Build the treehouse of your dreams
Every child dreams of a treehouse, even if that child is fifty years old.
There is nothing more human than climbing a tree. It is where we can be safe. It is in our DNA – climb high enough and the lion can’t get you.
This primordial urge to head for the treetops never really leaves us. Anyone who has tried to keep a child alive knows that climbing is the one thing they will always do. Kids. Will. Climb.
This is why humanity has had such a long running fascination with treehouses and treetop hide-outs. We love the idea of being above the ground, safe and away from the world. A hidden observer, spying on the world from between the leafy branches.
Take this as your sign to build a treehouse!
How to build a treehouse:
Find a tree
Building a treehouse is about celebrating the magnificence of the trees we share our planet with. This means that you have to find a big enough, healthy enough tree that will withstand the traffic of people climbing up and into the treehouse.
Think before you build
To keep your chosen tree thriving and growing, you should investigate minimal harm building. This means that you don’t break the bark barrier unnecessarily and only use certain materials to affix your structure to the tree.
To achieve this, you can look at anchoring the structure with a TAB (treehouse attachment bolt) and counterweights instead of screws and nails which create many tiny wounds in the tree bark. TAB’s are strong and can carry immense weights, so your treehouse will be secure. Bolts seem like a violent option, but in fact they cause minimal and concentrated intrusions, instead of hammering the whole tree full of holes. Ideally you will also only use one or two TABS for an entire treehouse.
Only use rope on the structure, not the tree
Rope may seem like a soft option, but over time rope can constrict growth, and rub off bark, creating a chafed “wound” where bests and disease can enter you tree.
Where do I get TABS?
If you can’t find TABS at your local hardware store, or even online, they are not impossible to DIY – just ensure that whatever size treehouse you plan to build will be safe and safely anchored. Do yourself a favour and maybe consult with a technical or structural engineer just to be sure about the ratings and weight bearing capacity of your DIY TABS.
YouTube is full of TAB DIY videos, but we like this one.
What kind of treehouse will it be?
Once you have the basic structure set up, you can imagine your dream treehouse. Are you simply building a platform, or are you building a shelter/hideout?
If you plan on creating a structure that gives some shelter from the elements, don’t be afraid to get creative. A platform with a basic safety rail and a removable tarp for shade and mild rain cover can give you hours of joy without becoming a massive project.
Tent based treehouses are another sensible option, and if you make the base/platform big enough, you can simply erect a premade camping tent and anchor it to the platform with bolted rings.
Fulfil your fantasies.
Whatever you choose to build, the point of a treehouse is to have fun, and let out your inner child. Use this build as an excuse to fulfil all your wildest childhood fantasies!
For more inspiration, look at the 28 Most Amazing Treehouses in the World
If building a treehouse sounds like too much work, why not just enjoy someone else’s labours.
Here’s a list of our favourite local treehouse based get aways:
Get booking, and start climbing!
