Planning a Tree House

Location, Location, Location

Choosing the tree where your tree house will reside is the first step, as all other planning decisions take root from there. The tree you pick should be in a safe location, not near a busy road or over a concrete surface like a driveway. Trees with good support limbs for building the tree house are the best candidates.

Draw Your Plans

It is a good idea to sketch out what you want the tree house to look like before you gather your supplies and begin to build. How will the frame be secured to the tree? Where will the ladder be placed that allows your kids access to the tree house? Will it have a roof? What safety features such as railing will the tree house feature?

What You Will Need

Supplies ranging from lumber to a drill to a saw to nails all go into the building of a tree house. If words like "galvanized nails" and "balusters" and "joists" scare you, this is when hiring a professional handyman or carpenter makes sense. If you or your significant other, or a close friend, family member or neighbor is adequately skilled to build the tree house, then take him or her along to a hardware store and lumber yard to gather your supplies. You will want to choose pine wood because it is inexpensive. Also, look for wood that is treated with a bug repellent so that termites do not wipe out your efforts before your kids have had the chance to fully enjoy the tree house.

Safety First

Your plan should ensure that the structure is built to adequately support the weight of any child or combination of children who will be playing in it. Railing is an essential feature of any tree house for younger children. The tree house should be built in a manner that allows it to be safely accessed and

evacuated, and prevents the most injury from a fall as possible.