Tanya's Treehouse Tips

Looking to build a treehouse? It can seem like a daunting task, but take it step-by-step, and you'll feel like there's nothing you can't build. Just like any endeavor, there are a few things you should know before you get started. Take it from Tanya, our tree house designer!

She has over 20 years of interior design and project management experience. Below are her step-by-step suggestions on what to do when you want to build a treehouse.

1. Contact a local arborist to assess the health, quality, and species of your tree/trees.
2. If you can’t get in touch with an arborist, take pictures of the tree(s)—both close and far away—including very close pictures of the bark and leaves. We can help you assess the health of your tree(s). If you’re located in the Northeastern U.S., you can use Leafsnap, an app that helps you identify what type of tree(s) you have.
3. Call your local township/municipality to be sure you have no set backs with regard to permit requirements for a play structure.
4. Measure the circumference of each tree at or close to the height you wish to have the platform. Check out our tips on how to do this.
5. Pick your finishes (siding, decking, railings, roofing, interior walls, staining vs. no staining, windows, etc.). You can review our portfolio to get inspiration, and get an idea of how much your tree house is likely to cost.
6. Decide which “add-ons” you’d like. These include zip lines, rock walls, cargo nets, pulley buckets, slides, fireman’s poles, and more.

From here, you can move forward, confident that you’re on the right track. We hope this helps! Happy building!