibits growth and increases the tree's vulnerability to disease.

Lag bolts are generally the best thing to use because the pre-drilled hole in the tree only has to be the length of the bolt less the beam thickness, not the entire diameter of the tree as is necessary with full bolts.

Most homeowners pay an average of $7,350 to build a treehouse, with a typical range between $7,000 and $15,000. Several factors can affect the project's overall cost, such as size and materials.

What time of year is best to build a tree house? ›

Building tree houses during winter may reduce construction induced stress on the host trees. Here's 3 reasons why: 1. If you need to wound a tree for building a tree house or general pruning, the dormant winter season is the best time of year to do it.

Tree houses have been used for living in for thousands of years. They were first build in areas where the ground was not suitable for building on due to possible flooding. The underneath part of the Canopy was often used for shade in hot climates.

A rule of thumb: For an average-sized treehouse of 8 feet by 8 feet, choose a tree with a trunk diameter of 12 inches or more.

Carl Hagstrom responds: The rule of thumb that I like to use when sizing uniformly loaded residential floor joists is "half the span plus two." First, round the clear span of the floor joist up to the nearest foot, and divide by two. Then add two to the answer.

With these factors, the lightest joist will have a maximum span of 17 feet, 8 inches. This is the most common as the typical span is 15 feet. The heaviest joist, along with the above factors, will span a maximum of 23 feet, 8 inches.

The joists themselves should have at least 1-1/2 inches of good bearing on the sill plate, or 3 inches on masonry. If necessary, you can safely notch a joist at its bearing point up to one-sixth the depth of the joist.

Leaning trees are more of a hazard than those growing vertically. A sudden lean indicates breakage or weakening of roots and the tree should probably be removed immediately. A tree leaning more than 15% from vertical probably should be removed.

The tree species most likely to fall in the wind tend to be willow white spruce, cedar, and white pine. These species also tend to live in wetter soils which can also contribute to a tree's likelihood of falling.

If a tree is leaning and you notice that the roots are now visible, it may be cause for immediate action. Trees that have begun to pull up their roots are much more likely to fall quickly, as their weight can shift suddenly. Leaving these is dangerous, so make sure to get them checked right away.

Which tree is the most difficult to get along with? Answer: Crab tree.

What tree is worth the most money? ›

The manchineel tree (Hippomane mancinella), according to the Guinness World Records, is the world's most dangerous tree.

No Leaves

Lack of foliage is a dead give away that a tree is dying or dead. If you see bare branches on one side of a tree, it could indicate root damage. It may also mean that disease or pests have invaded. Dead leaves are a sure sign that something is obstructing the flow of nutrients on the inside of the tree.

Most real trees will settle and open up over a couple of hours, so you should wait to start hanging lights and ornaments. You can also make some DIY Christmas decorations to make your home stand out.

What is topping? It is a tree trimming technique in which the trimmer cuts off the ends of branches, leaving stubs that look like tree mutilation. Even when spring comes and the tree grows leaves, the shape of the tree can be similar to that of a lollipop instead of a naturally beautiful tree.

What is a tree crown lift? A crown lift is the pruning technique of removing lower branches on a mature tree which lifts the canopy or crown of the tree.

One wrong cut won't immediately kill your tree, but pruning incorrectly or too often can. If a tree repeatedly loses too much of its canopy at one time, it can become weak or even die from the stress. That's why you shouldn't trim more than 25% of a tree's canopy at one time.

For the natural look, you could apply a penetrating oil finish, such as Textrol, to protect your tree house against moisture, weathering and UV damage. As there's no film on the surface, it won't peel or flake and because it can be applied wet-on-wet, you don't need to wait for coats to dry during application.

A great way to minimize the damage on trees while building structures such as treehouses is to use TABs(Tree Attachment Bolts). As they are specifically designed to be high load bearing and cause minimal damage to trees, they are the only solution to a robust treehouse.

Is it safe to build a treehouse? ›

When built with the proper hardware and techniques, treehouses are no more dangerous than being on a deck or back yard shed.

FAQ about building a treehouse

A treehouse can last 10 to 25 years or even as long as the tree is alive. It depends on how well the treehouse is built, the quality of materials, and maintenance.

Between my son reading or myself reading aloud we read the entire series. These are creative, crazy and fun. I said ages 8 and up because I think it has an interest level for kids between 8-adult, younger kids probably wouldn't be as into them. They aren't inappropriate for younger kids though.

If you must use a nail or screw in a tree, choose one that will not rust, such as stainless steel. Avoid putting them too deep inside the tree to become hidden, which can be a hazard later on if the tree is to be cut down. A chainsaw can hit the metal and bounce off.

Generally, no, something the size of a nail hammered into a tree won't hurt it. The nail would most likely be inserted about an inch to an inch and a half into the bark. "The tree should compartmentalize and heal the wound around it," says Grant Jones, technical advisor with Davey Tree Company in Kent, Ohio.

The best way to drill into a tree without killing it is to drill slowly and consistently. The wood in a tree is less strong than solid wood, and if you drill too quickly and aggressively, you risk splitting the tree. Drill a pilot hole into the tree with an electric drill.

What are good materials for the roof? The roof should be pitched by at least 30 degrees to allow rain to run off easily. A base layer of plywood will add rigidity to the roof, but is usually not enough on its own to protect the treehouse. Shingles or roofing felt/tarpaper are the most common roofing materials.

Apple, beech, hemlock or cedar can also work very well. All of these are strong trees that grow large and can weather many different climates, which is absolutely essential when constructing a treehouse.