FAQ #10

For the tenth #FAQ anniversary, here is a small forest of questions with five reader questions on the DIY topic:

1. Should I build a tree house myself or hire a treehouse construction team instead?

I think everyone who wants a treehouse can sense that quite well. Find out whether you would rather take the design into your own hands, or rather just be involved in the idea. Ask yourself whether you have more time or more money – and how good your manual skills are. Adjust your project to these three factors. And keep your eyes open for creative alternatives! Wood and screws are not cheap, but maybe you can also find good used materials (like old windows) or tools? You can build the project during vacation, or only on a few weekends? There is also the option of having the platform built by professionals but building the house on it yourself. A good example is this platform on which a self-built treehouse is to be built.

2. Where can I find treehouse hardware and instructions to build my own?

For the hardware, we recommend The Treehouse Shop by friend, engineer and treehouse builder Vitus Wahlländer. He has further developed the tried-and-tested tree screws (TABs) and ships from Schliersee throughout Europe. In his shop you will not only find the necessary hardware, but also kits, assembly instructions and lots of other information about building your own. DIY videos were also shot for Hornbach with Christopher and Tim of Baumbaron. If you want to peer across the pond, you can also try the American market, such as Nelson Treehouse and Supply. We have also written a beautiful DIY book (plan included) for you, which will be published by Laurence King Publishing this March.

3. What is the benefit of a plan?

A great advantage of a plan is that your build doesn’t stretch out over many years and you don’t spend half your time going to the hardware store over and over again. In short: so that construction is more fun, you can always overlook the whole project at a glance and you make good progress.

4. Rain, snow and frost – how do I protect wood from moisture and weathering?

The best and most sustainable way to get a rainproof roof is with wooden shingles, and the cheapest with bitumen shingles or corrugated iron. If a tree grows through your treehouse, it is best to seal the penetration points with flexible material such as a truck inner tube so that the branch or trunk can still move freely there and continue to grow. The best way to protect it from weathering is the use of constructive measures, by making sure that water can drain off well everywhere. By choosing the right wood for outdoor use, you can do without chemical wood protection. In our latitudes, this is primarily larch.

5. Special question: Can I integrate a residential treehouse into a barn (in which my vintage car should also be stored)?

That’s definitely possible. You can either build a house on stilts, or hang your treehouse on the roof structure of the barn after that being checked by a structural engineer. Also clarify whether and how you will accommodate the electrics and the sewage system. Always consider the total weight, especially if you plan to equip it extensively. In any case, when considering the size of your treehouse, pay attention to what you want to use the barn for. Not that your beloved classic car will no longer fit underneath.

Couldn’t find your question? Mail it to us and we’ll put in on our FAQ – list!

Click here for FAQ #1,  FAQ #2, FAQ #3, FAQ #4, FAQ #5, FAQ #6, FAQ #7, FAQ#8 and FAQ#9