Serf Life
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Maine Island
Suspension treehouse
- Thread starter Serf Life
- Start date
flushcut
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Delavan, WI
Looks nice!
Basswood
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Long island
I think I’d rather see some through bolts than straps.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Straps are cool for a super temporary setup but it looks like it would be such a PITA one wouldn’t be inclined to take it down very frequently
Serf Life
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Maine Island
In snow country I could see it used for a few months then taken down, airbnb setup like a canvas yurt? A friend and I installed a suspended platform 70’ up a spruce with threaded rod anchor pt which worked mint. Scheming on a couple treehouse builds on our property, rabbit hole…
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
I got a round trampoline, cut the legs off and hung the bed/frame between some trees. It was about 15' off the ground. Pretty fun. The rule was no walking near the edge and some gentle bouncing on knees was allowed without being tied in.
The frame was held in place with 2" ratchet straps.
The frame was held in place with 2" ratchet straps.
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Basswood
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Long island
That’s my problem with this type of stuff, and even cobra cable. I don’t see them as temporary and Eventually it will be forgotten and a problem is created. I think I inquired with this company about the issue of the current way they do things, suggested eye bolts and their response was they inspect their tree houses. My only thought was, indefinitely through different owners?
I've made more progress developing a property of mine (first time owning land) and something I've always fantasized about is a hot shower like 60 feet up in a tree, probably mounted to a large doug fir trunk with a view, and now I can start making steps towards making something like that a reality.
I've gone back and forth pondering non-invasive mounting options, but from what I've seen the pro treehouse builders have few qualms about thru bolts into big trees. If anyone has any good videos on this, I'd love to see them.
I've gone back and forth pondering non-invasive mounting options, but from what I've seen the pro treehouse builders have few qualms about thru bolts into big trees. If anyone has any good videos on this, I'd love to see them.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
The hardware I’ve seen most recommend, are the shoulder lags. I’ve also always questioned this.
I can only guess the lag threads on something that large have more bite into our softer conifers. I’ve promised myself if I were ever to build one it would be a suspension type, with all threads. Just make sure they are in line with the cables
RyanCafferky
Been here a while
- Location
- Hood River, Oregon
The best thing to use are TABs (tree anchor bolts) that were developed by Michael Garnier. Also known as Garnier Limbs or GL’s. You can buy them a number of places including from Michael.
Calculating expected loads and buying appropriately sized hardware, beams, and joists is crucial. What often happens is people say “I’m building a deck” and all of a sudden it is a 200 square foot guest suite with bathroom on hardware and beams sized for a deck. I have a good friend who has made a living traveling around and replacing and upgrading hardware and foundations on treehouses built by the various treehouse tv shows and various builders around the country.
If you ever want to have a really good time attend the treehouse conference the first weekend in October. Great time and lots of learning and networking opportunities.
Calculating expected loads and buying appropriately sized hardware, beams, and joists is crucial. What often happens is people say “I’m building a deck” and all of a sudden it is a 200 square foot guest suite with bathroom on hardware and beams sized for a deck. I have a good friend who has made a living traveling around and replacing and upgrading hardware and foundations on treehouses built by the various treehouse tv shows and various builders around the country.
If you ever want to have a really good time attend the treehouse conference the first weekend in October. Great time and lots of learning and networking opportunities.
Oh, that does sound like a fun little road trip. Now that you mention it I've heard about the TABs before so thanks for reminding me. Obviously I'm at the early stages of brainstorming, but certainly would want to do it right when I actually make it happen.
I built and used a wonderful outdoor shower with on demand hot water years ago, been dreaming about the 'in tree' version ever since.
I built and used a wonderful outdoor shower with on demand hot water years ago, been dreaming about the 'in tree' version ever since.
Hi all,
So I am figuring out how to build my kids a treehouse. I have been looking at the GLs and watching Michael's youtube channel. Here is my question for this audience. What are your thoughts about tree health and stacking GLs in the same vertical alignment at different elevations? Some of the designs lead triangulation of beams with a high and low GL in the same vertices plain. There is a rough sketch attached. My thought when cabling etc. was th always stagger your hardwear. Please share your thoughts.
Thanks
Seth
So I am figuring out how to build my kids a treehouse. I have been looking at the GLs and watching Michael's youtube channel. Here is my question for this audience. What are your thoughts about tree health and stacking GLs in the same vertical alignment at different elevations? Some of the designs lead triangulation of beams with a high and low GL in the same vertices plain. There is a rough sketch attached. My thought when cabling etc. was th always stagger your hardwear. Please share your thoughts.
Thanks
Seth
Attachments
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
I still think that a space net that you take down or replace as they get older is the way to go. nothing is permanent really, except the bolts. Once you start bolting, those bolts will be in the tree forever. I wanna build a tree house too, but I wouldn't want my people to have to deal with the buried bolts in the tree after it outgrows the tree house.
RyanCafferky
Been here a while
- Location
- Hood River, Oregon
Seth-
From what I’ve seen, if trees are healthy they aren’t negatively affected by the hardware even if placed in a vertical orientation. It is worth going to a place where old TABS are in trees and seeing how the trees just swallow that hardware over time.
Reach
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Atglen, PA
I say go for it. Put your bolt as far apart as reasonably possible, at least one or two branch/trunk diameters would be my recommendation. If you can do that, I think the tree will be just fine. If my memory is correct, that is the ANSI recommendation for cables and brace rods.
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
I'm less concerned with the immediate health consequences to the tree, and more concerned with the consequences to whoever inherits the task of dismantling my tree when it does cross over the rainbow bridge. I know how much I hate finding old deeply embedded artifacts.
In general as well, I prefer the notion of a net that lets wind flow through, and to some degree allow for independant branch movement. I understand that it has a higher maintenence cost, but I think the juice will be worth the squeeze.
I love the idea but they are in your neck of the woods not mine. I'd b there in heartbeat if it weren't across the country. I emailed them today. Ill ask if they know of any local builds. Great call. Thank you
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
Consider a failure of a soft component if there was to be rodent/ animal damage.
Idk of anecdotes of Cobra damage or failures, myself.
Idk of anecdotes of Cobra damage or failures, myself.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Consider suspending the tree house by cables. Install the cables similar to our cabling system with through bolts. This would be the more long lasting and least impactful to the trees.
Alternatively there is purpose built hardware with sliding brackets on essentially a stud screwed into the tree. These work well but need to be designed in a way to accommodate tree growth and expansion.
Check out Nelson tree house https://nelsontreehouse.com/learn/treehouse-hardware/
RyanCafferky
Been here a while
- Location
- Hood River, Oregon
Treehouses mounted on properly sized TABS will outlast a suspended design with a lot less engineering concerns. If you think about the hardware size, safety factors, and on and on, the static TABS that treehouse builders use really do make the most sense. When I first got into treehouses as an adult I went to the treehouse conference and had my mind blown and drastically changed about this very topic. Charlie Greenwood who is a genius engineer and treehouse builder taught a class there that was astounding. I had the privilege of doing treehouse work at his house after one of the treehouse conferences. I think his home was around 400 square feet and was a two story treehouse.
It is worth attending the treehouse conference at least once. They love trees. Just in a different way than we do.
It is worth attending the treehouse conference at least once. They love trees. Just in a different way than we do.
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Light 14 or 16" narrow kerf bar for 200t or 201t- Started by southsoundtree
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