Tree house in a very green garden with a swing hanging in front of it

How to Build the Perfect Tree House in Your Garden

A tree house is a childhood dream for many kids. It’s a secret hideaway where they can spend time away from adults, play with their friends, and use their imagination.

If you have a garden with a few trees, then you might be thinking about building a tree house for your kids (or maybe for yourself). Here’s a guide on how to build the perfect tree house in your garden.

Smiling children sitting in a tree house.
Tree house

Pick the right tree

When choosing a tree for your tree house, you need to make sure that it is strong enough to support the weight of the structure. A good rule of thumb is to pick a tree that is at least 8 inches in diameter.

You also need to make sure that the branches are evenly spaced so that you can build a platform for your tree house. Avoid building your tree house in an area with low-hanging branches or power lines.

Choose the right location

Once you’ve chosen the right tree, you need to choose the right location for your tree house. You want to make sure that the tree house is close enough to the ground so that kids can get in and out easily, but not so close to the ground that it’s easy for intruders to get in.

You also want to make sure that the tree house is far enough away from the house so that noise doesn’t carry and disturb anyone inside.

Build a sturdy foundation

The most important part of any tree house is its foundation. You need to make sure that the platform is secure and won’t move or sag over time. The best way to do this is to attach 4×4 posts to the side of thetree using lag bolts and washers. Drill pilot holes first so that you don’t damage the tree trunk. Once the posts are in place, add crossbeams to create a stable platform.

Add walls and a roof

Now it’s time to start adding walls and a roof to your tree house. You can use any type of wood for this, but we recommend using cedar because it’s weather-resistant and looks great natural finish or stained finish.

To attach the walls, use screws or nails driven into the studs (the horizontal beams). For the roof, you can either use shingles or plywood covered with tar paper and then shingles.

Add windows and doors

Every good tree house needs windows and doors. Cut out openings for windows and doors in your walls using a saw (make sure an adult helps with this part).

Then add plexiglas or tempered glass inserts into the openings using silicon caulk or weatherstrippingto create a seal. Finally, add curtains or blinds if you want some privacy inside your tree house hideaway.

Conclusion

Building a tree house is a fun project that you can do with your family members or friends. With this guide, you’ll be able to build the perfect tree house for your garden.

Just remember to pick the right tree, choose the right location, build a sturdy foundation, add walls and a roof, and add windows and doors.