Directions for Building a Tree House

Floor Foundation

• 1

  Lay a 2 by 6 next to the trunk of the tree on the ground to form a V-shape.

• 2

  Fasten the 2 by 6 to the tree using two 6-inch lag screws. Drop the plumb line from each end and use sticks to mark where each end falls.

• 3

  Measure the length between each stick and mark the spots. Take the post-hole digger and dig two 2.5- inch holes.

• 4

  Pour 6 inches of concrete into the two holes and allow them to set for 24 hours.

• 5

  Insert two 4 by 4 boards into the holes that were filled with concrete, then pack around the holes with dirt. Nail three 2 by 6 boards to the ends of the first 2 by 6, then nail to the outside of the 4 by 4 boards.

Diagonal and Floor Support

• 6

  Cut wedges into the ends of the two 2 by 4 boards and nail one end to the underside of the frame. Nail the other end to the bottom of the posts erected earlier.

• 7

  Place the 2 by 6 floor joists 16 inches apart and make them parallel to the first 2 by 6 used. Nail to the outside of the frame.

• 8

  Cut the floorboards to an even length, and lay them perpendicular to the floor joists. Cut notches in the ends of the planks that will fit around the four rail supports.

Ladder, Railing and Roof

• 9

  Cut two 2 by 4s so that they match the height of the 4 by 4 posts, 16 inches apart. Set the ladder on bricks for stabilization.

• 10

  Nail the top of the ladder into the notches created in the floor.

  Nail 2 by 4 rungs from the top to the bottom of the railing with 12 inches of space between the tops of each rung.

• 11

  Place two 2 by 4 boards on top of each other. Insert them through the notch made in the floorboard. Match the height of the ladder and the 4 by 4 posts.

• 12

  Lay 2 by 8 boards over the four corners. Cut them at a diagonal ,then nail balusters spaced 6 inches apart to the outside of the floor frame, screwing them to the top railing.

  Screw vertical 2 by 2s to each corner and join them with four horizontal 2 by 2s and two 2 by 2s at each end to create a gable. Join the gables by placing a 2 by 2 board between them.