Building Platforms

It’s time to get this house off the ground. The platform is the first and most important part of the building process. It also tends to be the most challenging, so unfortunately there’s no warming up on the easy stuff. Do a good job here and for the rest of the project you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your house will be safe, secure, and, hopefully, level.

To build a proper platform, you’ll need to determine what types of anchors will hold up best against the host tree’s natural movement throughout the year. You’ll also decide on sizing for support beams and floor framing, based on the size of your house and how much it will weigh (don’t worry, you won’t have to stand on a scale with each 2×4). As before, the tree should be your primary guide.

This chapter walks you through some basics of platform construction, the main types of anchors for support beams, and installation of the floor decking. You’ll then get a construction overview of platforms for several popular treehouse configurations. Please keep in mind that all methods and configurations shown here are merely drawn from examples that have worked on other treehouses. On your own tree-house, you alone are the architect, engineer, and builder, and it’s up to you to determine what is suitable for your situation. If you have any concerns about the structural viability of your platform or the health of your tree, consult a qualified building professional or arborist.