Build the Ultimate Treehouse this Summer

Most kids dream of building their own ultimate treehouse. And maybe some adults too. Especially those who grew up watching movies like Swiss Family Robinson (favorite!), The Sandlot, Stand by Me, Home Alone, or Now and Then. But treehouses don’t just exist in movies. They can exist in real life too. And even in your backyard.

The Internet is a great resource for treehouse plans – simple to complicated – for any family looking to tackle the ultimate treehouse this summer. Here are a few:

• Popular Mechanics shared “10 Awe-Inspiring Treehouse Designs and Plans” in this article. Our favorite is Up in a Fig Tree, a two-story tree house building on the banks of the Paranapanema River in Brazil.
• Treehouseguides.com has several downloadable treehouse plans (with pictures!) available online. There are plans for an outpost tree fort, a terrazza tree deck, and more. Plus, building tips, tutorials, and a glossary of terms.
• Check out “The Treehouse Guys” on DIY Network too. These two travel the country creating custom treehouses for families, communities, nature lovers, and dreamers. There’s a host of videos and tips available on this site.

Need some advice before jumping into your treehouse building project? Here are a few building suggestions from Outside Magazine and the Family Handyman. Pinterest or Google can also come in handy for answering specific questions. For now, here are a few pointers from our team to get you started in the right direction:

1. Choose the right tree. Look at age (old!) and roots and trunks, branches, and leaves. These all indicate the health of a tree.
2. Limit the number of holes in the tree. Holes make a tree sick. This isn’t good for the tree. It’s also not good for the future of your treehouse.
3. Don’t put wood against the tree. If water is able to catch between the tree and the wood, there’s a possibility the wood will begin to rot. Use a treehouse attachment bolt instead. This also gives the tree room to grow.
4. Build on the ground first. A lot of treehouse features can be built on the ground first and then hoisted into position. This makes the building process a lot more fluid.
5. Add accessories. Think about a secret passageway, a simple pulley, a zipline or rope bridge. Maybe even a ropes course.

If you have any questions about the best materials or attachment bolts or whatever concerning building the ultimate treehouse, our team would love to help. Stop by any of our 20 Alexander Lumber locations to learn more and to pick up your supplies!