Index IndexA
access
climbing walls, 150–53
gable house project, 194–95
ladders, 126–29
open air project, 183
stairs, 130–33
accessories. See playground features
A-frame with walkout deck, 200–203
anchoring techniques
basics, 59–60
gable house project, 189–90
multiple tree examples, 76–77, 79, 81
open air project, 171–76
single tree examples, 68–69, 71–73
support post examples, 81
types of, 61–64
arborists, 21–22, 26, 41, 59, 185
architectural salvage, 36, 107, 193
Ashley stopper knot, 143
asphalt shingles, 123
B
batten doors, 115
bird’s mouth cuts, 117
bowline knots, 56
button swings, 140–43
C
cables, 48-49. See also hardware
cedar roof shingles, 124
cedar shingle siding, 89
chains, 48. See also hardware
climbing walls, 150–53
composition shingles, 180
conical roofs, 35
construction
doors and windows, 104–9, 113–15
railings, 93
roof framing, 116–21
safety and, 54–55
sheathing and roofing, 122–25
shelves and tables, 96–103
siding and trim, 87–91
stairs, 130–33
corner shelves, 98–99
cutouts, 108–9
D
decking installation
about, 65
gable house project, 190
multiple tree examples, 76, 79, 81
open air project, 178
single tree examples, 65, 69, 73
support post examples, 81
design
doors and windows, 36–37, 104–5
interiors, 16
roofs, 34–35
disc swings, 140–43
doors
construction, 113–15
gable house project, 194
safety and, 53
securing, 37
trim and, 91
double bowline knots, 140
double-rung ladders, 126–27
E
elevation drawings, 44. See also plans
enclosed walls, 30
F
fireman’s poles, 135
fixed anchors, 61. See also anchoring
techniques flat-rung ladders, 128
flip-down table/bunk, 102–3
flip-up panels, 32
flip-up tables, 100–101
floor plans, 45. See also plans
four-tree shanty, 216–19
framing
climbing walls, 151
gable house project, 189–90
multiple tree examples, 76, 79
open air project, 177–79
roofs, 116–21
single tree examples, 68–69, 71–73
support post examples, 81
techniques for, 83–86
walls, 83–86
G
gable house project
about, 184–85
framing, 189–90
plans, 186–88
roof, 192–93
windows and door, 192–94
gable roof with posts project, 197–99
gable walls, 85
Gothic arch windows and doors, 110–11, 113
H
half-covered crow’s nest, 204–7
handbuilt doors/windows, 11, 36, 106–9
hanging anchors, 62-64. See also anchoring techniques
hardware
anchoring hardware, 62–63
block and tackle, 56–57
for climbing walls, 151
commonly used, 47–49
latches, 37, 106, 111, 113, 115
metal framing connectors, 177
pulley systems, 56–57
rafter squares, 120
ropes, 137
for watercannons, 155–56
for ziplines, 145
height restrictions, 29
horizontal siding, 88
I
inset doors, 113
interiors
corner shelves, 98–99
design, 16
finishing, 94–95
flip-down table/bunk, 102–3
flip-up tables, 100–101
lumber, 46
2×4 shelves, 96–97
irregular doors, 113–14
knee braces, 64. See also anchoring techniques
L
lap siding, 88
latches, 37, 106, 111, 113, 115
lookout towers, 8
lumber, 46
M
metal roofing, 125
N
nails, 47-48. See also hardware
neighbors, 29
neoprene rubber, 123
O
open air project
anchoring, 171–76
decking, 178
framing, 177–79
plans, 168–70
roof, 178–80
open walls, 31
P
plank swings, 138–40
plans
A-frame with walkout deck, 200–203
four-tree shanty, 216–19
gable house project, 186–88
gable roof with posts project, 197–99
half-covered crow’s nest, 204–7
open air project, 168–70
for platforms, 44–45, 67, 70, 75, 78, 80
triangular tree hut, 212–15
wraparound shed on stilts, 208–11
plan views, 45. See also plans
plastic roofing, 125
platforms
basics, 59–60
gable house project, 189–90
height of, 40
multiple tree examples, 78–79
open air project, 177
plans for, 44–45
safety and, 51
single tree examples, 67–74
support post examples, 80–81
two tree examples, 75–77
for ziplines, 149
playground features
climbing walls, 150–53
lookout tower, 8
slides, 160–63
speaking tubes, 157–59
swings, 136–43
water cannons, 154–56
zip lines, 144–49
plywood sheathing, 122
plywood siding, 87
pop-up windows, 111
pulley systems, 56–57
R
rafters, 116–21
rafter squares, 120
railings, 29, 53, 93, 181–82, 194
removable roofs, 34
roofing sealant, 123
roofs
design, 34–35
framing, 116–21
gable house project, 192–93
open air project, 178–80
plans for, 44
sheathing and roofing, 122–25
trim and, 90
rope ladders, 129
S
safety
ground cover and, 53
maintenance and, 54
ziplines and, 144
salvaged materials, 36, 107, 193
screws, 47-48. See also hardware
setback restrictions, 29
sheathing, 122–25
shed walls, 85
shutter windows, 110–11
siding, 87–91
siding joints, 87
slides, 160–63
sliding anchors, 62. See also anchoring techniques
span tables, 60
speaking tubes, 157–59
speed squares, 120
sunlight, 41
support
support posts, 13, 43, 80–81, 173–75
See also anchoring techniques
swing-out braces, 101
swings, 136–43
T
traditional doors, 115
trap doors, 134
treehouse types
A-frame with walkout deck, 200–203
Cape Cod style, 18
chalet-inspired, 13
examples with support posts, 80–81, 204–7, 212–19
four-tree shanty, 216–19
half-covered crow’s nest, 204–7
open air, 167–70
single tree examples, 67–74, 167–70, 184–85, 197–99, 204–11
triangular tree hut, 212–15
wraparound shed on stilts, 208–11
trees
grooming, 26
species of, 27
triangular tree hut, 212–15
2×4 shelves, 96–97
W
walls
construction of, 83–86, 92, 151
drawing plans for, 44
gable house project, 191
water cannons, 154–56
windows
cutouts, 108–9
gable house project, 193
safety and, 53
shutters and pop-ups, 110–11
trim and, 91
wraparound shed on stilts, 208–11
Z
zip lines, 144–49