When most people were kids, the ideal thing to do with that massive tree in the back garden was to build a tree house in it. Of course, with the kids-eye view of a treehouse it probably would last until the next good gust of wind then be in pieces across the garden. However, modern building materials, insulation and roofing materials mean that you can build a strong, permanent and weatherproof, adult treehouse which is a world away from the slightly rickety "shack in a tree" from my youth. These are a completely different proposition and come in the most amazing shapes and forms meaning that they can also be the ultimate extension to your home.
Designer ideas
When designers are let loose on the idea of making a treehouse, some amazing creations can result. From a giant bird's nest that has an outer covering of wooden twigs and an inside that resembles a rounded space capsule to a giant Gothic style multi-storey creation that wouldn't look out of place in a horror or fantasy film. Mashable.com features images from a range of inspiring treehouse designs that even include a fantastical UFO-inspired treehouse that looks nothing like anything you would find in a child's imagination.
Back in the real world€¦
While these weird and wonderful ideas in the treehouse range are, like many things created by designers, not really aimed at the normal household, that isn't to say that having a practical treehouse isn't possible.
In fact, a treehouse can be a perfect addition to your property, especially if you have kids. The first thing you need to have a treehouse is the obvious one €“ large and solid trees in which to build. The type of tree is also important because you need strong, load-bearing branches that are at least 20cm in diameter for a hardwood tree or even larger for softwood trees. Experts in building treehouse (and there are some out there) say that the best trees to use are oak, fir, beech, maple and hemlock.
Basics
Once you have selected the perfect tree, a central platform is the first step. This is built around the tree trunk to evenly distribute the weight and help the house and tree resist the wind. It is also important not to restrict the growth of the tree as this could lead to it dying and the end of the central support of the tree house. It is best to leave at least a 5cm gap around the tree trunk on the floor of the house and 7.5cm around any roof area.
The floor of the treehouse also needs to rest on a number of sturdy branches to help with load bearing and using the right types of brackets is also important. Using one large bolt is better than using lots of screws and nails as you get the same amount of strength while puncturing the tree less.
Keeping things dry
The roof of the treehouse is obviously key to how weatherproof it is and traditionally, a bitumenous shed felt would have been the obvious, and easiest, option to get a good, waterproof roof.
However there's more that you can do, both to keep the weather out and also to give the space added style and practicality.
To bring additional natural light into the room, a proper pitched roof window might seem like overkill but if you are using the space as an office, then the equipment that you have should be as safe and secure from weather and criminals as if it had been in your home. A proper, rafter, batten, insulation, breathable membrane and tile roof will be far more suitable for an office and you can match the style of the tiles, roof and roof windows to your house. Heating the treehouse becomes much simpler with a well insulated roof window but if you are going for something simpler, then corrugated perspex sheeting can give you a roof which also gives you a tremendous amount of natural light.
Design tips
When it comes to the design of your treehouse, remember there is nothing that says it has to be right up in the tree. Building around a tree and on stilts a few feet off the ground is one way to have the joy of the treehouse without the heights involved.
Ladders can be another thing that puts people off a treehouse for various reasons from restriction of movement to fear of being able to see how high they are. A simply way to combat this if you have the space is to use a wooden walkway from the ground to the treehouse and this is ideal on the lower types. With strong rope sides, it can be like walking across a bridge in the Amazon, without the rainforest, bugs and long hours of travel!
A treehouse is a fantastic idea but if you want something more than a kids play area while on a warm day, a good roof is essential. Being that a treehouse is made around a tree, a green roof may be the perfect option. This is a natural way to insulate the treehouse and also to help it blend into the environment around it.
If you want some power into the treehouse, you can easily get an electrician to string a special cable from the house to link it up to the mains. But if a more eco-friendly approach is favourable, consider adding solar panels. If the roof on the treehouse is sloped, then panels can be added to the room and deep cycle marine batteries could collect the energy generated to power up the treehouse. Alternative, consider a small wind turbine that would make use of the natural resource of the wind to generate power for the treehouse and save money on the overall electricity bill.
Conclusion
No matter what use a treehouse may be designed for, it is a fun way to extend a house but is also practical and even environmentally friendly in the right location. Always get professional advice before building anything more substantial than a basic platform to avoid any problems in the future and check out local planning regulations to make sure there are no conditions that need to be applied to. But otherwise, a well-planned and made treehouse could be a wonderful extension to the home for years to come.
