Treehouses
6. Get creative. Don’t confine your design to four walls, a roof and a floor. Let the tree and your imagination guide you to a unique structure. “Last year, I designed a treehouse that was based on Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous architecture style,” Nelson says. “I also recently built a treehouse that was completely framed out with glass windows. I’m now working on a new treehouse that will be a spa in the sky. I’m creating the new Dove Men+Care Elements Treehouse, which is inspired by the freshness of nature. We’re building this really cool shower that will allow you to bathe among the stars.”
4. Watch out for water traps. “Water traps will eat away and rot out the wood, and in a couple months, the wood will no longer be strong,” Nelson says. To avoid water traps, you need a roof that sheds water off and away from the rest of the structure. “I would recommend a 12- to 15-degree slope shedding away from the treehouse for the best protection,” he says. 5. Build in sections. Nelson recommends building the walls of the treehouse in sections on the ground. “This is the safest way to build entire walls of the treehouse, as it precludes you from hammering 10 feet up in the sky,” he says. Once you’ve built the walls on the ground, have a friend help you carefully lift them up onto the platform. “Take it from me: It’s much simpler to build on the ground and then lift,” he says.
3. Choose the right wood. Nelson remembers being a kid when his dad attempted to build a treehouse for Nelson’s sister and chose the wrong type of wood for the roof. “He was trying to save some cash and decided to use a composite type of wood,” Nelson says. “That didn’t end well. After one rainstorm, the whole thing collapsed from the weight of the water that the wood retained.”To avoid a similar mistake, Nelson recommends using materials that can survive outdoor elements. “I would recommend a pressure-treated pine or fir, or even a redwood or cedar,” he says.
Lofting the treehouse high off the ground provided space for a slide, a set of hanging rings and a tire swing for the girls to play on. In winter, one could imagine that the raised structure would be the perfect spot to lob snowballs from.More7 Tips for Designing a Backyard Treehouse Like a Pro10 Cool Ideas for Backyard Retreats and PlayhousesFind a professional on Houzz
2. Leafy Refuge in the Irish CountrysideLocation: Rural County Louth, Ireland (north of Dublin)Used as: An off-the-grid retreat for a couple and a guest roomPerched among the branches of an oak tree that’s at least 120 years old, this lofty treehouse was built as a simple backyard getaway space for a couple in County Louth, Ireland. “It’s an adult treehouse,” says designer Peter O’Brien of Plan Eden Garden Design. “It’s used as an off-grid [escape] for the clients to get away from the rush of everyday life, and as guest accommodation.”
Tucking the treehouse into the woodland and using native tree species like oak and white cedar for the lumber — some of it harvested on-site, some sourced locally and milled — helped the structure fit in with in the environment. “The most interesting part is the live tree that grows through the center of the structure,” Skwira says. “It was one of the largest trees on the property and was a natural fit for the structure.” Generous holes cut for the tree trunk allow the tree to continue to grow up through the treehouse, while the posts of the building support the weight of the structure.
7. Communicate with the neighbors. “It’s always a good idea to discuss your building plans with the neighbors, as the treehouse could affect their views or property lines,” Nelson says. “Make sure you have a conversation with them, and don’t forget that everyone loves to help build a treehouse. So if you communicate from the start, you might find yourself a great building partner.”MoreThe Most Incredible Kids’ Tree House You’ll Ever See?DIY Tree Forts and Deck Bring Out the Neighborhood KidsTour a Fantastical Tree House for Kids and Adults TooSwaying From Sleepovers to Dinner Parties in a Colorado Tree House
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