On Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 3:37:06 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jul 2018 12:06:46 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 2:17:14 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:03:54 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
wrote:

My buddy is trying to determine the best way to roof the treehouse he is building.
He is ready to start cutting the rafters, but he is not sure how
to deal with the trunks. You'll notice the issue immediately.
We have some ideas, but I don't want to influence anyone, so I'll keep them
to myself for now.
This question is mainly about rafter layout, not about sealing the roof
from rain, although suggestions/experience related to that are also welcome.
Ground Level View
https://i.imgur.com/AS3HhDw.jpg
Crotch Level View (leave it alone!)
The board is there just to show the height of the crotch
https://i.imgur.com/xuP7NfY.jpg
Bird's Eye View (simulated)
https://i.imgur.com/VI41CBE.jpg
The smaller branches are not an issue, they will be cut. It's the 2 main
trunks that need to be dealt with. Based on the location of the trunks,
neither 16" OC or 24" OC will clear them.
Have fun!


Just thinking outside-the-box - if it doesn't need to be
weather-tight or insect-tight perhaps a couple or three
colourful tarps could be used .. ?
John T.

As I mentioned to my buddy last night: A couple of tarps would be pretty
easy to install. And easy to install again. And easy to install again. And
easy to install again. And easy to install again.
;-)


I used one on my stand-alone play structure - bright blue 6 x 8 -
it would last about 4 years - so I replaced it 2 or 3 times in the
life of the structure - easy & cheap..
John T.

I'll wager that the tarp on your play structure looked more like this...

http://qaria.co/wp-content/uploads/2...ng-walmart.jpg

....than this:

https://i.imgur.com/UhTlqtO.jpg?1

My point is that there is not going to be any way to neatly - and tautly -
put a tarp over a 10' x 10' square structure that has a double trunk tree
coming up through the middle of it

Wind, rain, snow and gravity are sworn enemies of sloppy tarps.

I know you said "if it doesn't need to be weather-tight" but other than
building a large box around the tree and running the tarps in 4 directions,
leaving a huge hole in the middle, I don't see a way to use a tarp and have
it last. And if there is a hole the size of the 2 trunks in the roof, I don't
think it would be proper to call it a tree *house* anymore. ;-)