Been wanting to build something for the kids (8 and 10) but don't want to drop $5k on one of those kit treehouses. I've got an old oak tree that should work. Has anyone here actually built one on a budget? What's the minimum I need to know about safety? Any resources or YouTube channels you'd recommend? Looking to do this over 3-4 weekends.
the kit treehouses are overpriced garbage honestly. check if your city has a tool library—ours has circular saws, power drills, the works. plus youtube has actual engineers building these. start small: platform + railings year 1, add walls/roof year 2
this guy gets it. budgeting for a treehouse is like budgeting for any project—you always underestimate by 40%. plan for $1200 minimum if you want it actually safe
built one with my dad when i was their age. the tree matters more than you think—oak is good but make sure there's no rot and the branch unions are solid. hire an arborist for an hour if you're not sure, costs like $150 and beats the ER visit
my concern with budget builds is the kids will use it non-stop in week 1 then you discover structural issues when they're actually in it. spend the money on materials that won't fail, skip the fancy finishing
do NOT cheap out on the platform and railings. everything else can be basic but those two things are where kids get hurt. that said, used pallets + 2x6 lumber from habitat for humanity restore + borrowed tools = solid foundation for like $300-400
Before you buy lumber, have an actual arborist look at that oak tree. Some trees are healthy enough, others will get stressed by drilling holes and supporting weight. Worth $200 consultation vs tree dying or branches failing
My buddy built one for like $800 using treated 2x8s and a platform design instead of walls. Kids loved it for 2 summers then got bored. Worth it? Maybe. Money well spent? Debatable lol
Check YouTube for the 'TABs Outdoor' channel - he built several budget treehouses and documents everything. Gives you real numbers and shows what actually works vs looks cool
the real cost savings is doing it yourself instead of hiring. we spent 60 hours building ours over two summers with the kids "helping." they learned more than if we just bought a kit anyway
Budget treehouse is doable but safety is real - what's your experience with construction? Because even 'simple' builds can go wrong fast if you're not sure about load bearing and securing to the tree
Have you looked into liability? Just asking because if a friend's kid gets hurt in your treehouse, that's a whole thing. Might want a lawyer opinion before you build
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The oak tree is good at least - way stronger than pine or aspen. Still do the arborist check though. And whatever you do, don't cheap out on fasteners. That's where injuries happen