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Planning a Tree House
Home » Outdoor Living » Building a Tree house » Planning a Tree HouseBack in the day, it was acceptable to build a tree house anywhere you wanted. Nowadays, however, building departments and planning commissions have a say in where you can build these structures. This is in order to protect the privacy of surrounding neighbors and to comply with safety standards. Be sure to check with your local officials before beginning construction on your tree house.
When planning your tree house, you should also take into consideration the best way to avoid harming the tree. There are several precautions you can take. Most of the time, nailing into a tree causes minimal damage to it- under 1%. However, it is advisable to use bolts instead of nails. Although bolts make a bigger hole, they are stronger and are less damaging to tighten. Most damage to trees occurs as a result of shifting supports. When supports move around, they erode the bark of the tree, exposing living tissue. Rust is another enemy of tree houses. A rusted nail will eventually snap, which could be harmful or dangerous. To prevent this, use galvanized material instead of standard steel.
When you have considered the safety of the tree and the legality of your plans, you can begin to map out the physical design of your tree house. Before you begin this process, you will want to do some research on what type of plan you want. A book on tree house design will be helpful in determining just what you are looking for. After you have decided on a design, choose the materials you will need. For paneling and non-structural framing, don’t compromise on quality. Safety is the most important thing. Another thing to consider is the interior design of your tree house. Make sure you budget for decorations.
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