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Outdoors > More outdoor > Build a Tree House

Learn how to build a tree house.

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Two do-it-yourself families plan to build a tree house as a joint project. The construction will straddle a wall on their common property line, so it requires two entrances and ladders to make it accessible from either side. The chosen design will ensure that the tree house is safe and that the construction will not damage the tree. The location of the tree and the wall dictated the configuration of our project as well as the instructions, dimensions, and materials below. Parameters will vary for your project.

Step by Step Instructions and Video

Plan the Design and Purchase Materials
Purchase the necessary materials after planning the design of your tree house project, taking into consideration any logistical problems and special requirements. In our project, the tree house was to be shared, straddle the property line and a wall, have two entrances and ladders, and use a tree as one of four support posts. Thorough planning made all these details come together smoothly in a single project.

Position a Two-by-Eight
Position a two-by-eight pressure-treated board in the crotch of the tree (the tree will serve as one support post). The position of this first piece of horizontal framing will help determine where to place the three weight-bearing posts that will rest on the ground and be set in concrete.

Place a Second Fram Board in Position
Place the second frame board in position and support it with a temporary brace reaching down to the ground. Clamp the temporary brace to the second frame board.

Mark Position for First Four-by-Four Post
Drop a plum bob/weighted line from the end of the second frame board to the ground below to mark the position for the first four-by-four post.

Mark Perimeter of Posthole
Drive a stake into the ground where the plumb bob indicates, and circle it will chalk to mark the perimeter of the posthole.

Dig a 2ft Hole
Use a posthole digger to dig a hole about two feet deep.

Pour Gravel
Pour in about 3 inches of gravel to permit drainage.

Drop Post on Top of Gravel
Drop in a pressure-treated four-by-four post on top of the gravel.

Ensure Post is Vertical
Use a post level and align the bubbles on both sides to ensure that the post is vertical to the ground.

Clamp Post to Frame
Clamp the post to the frame board to keep it from moving.

Fill Posthole with Dry Mix Concrete
Fill the posthole around the post with dry mix concrete to a level about three inches from the top.

Add Water
Add the appropriate amount of water indicated by the manufacturer

Add Other Two Frame Boards
Add the other two frame boards that run parallel to the wall to make the platform 4-sided. Hold the third frame board in place while you attach it to the first and second frame boards. Use rustproof screws to attach it neatly at the corners. Repeat for the fourth frame board.

Pre-drill Holes
Pre-drill holes for the carriage bolts in the post so that they align with the center of the frame boards. Drive the bolts through the posts with a hammer.

Secure Bolt
Secure the bolt with a washer and nuts to attach the posts to the frame permanently. Tighten the nut with a socket wrench.

Trim Tops of Posts
Trim off the tops of the posts with a hand saw (Japanese handsaw) so that they are flush with the top of the frame boards that form the four sides of the platform.

Cut Two x Two-by-Fours
Cut two two-by-fours as the long structural members (rails) of the first ladder and clamp them together. If the elevation from the ground to the platform is different on one side of the tree house, one ladder may need to be longer.

Bore Holes
Use a portable drill press to hold the drill perpendicular to the wood while you bore holes through each piece simultaneously to space them identically for the rungs. Depending on the age of the children who will climb the ladder, the rungs may need to be spaced closer together than those for an adult.

Insert Dowel Rods into Holes
Pinch both ends of each dowel with a pair of pliers/channel locks to facilitate starting them in the holes. Lay a rail on the ground and insert a dowel rod vertically into each hole, and then use a mallet to tap the dowels in until the ends are flush with the outside of the rail.

Align Second Ladder Rail
Align the second rail of the ladder over the vertical dowels and use a mallet to snug them into place. The dowels will expand over time and make an even better fit.

Nail Dowels
Use a portable nail gun to pin the dowels in place.

Repeat Steps 17 - 21
Repeat steps 17 through 21 for the other ladder.

Clamp Ledgers
Clamp temporary ledgers to the platform

Install Two Joists
Install two joists of two-by-eight treated lumber set on edge across the base of the platform to help support the floor/decking. You will need to measure the inside dimension of the platform first to cut the precise length. Space them so that they divide the width of the platform into thirds. Screw the joists into the frame with rustproof screws.

Screw Decking Material to Joists
Use decking screws to attach the decking material to the joists and platform frame. Orient the deck planks perpendicular to the joists, positioning the first plank flush with the edge of the platform and using a half-inch spacer between the planks to make gaps where water and small debris may fall through.

Secure Wall Frame
Construct four wall frames, using 2 pieces of four-by-four as end posts, 2 pieces of two-by-four as studs, all sandwiched between two-by-fours on the top and bottom. Secure the pieces of the wall frames by screwing through the top and bottom two-by-fours into the ends of the posts and studs.

Attach Wall Frames to Platform
Attach a wall frame to each side of the platform, working on one side at a time. Clamp adjacent sections of wall frame to each other for temporary support, and then attach them permanently with wood screws.

Attach Pickets
Attach pickets cut from exterior sheathing to enclose the wall frames once you have secured all four frames to the platform. Work all the way around the perimeter, tacking the pickets up with a nail gun.

Reinforce Pickets
Reinforce the pickets with wood screws.

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