Build Your Kids a Treehouse
Philip Schmidt
Contents
| INTRODUCTION | 4 |
|---|---|
| Portfolio of Treehouses | 6 |
| HOW TO BUILD A TREEHOUSE | 18 |
| TREEHOUSE BASICS & DESIGN | 20 |
| Choosing a Tree | 21 |
| General Tree Health | 22 |
| Is It Big Enough? | 23 |
| Location | 24 |
| Behavior | 25 |
| Grooming the winner | 26 |
| Choosing a Tree Species | 27 |
| Planning & Design | 28 |
| Building Codes & Zoning Laws | 29 |
| Elements of a Treehouse | 30 |
| Design Considerations | 40 |
| Drawing Plans | 44 |
| Lumber & Hardware | 46 |
| Treehouse Safety | 50 |
| Safe Treehouse Design | 51 |
| Working Safely | 55 |
| Safe Design Checklist | 57 |
| TREEHOUSE TECHNIQUES | 58 |
| Building Platforms | 59 |
| Platform Basics | 60 |
| Platform Anchoring Techniques | 61 |
| Installing Decking | 65 |
| Platform Designs | 66 |
| Single Tree: Platform Nestled in Branches | 67 |
| Single Tree: Trunk as Center Post | 70 |
| Two Trees: Platform Spanning Between Trunks | 75 |
| Three Trees: Platform Spanning Between Trunks | 78 |
| Two Trees & Two Support Posts | 80 |
| Walls, Windows & Doors | 82 |
| Framing Walls | 83 |
| Siding & Trim | 87 |
| Installing Walls | 89 |
| Making Windows & Doors | 90 |
| Building Railings | 93 |
| Building Roofs | 94 |
| Framing the Roof | 95 |
| Sheathing & Roofing | 100 |
| ACCESSORIES | 104 |
| Ladders, Trap Doors & Other Modes of Access | 105 |
| Building Ladders | 106 |
| Trap Doors | 110 |
| Fireman’s Pole | 111 |
| Swings & Playthings | 112 |
| Swings & Slides | 113 |
| Climbing Features | 114 |
| Pulleys & Accessories | 115 |
| Zip Lines | 115 |
| Plan 1: Gable Roof with Auxiliary Post | 116 |
| Plan 2: A-Frame with Walkout Deck | 120 |
| Plan 3: Half-covered Crow’s Nest | 124 |
| Plan 4: Wraparound Shed on Stilts | 128 |
| Plan 5: Triangular Tree Hut | 132 |
| Plan 6: Four-tree Shanty | 136 |
| Resources | 140 |
| Photo Credits | 140 |
| Index | 141 |
