Tree House Plan | An Easy To Follow Guide

When it comes to treehouses, who would want to have on in their backyard. If you didn’t have one as a kid growing up. I am certain you want your kids to experience the fun. Besides who is to say you can’t have fun in that treehouse as well. 

treehouse with a slide

I mean you built it so why not enjoy the maker privileges. If you fancy making your child’s day, week and year, you might want to consider building them their very own treetop retreat. This is not a small task, by any means, but such a project can be incredibly fun and educational for all involved.

Plus, you will make life-long memories for your little bundles of joy. It will once complete, also give you a much-needed break from time to time. There are three main components to building a treehouse: the foundation, the posts, and the rest of the structure. However, before we go there there are other things that we have to look at for this experience to be worth it. 

I recommended: How To Build A TreeHouse

Rules to follow

  1. The first rule of treehouse building is that it all kind of depends on the tree. 
  2. The second rule is, the kids should be involved. The building of a treehouse was an important selling point when we told our boys we were moving out of the big, exciting city to a sleepy rural town. 
  3. The last rule is, it’s not gonna end up the way you think it’s gonna end up. Meaning: The plan will change as you go. New ideas will form once you’re up in that tree. And other ideas will prove undoable. Branches will get in the way, and things will generally look different from the air. Even a few feet up. So improvise. Adapt. Make it yours.

Main Components 

The foundation and posts keep the tree house functional and safe, and the rest of the structure is where you can really turn the tree house into an amazing looking den for your kids.

When you get these three elements working together properly, you will have a truly safe, long-lasting and visually stunning treehouse that your kids will adore.

How Much is a Treehouse?

A treehouse build will run you $400 to $15,000, depending on whether you DIY or hire a pro. To set up a prefab design yourself, expect to pay $400 to $1,600 for the kit. For help from a pro in creating a small build, budget $4,000 to $15,000, while custom structures are $25,000 to $100,000 or an average of $61,250.

tree house with stairs

Professionals usually charge $100 to $150 per hour fthis project. Small and prefab designs take 20 to 30 hours to construct, while custom creations can take much longer.

To prepare the site, you may need to pay tree trimming prices of $75 to $1,000 each. If you need to fully remove the trees instead, expect to pay $400 to $2,000 apiece. However, this is just a rough estimation. 

Steps to follow

Step 1. Picking a suitable tree

It is a very important task that the tree you choose is going to be supporting the entire house. So you have to make sure that it is sturdy. If not, this can lead to major accidents and tricky building conditions. So a sturdy tree is a definite must. Failure to this may result in very dire consequences that may actually be life threatening. 

treehouse in a large tree

The tree will often act as the main supporting leg of the house, but posts make the tree house truly secure and safe. We’ll use posts as legs to create a basic structure, so that the tree acts as only one leg supporting the house. Alternatively, when using posts you can have the tree go through the middle of the tree house for a really cool look out tower effect.

Step 2. Setting the foundation

This step basically depends on what materials you choose, and the size of your treehouse of course. A simple design would involve laying flat boards across the posts that you’ve installed and then simply nailing them all together.

This is where blueprints or sound, tested treehouse plans are very useful. The foundation of the actual house can be built in many ways, some much safer than others. At this point it’s all in your hands and head, use that imagination and see where it will take you in designing a treehouse. 

Step 3. Get creative

The great thing is, once you have the core foundation and support structure, anything goes really. Obviously you will need to make sure any additional features and design elements are sturdy and can hold the weight. Remember, there will likely be several kids in the house at any one time, so don’t just base your plans on a single child’s weight.

Now that you have the framework in place, you can design the actual tree house in many creative ways. But before you do, ask your kids. You want your kids to be involved, and to actually like the tree house itself. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting your time.

There are many different designs that are proven to be popular with kids, such as the open air model which allows your kids to be visible and able to get out in an emergency, without being completely enclosed and boxed in. You can even go further and find yourself a design that can make the treehouse suitable for adults as well. 

Tips for building a treehouse

Find a design

Choose the treehouse design before cutting wood

Before felling wood, it is important to think about the features you and your children would like to have in your treehouse. 

Be clear, if you just want to make it a playhouse for your kids or a rest house for your guest with all important amenities to spend a night in. You should plan and design the space you need in your treehouse, considering the size and strength of the trees you have in your backyard.

Involve a professional in planning 

It is important to involve a professional from the very beginning in your planning so that he can map if supporting branches and ground base is suitable to carry the weight of your treehouse.

Also, decide on the space you need in your treehouse, as fitting the floor or platform into a tree is the most difficult part of treehouse building. He will also tell you about the material and tools you require to deck up the structure the way you want.

Choosing an ideal sight and sturdy tree

The most important thing about building a treehouse is choosing an ideal sight and a tree on which you want to construct it. Forget about the ground for a while, the tree you are picking should be sturdy enough to carry the weight of the entire dwelling. 

Well, it is not that your ground does not play any role, as building a treehouse requires a solid foundation. The ground should not be moist or uneven, and it should be strong enough to bear the weight of the construction. Make sure the tree you choose does not sway when it’s windy; this step will ensure your treehouse stays firm in bad weather conditions.

Suitable tactic 

Consider a suitable method to support the treehouse

It is also important to be aware of the different methods for supporting a treehouse. Go with the one that can carry the weight of the treehouse for a longer time. There are mainly two types of treehouse supporting methods, one is a rigid framework, and the other is floating framework. 

Remember if your tree is not sturdy enough, you will have to ensure there is proper support for dwelling by attaching additional wood pallets or poles from the ground up.

Bolting structure to the tree

Finally, you must consider how you are going to join your house together with the tree. Remember, trees are not happy with nails and screws, and nailing a tree will only decrease its life. 

Instead of using nails and screws use bolts and ropes to attach the treehouse with the tree. Make sure you are not placing bolts too close together (less than 12 inch), as space in between two bolts can reduce strength dangerously due to corrosion. Try to use the minimum number of joints to hold the structure.

Final thoughts 

It’s really not hard to build a solid, safe, and great looking treehouse with the right guidelines and tools. It won’t cost you a fortune and you probably have all the basic DIY tools you need to do it right now. However, be sure to incorporate your kids into this plan. 

It’s all for them unless of course, you are building a treehouse for yourself. Then that’s a different story altogether. At the end of it all, you cannot be disappointed with what you produce after following this guide. Good luck and don’t worry, you’ll do a great job.