Things to do

Shake a roof

2007-11-23T08:29:00.000-08:00

So I had to learn about putting shakes on a roof. They came in bundles that did 2.5sqm for €60, so I bought four. Have done one side of the roof and still have two left, so got it about right.

Finally decided on a ramp for access at the front, as steps might be a bit painful if you fell off the flying fox 8-}

The house is definitely wonky, but still big enough inside.

The posts above the ramp are the start of the balustrade.

Around the house

2007-11-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

The walls of the treehouse are 8"x1 1/2" cedar planks split on the diagonal to make the weatherboards. These I ran a jigsaw along the bottom of to give a natural look. I had constructed a frame of 3"x2"s and put it all together before lifting it up to the platform.

The height and 'lean' were all a guess, but you see the desired effect in the finished product. The windows were meant to be 'wonky'.

I had it tied to the glass-house frame with a bit of old bike inner-tube to stop it falling over. It still did so - twice :-( A bit of cursing was heard after nailing the same boards on for the third time ;-)

With the gable end up, I made the other two wall frames up on the platform, and put up the roof ridge pole.

Next was to attach the cedar shakes to the plywood for the roof, and build a ramp for getting up to the flying fox 'jump off'.

Inspiration

2007-11-15T05:37:00.000-08:00

When I decided to build the kids a treehouse, I wanted to make it one they would remember. Having done a fair amount of decking, I was happy enough with construction using joists and decks, but had to learn a little about putting one up in a Tree!

The inspiration for my design came from the king of treehouse builders Daniels Woodland.

When we bought the house, I just knew the four trees at the bottom of the garden would make a great spot for a platform, so this is what went up first.

I basically drilled a hole right through the tree trunk and bolted one end of a 6"x2" joist to it. It is really important not to bolt both ends of a plank to two separate trees. The shear force generated by wind blowing the trees will snap just about any fixing! The other end of the joist I nailed and then clamped the ends with a bolt on the other side of the trunk.

The timber I used for the joists was pressure treated Douglas Fir, but most of the structure is constructed from Cedar.

The perpendicular joins were made with joist hangers as these support a little movement of the joist.

looking back

2007-01-03T03:06:00.000-08:00

What happened in 2006:

1. Bought, dismantled and transported 18'x12' shed. Crowbar and sledge hammer, stacked on 10'x4' trailer in two loads. Erected with screw fixings rather than nails. €500 + €50 for trailer hire.

2. Dismantled glass house, for relocation.

3. Felled the smaller of boundary trees and removed hedge to back garden. Built the turbo-blast incinerator which made short order of foliage.

4. Started tree house. Built platform at 7'.

5. Insulated upstairs. Fibreglass mats in void, and sheep's wool at apex.

6. Fenced along lane with 'slabs' of Douglas Fir (bark intact). Installed temporary gate for machinery access.

7. Renovated water storage with new lever valve.

8. Installed upstairs shower (including new power circuit).

9. Relocated timer for heating and replaced with immersion timer.

10. Felled bigger trees along E boundary. Sliced for firewood. Foliage stacked awaiting Southerly

Now for the 2007 tasks!

Hot Tub

2006-08-14T04:19:00.000-07:00

Why build, when you can buy? For the fun of it!