How to Build a Multi-Level Treehouse: A DIY Guide
How a multi-level treehouse is built: safety first, the tools, full materials list and steps. Usually a job for professional treehouse builders.
- •High-torque 1/2-inch drill with 1-1/4 inch and 1 inch auger bits
- •Impact driver
- •Circular saw
- •4-foot level
- •Tape measure
- •Framing square
- •Socket wrench set
- •Extension ladder
- •Rope and pulley for hoisting
- •Laser level (optional)
- •Miter saw (optional)
- •Bar clamps (optional)
- •4x treehouse attachment bolts (TABs) with brackets
- •2x sliding (floating) brackets so the second tree can move
- •4x 12-foot 2x10 pressure-treated boards for the main beams (doubled)
- •14x 10-foot 2x8 boards for joists and rim boards, both levels
- •30x 2x8 joist hangers with joist hanger screws
- •1 box (50) 5-inch structural timber screws for beams and rim joists
- •4x 8-foot 4x4 posts for knee braces
- •32x 8-foot 5/4x6 decking boards, both levels
- •1 box (about 350) 2-1/2 inch exterior deck screws, for decking only
- •10x 8-foot 4x4 railing posts
- •24x 1/2 x 6 inch galvanized carriage bolts with nuts and washers, for railing posts
- •12x 8-foot 2x4 boards for top and bottom rails
- •70x 36-inch 2x2 balusters
- •2x 12-foot 2x12 boards for stair stringers
- •6x 36-inch 2x10 stair treads
- •2x 8-foot 2x4 boards for stair handrails
- •30x 8-foot 2x4 boards for upper wall and roof framing
- •20x rafter ties (hurricane ties)
- •10x 4x8 sheets of 1/2-inch exterior plywood for walls and roof
- •1 roll roofing underlayment
- •3 bundles asphalt shingles
- •4x 10-foot drip edge
- •5 lb of 1-1/4 inch galvanized roofing nails
- •1 gallon exterior wood sealer
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Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1.Set up fall protection before any work off the ground: a harness tied to a rated anchor, and a helper below.
- 2.Have a certified arborist confirm the trees are healthy, mature and strong enough to carry the weight.
- 3.Check local building codes, permit rules, HOA rules and property lines before buying materials.
- 4.Get a plan made for your trees' size and spacing that shows beam sizes, bolt locations and how much the trees can sway.
- 5.Clear the ground under the trees, mark a safety zone and keep children and pets out while anyone is working overhead.
- 6.Drill and install the treehouse attachment bolts at the planned height, following the bolt maker's depth and spacing rules.
- 7.Hoist the main beams with the rope and pulley, set them on the bolt brackets, and use sliding brackets on the second tree so the trees can move.
- 8.Frame the lower platform with 2x8 joists in joist hangers, fastened with structural screws, and check that it is level and square.
- 9.Add knee braces between the trunks and beams where the plan calls for them.
- 10.Screw the decking boards to the joists with deck screws, leaving gaps for drainage and a few inches of space around each trunk.
- 11.Bolt railing posts to the rim joists with carriage bolts, then add rails and balusters at least 36 inches high with gaps under 4 inches.
- 12.Build the stairs from the 2x12 stringers and treads, add handrails and fasten the top securely to the platform.
- 13.Frame the upper level floor as the plan shows, deck it and install its railings before working on it.
- 14.Build the upper wall frames on the lower deck, hoist them into place and fasten them with structural screws.
- 15.Install the roof rafters with rafter ties, then the plywood, underlayment, drip edge and shingles.
- 16.Seal all exposed wood, and check bolts, brackets and railings every season as the trees grow.
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