How to Make Treehouses Without Hard Work

Building a basic treehouse saves money, time and effort.

Most treehouses take a lot of work to build because of parents' fears of structural failure and the sheer awkwardness of hauling and installing materials in a tree well off the ground. A treehouse builder who wants to avoid a lot of the hard work, though, can build a simpler treehouse that is still structurally sound but doesn't have a lot of the labor-intensive extras. A tarp to replace the roof saves you from installing walls as well.

Things You'll Need

• 4, 2 by 4 studs
• Sheet of plywood, 3/4 by 48 by 96 inches
• 4-inch galvanized screws
• Tarp with grommets
• Rope
• Knife

Instructions

1. Position a 3/4-by-48-by-96-inch, treated piece of plywood in the tree where you will be able to place four evenly spaced, treated 2-by-4 supports underneath. Mark the locations where the 2-by-4s will attach to the trees.

2. Remove the plywood sheet, and attach a 2-by-4 stud to one of the side locations. Drill three galvanized 4-inch screws through the plywood board and into the tree on both ends of the board.

3. Repeat Step 2 to attach the second support board on the other side of the tree, keeping the boards flush with each other.

4. Install the third and fourth boards evenly spaced in the middle of the other two boards, making sure they are all at the same level.

5. Set the plywood sheet on top of the four support boards. Fasten the plywood sheet to the boards using six galvanized 4-inch screws per board. Tighten the screws until the head of the screws are flush with the surface of the plywood, but no deeper.

6. Drape a tarp over branches at the four corners of the plywood, about seven feet higher than the plywood. Tie the rope through the grommet in one corner of the tarp, and tie the rope to the spot picked out in that corner's branches. Cut off the excess rope, and use it to attach the other three corners. Tighten the ropes further once they have all been installed to create a tight and functional roof.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave an old ladder tipped up against the tree trunk for easy access to the treehouse, and save yourself building a separate ladder.

• Screw additional studs into the trees about two feet higher than the plywood surface and around the perimeter of the treehouse for easy safety railings.

• Never allow young children to play on the treehouse unsupervised, as they may fall without railings.

• Never build the treehouse higher than 10 feet, because serious injury can result from higher falls.

References

• Popular Mechanics: How to Build a Backyard Tree House
• The TreeHouse Guide: Build Your Own Treehouse
• Mother Earth News: How to Build a Treehouse