Treehouse building is unique in that other construction projects don't have the same
quirks and requirements that building outdoors in the trees presents.
In this video we'll show you some tips and special techniques to make your treehouse
not only safer but also a lot more durable as well.
If you haven't already seen the intro video to this series be sure to click the i to check
that out.
I covered in the first video how you can't statically attach your beams to two trees
or the movement of the trees will rip your structure apart.
To further help with this requirement you can utilize a highly dense plastic known as
UMHW.
This plastic can be put between any two objects that need to move to prevent the wood from
rubbing and to encourage the movement of the boards.
I used this is two places.
On the treehouse itself I used it where the structure meets the smaller tree support.
This way that tree can move independently of the other tree without causing any damage.
When a strong wind blows you can see the movement of the tree and appreciate the wear and tear
that the UMHW is saving the beams from.
Secondly I used this on the stairs.
When building stairs in a treehouse it's best to split the distance and have a landing.
Then make a shorter set of stairs between the treehouse itself and the landing.
Here again you can't attach the stairs to the landing or when the trees move it will
destroy your stairs.
So make sure the stairs are solidly supported by the treehouse and then use UMHW on the
bottom of the stringers to encourage movement without wear and tear.
While we're talking about stairs let me encourage you to strongly consider using stairs instead
of a ladder.
I originally was going to build a ships ladder using beautiful plans from Nelson Treehouse
and Supply.
However when I saw how high the treehouse was and thought of the really young children
that would want to play in it, I knew I needed to do stairs instead.
Not only is it safer for little kids but it allows access for family pets and encourages
grandparents to visit the treehouse who otherwise might have stayed on the ground.
It will certainly add a lot more cost and complexity but for me at least the benefits
outweighed those concerns.
If you only have older kids then a ladder probably makes a lot more sense.
But at least consider the idea of stairs and the advantages that come along with them.
Another area of focus when it comes to safety is the railing.
Most standard railing is 36” high.
However for this treehouse I added another foot of railing height.
We're over 13’ off the ground and although that doesn't seem high on paper, it certainly
feels high when you're in the treehouse.
I also put the railing support on the inside of the posts to make it impossible to push
the railing out without breaking the railing or the posts.
To reinforce the posts we went with a 2x12 rim joist and bolted the posts through the
entire width of the board.
The wider your rim joist the stronger your posts will be.
When you're considering which bolts to buy for treated lumber you have a few options.
The chemicals used to treat lumber will corrode standard bolt materials.
You must use a fastener that's coated or can naturally resist these chemicals.
The best option for longevity is stainless steel.
But it's also the most expensive.
I didn't want to get galvanized or coated bolts since the coatings can eventually wear
off or chip and allow your bolts to be compromised or possibly fail.
After looking at the big box stores for stainless steel I decided to look elsewhere.
I found a local store that specializes in fasteners.
They had stainless steel bolts for half the price of the other stores and almost as cheap
as the galvanized or coated options.
When searching for your treehouse supplies don't always default to the big box stores.
Search for local gems like this.
You'll be able to support small businesses and also save yourself some money.
Another great way to add longevity to your treehouse is flashing tape.
As debris falls on your deck boards it settles in between the boards and rests on the joists
trapping in moisture.
Even for treated lumber this will eventually cause your boards to rot.
To prevent this you can use flashing tape on all upward facing surfaces.
This prevents debris from touching the joists and will make your treehouse last a lifetime.
Following these tips for your treehouse project can help add years to the life of your structure.
If you have any additional tips that would benefit others please leave those in the comments.
If you found this video helpful please give it a thumbs up and consider subscribing so
you don't miss the other videos in our treehouse series and as always thanks for watching.