# Advice for building a tree house **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 12, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006 "2013-08-12T04:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/1 "2013-08-12T04:33:54Z")
Bambina’s want a tree house, we’ve got 2 big fir trees about 7’ apart, I’ve got a 2 week vacation coming up while my wife is back in China sorting out some business. Nothing fancy. I’m thinking that I can probably use 2 4x4 weather treated boards to build a base and bolt into the trees, use 2 x4 on top of that for base support, sheet of plywood for the floor, figure out some walls so no one falls out by accident and a roof to shelter from the rain. Any advice is welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/2 "2013-08-12T09:24:07Z")
My husband just bought and assembled a hunting blind kit. He put it up in the back yard, so he can see where he needs to waterproof it. It looks just like a tree house. So, if you want to go that route, you could buy a kit…or you can look at this hunting blind plan: [http://ext.homedepot.com/community/blog/build-this-deer-blind-for-about-250/](http://ext.homedepot.com/community/blog/build-this-deer-blind-for-about-250/) for inspiration. You might make yours shorter and wider, though, depending on how tall your kids are now. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/3 "2013-08-12T11:47:35Z")
My sister and I built [this one](https://sphotos-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1006185_10100319394942321_298388921_n.jpg) for my nephew, who is three. It was easy, probably 12 hours work total. Plywood isn’t your best bet for a floor, unless you’re planning on making this thing water tight. Plywood will warp, then hold puddles of water, then go all to hell. We just used regular decking. Water passes through it, it will last. The railing is just 1x2 strapping, which is cheap. Do you have any specific questions? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/4 "2013-08-12T11:58:47Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/5 "2013-08-12T16:06:33Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > My sister and I built [this one](https://sphotos-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1006185_10100319394942321_298388921_n.jpg) for my nephew, who is three. It was easy, probably 12 hours work total. Plywood isn’t your best bet for a floor, unless you’re planning on making this thing water tight. Plywood will warp, then hold puddles of water, then go all to hell. We just used regular decking. Water passes through it, it will last. The railing is just 1x2 strapping, which is cheap. > > Do you have any specific questions? I love the slide on that thing. Great idea! What are the stepping stones made of? And can you PLEASE put them in the correct order? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/6 "2013-08-12T16:25:08Z")
i wouldn’t attach a tree house to a fir tree. build a platform elevated house. ---
**Author:** ![NotDeadYet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotDeadYet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotDeadYet)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/7 "2013-08-12T16:31:35Z")
I really hate to be a buzz-kill, but you should check with your insurance agent first. A tree house can be considered an “attractive nuance” and depending upon who else will be using it – friends, neighbors’ kids, etc – lets just say you need to be sure you are not leaving yourself open to liability. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/8 "2013-08-12T17:48:50Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I love the slide on that thing. Great idea! What are the stepping stones made of? And can you PLEASE put them in the correct order? Ha, I wasn’t there for the arrangement of the stones (which are just slabs of logs, painted). I just helped with the construction while I was visiting family. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/9 "2013-08-14T07:13:30Z")
> [@NotDeadYet](#): > > I really hate to be a buzz-kill, but you should check with your insurance agent first. A tree house can be considered an “attractive nuance” and depending upon who else will be using it – friends, neighbors’ kids, etc – lets just say you need to be sure you are not leaving yourself open to liability. Also check local zoning laws/HOA regulations (if applicable). You’d hate to have to tear the thing down after the kids get excited about it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/10 "2013-08-14T07:49:04Z")
I built a tree house when I was a kid. It was in an apple tree, of all places. Still, it was about six or seven feet off the ground. I weatherproofed it with sheets of polyethelene, and ran an electric line fron the house, so I had a light. My cat and I endured a few thunderstorms in it. The cat seemed to be just fine in regards to thunder and lightning, as long as she was with me. She curled up in my arms and purred. I was the one who took responsibility for both of us. I don’t know about insurance or zoning in your area (neither I nor my parents worried about them), but I would hate to see a kid miss out on the experiences and fun I had building and enjoying my treehouse. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-building-a-tree-house/666006/11 "2013-08-15T02:51:29Z")
You can get great ideas for fantastic tree houses with a [google image search](http://www.google.com/search?q=tree+house&hl=en&site=imghp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=M0EMUuOnBIPOyAGe0YGIBg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1509&bih=852#imgdii=_). I am so envious of back yards big enough for a tree house! My dream house has a huge back yard with a tree house for adults, not kids. Mine would have a ceiling that can be opened to the sky, windows, electricity, and a place to take a nap. Some day.