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

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