Things You'll Need:
- Sub floor glue
- 2 x 2 lumber pressure treated
- 2 x 12 joist hangers
- 9-inch lap siding
- ¾-inch Tongue and Groove plywood
- 2 x 6 lumber
- 20 penny h\nails
- 24 penny nails
- 2 single hung windows
- Water proof barrier tape
- 24 x 54-inch trap door
- Rope
- Tar paper
- Roof shingles
- 7/16 OSB roof decking
- Tape measure
- Nail gun
- Chop saw
- Hammer
- Level
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Step 1
Find a tree that has a trunk that is 18 to 24 inches in diameter and that has branches that are 12 to 18 inches in diameter--not a "Charlie Brown" tree.
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Step 2
Design the tree house and decide on the square footage. Purchase materials needed according to design. Use pressure treated wood.
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Step 3
Establish support beams ledgered between trees or branches depending on design. Tack in place with one nail and check for level before final nailing. Use lag bolts if span is more than 3 feet.
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Step 4
Continue to install support beams in the shape of desired design. For example some designs can resemble the shape of a rectangle, triangle, or an octagon. Secure beams to each other using 20 penny nails.
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Step 5
Put in floor joist no more than 16 inches apart. Remember to frame your 24 x 54-inch escape hatch. Use joist hangers to tie these together. Use sub floor wood glue on tops of the floor joist. Spread only 32 square feet (8 by 4 section) of sub floor wood glue at a time. Screw sub floor to floor joist. Make sure this is done while wood glue is still wet.
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Step 6
Frame walls and nail to sub floor check to make sure walls are plum and square and adjust if needed.
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Step 7
Cut and install roof rafters. Then install roof decking, tar paper, and shingles. Install windows. Wrap the outside of the windows with a water proof type barrier tape. Apply 9-inch lap siding to outside of framed tree house. Add escape hatch and a rope to the escape hatch door.
