How to Build a Kids Treehouse

Kids have always wanted to build houses and forts up in trees where they can get away from it all and have their make-believe adventures. Building the house itself might not be the biggest challenge; building one that's safe is. You must make sure the tree can safely support the house and however many kids regularly use it. Also, build the house with full walls or sides instead of guardrails.

Things You'll Need

• 2x4 wood planks Plywood Hammer and nails Rope ladder

Instructions

1. Pick a tree that will support a treehouse. Look for one that has at least two thick branches side by side that the base can balance on. Use the length and sturdiness of the branches to help determine how large the house will be; 5 to 7 feet is a good average.

2. Lay the floor for the treehouse, nailing it to the branches. You can use a single sheet of plywood or 2x4 planks. Two layers of wood can give the house more support, as long as the branches can support the weight of both layers and the kids inside.

3. Add the sides to the house, nailing the bottom edge of the sides to the outer edge of the floor. If you use planks for the sides, nail them vertically to the base. You can then attach horizontal boards to the vertical ones for more support. Make the sides between 2 and 3 feet high, depending on how tall the kids are.

4. Choose whether you want an open "doorway" in one of the sides for entry into the house. It should be the side closest to the tree trunk for easy access. Simply leave part of that side open by not adding planks. If the kids can climb over the side safely and easily, this is not needed.

5. Brace the sides of the treehouse by nailing planks to the top of the sides to make a border.

6. Decide how to get up to the treehouse. You can attach a rope ladder to the side where they can climb up and over the sides, provided it is securely tied and/or nailed to the house and the kids are agile enough to use it. Also, you can nail planks to the tree trunk to create a makeshift ladder up the tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover the ground below the treehouse with mulch as a safety precaution

• Avoid building a kids treehouse more than 10 feet above ground.