Is it possible to buy a tree house off the shelf or in kit form? In some
ways this would be difficult to do as all locations will be different, but
anything that would make construction easier would be welcome.
Thanks

T wrote:
Is it possible to buy a tree house off the shelf or in kit form? In some
ways this would be difficult to do as all locations will be different, but
anything that would make construction easier would be welcome.
Thanks



groan
You are entering a world of pain.
Nothing you do will ever be good enough.

I'll post some pictures of my efforts shortly...

In retrospect, I'd say this:

1) Build a basic frame for the platform using normal joists.
Build this in-situ, otherwise it will be too heavy to move into place.

2) If the design involves spanning 2 or more trees, you *must* allow for
sway. This is *much* more than you will imagine. Many inches, even at
platform height with substantial trees.

My design involved suspending the main platform from shortish chain
sections and eye-bolts. Other solutions would be to have only short
'supporters' attached to each tree, and have the main joists simply
sitting on top of these, allowing for slippage.

3) Use normal decking for the platform.

4) If they want an 'enclosed' section, I'd suggets shoving a B+Q
chaep-as-chips shed / wendyhouse on the platform, as custom building is
never-ending.

5) If the joists / decking thing is overkill for your intended design,
then look at simply modifying a cheap Bodgit+Quick shed / summerhouse.

/groan

--
Ron

On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:17:54 +0100, Ron Lowe wrote:
groan
You are entering a world of pain.
Nothing you do will ever be good enough.

Yes. OTOH, never hand over the design to the kids, either :-)
(ours actually had an escape pod, just in case everything started falling
down)

"T" wrote in message
...
Is it possible to buy a tree house off the shelf or in kit form? In some
ways this would be difficult to do as all locations will be different, but
anything that would make construction easier would be welcome.
Thanks

You'll spend several hundred quid and it will take three days' hard work.
They'll play in it about twice, then it will be left to rot. Finally you'll
spend a day taking it down because it will have become dangerous.

Total waste of time, like all expensive toys.

Gumpy Grandad Bill

Owain wrote:
On 31 Aug, 20:05, "Bill Wright" wrote:
Total waste of time, like all expensive toys.
Gumpy Grandad Bill

It's much easier to make the treehouse first, from a scaffold tower
and a shed, and then plant some leylandii around it.

Easier to get approval from the OIC Domestic because it's "fur the
weans" and you end up with a shed with a fantastic view of the bird
next door sunbathing, which the OIC Domestic will never know about
because she won't climb the ladder.


I've visited a garden which has something a bit like that - but the top
is a viewing platform - not closed in.

Just out of interest, *could* planning permission be needed for a treehouse
2.mumble meters high and in the front of the house.

No reason *cough*

Tim S wrote:
Just out of interest, *could* planning permission be needed for a
treehouse 2.mumble meters high and in the front of the house.

No reason *cough*

Owain wrote:
On 31 Aug, 20:40, S Viemeister wrote:
I've visited a garden which has something a bit like that - but the top
is a viewing platform - not closed in.

Need the roof to keep the bird droppings off the flat screen telly and
the beer fridge :-)


This place has a separate building for drinks and food - it's big enough
to be a small restaurant. I didn't notice a TV, but there probably is
one. They have some really nice greenhouses, too.

On 31/08/2009 21:27, in article ,
"Tim S" wrote:

Just out of interest, *could* planning permission be needed for a treehouse
2.mumble meters high and in the front of the house.

No reason *cough*

In fact, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)
(Amendment) (No 2) England Order 2008 (that't the recent rules to allow
"more" things to not require planning permission) states that "raised
platforms" with the curtilage of the property are not not considered
permitted development - E.1(g). This implies planning permission is
required.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20082362_en_1

IANAL, and if I'm horribly wrong I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will
contradict me!

"Piers Finlayson" wrote in message
...



On 31/08/2009 21:27, in article ,
"Tim S" wrote:

Just out of interest, *could* planning permission be needed for a
treehouse
2.mumble meters high and in the front of the house.

No reason *cough*

In fact, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)
(Amendment) (No 2) England Order 2008 (that't the recent rules to allow
"more" things to not require planning permission) states that "raised
platforms" with the curtilage of the property are not not considered
permitted development - E.1(g). This implies planning permission is
required.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20082362_en_1

IANAL, and if I'm horribly wrong I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will
contradict me!

You mean "(i)
it would consist of or include- .
(i)
the construction or provision of a veranda, balcony or raised platform,"

Isn't that designed to ensure you need planning permission for decks above a
certain height?
Just what height it becomes raised is the question.

Bill Wright wrote:
"T" wrote in message
...
Is it possible to buy a tree house off the shelf or in kit form? In
some ways this would be difficult to do as all locations will be
different, but anything that would make construction easier would be
welcome. Thanks

You'll spend several hundred quid and it will take three days' hard
work. They'll play in it about twice, then it will be left to rot.
Finally you'll spend a day taking it down because it will have become
dangerous.
Total waste of time, like all expensive toys.

Gumpy Grandad Bill

Alas I agree. Did the same, work of art, SWMBO now wants rid of it.

Why do we bother?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

dennis@home wrote:
"Piers Finlayson" wrote in message
...



On 31/08/2009 21:27, in article
, "Tim S"
wrote:
Just out of interest, *could* planning permission be needed for a
treehouse
2.mumble meters high and in the front of the house.

No reason *cough*

In fact, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted
Development) (Amendment) (No 2) England Order 2008 (that't the
recent rules to allow "more" things to not require planning
permission) states that "raised platforms" with the curtilage of the
property are not not considered permitted development - E.1(g). This
implies planning permission is required.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20082362_en_1

IANAL, and if I'm horribly wrong I'm sure someone more knowledgeable
will contradict me!

You mean "(i)
it would consist of or include- .
(i)
the construction or provision of a veranda, balcony or raised
platform,"
Isn't that designed to ensure you need planning permission for decks
above a certain height?

You do.

Just what height it becomes raised is the question.

30cm. I can't however get a definition of what comprises a 'deck' as
opposed to a 'step' or a definition of 'ground'.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk