Tips on How to Build a Safe Treehouse

Tips on How to Build a Safe Treehouse

Here is a reprint summary of tree house building tips from an article that appeared in the Wichita Eagle (07/29/2006).

Walking on AIR
By Annie Addington
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

HOW TO BUILD A SAFE TREE HOUSE

Follow these tips for building a tree house that's safe, sturdy and long lasting:

• Use single, large bolts for main supports.
• Don't use nails for main supports. They are much weaker than bolts and can work loose easier. You usually need many more to do the same job, which will cause more damage to the tree.
• Treat the tree as a living thing. Allow for future growth as you build.
• Don't cut away excessive amounts of bark or wood.
• Don't use cables or ropes wrapped around branches for support. These wear away at bark and sensitive layers below, and as the branch grows it will cut off nutrient flow to the rest of the branch.
• Don't let any part of the tree house touch the tree directly -- it should all be resting on your support system. This stops friction burns as the tree sways in the wind.
• Children's tree houses are safest near the ground -- 10 feet up or less -- to minimize the danger from a fall.
• Tree houses in high-wind areas should be in the lower third of the tree, where wind speeds are lower and the leverage of the force on the tree is reduced.
  

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