Treehouse Update.

I was asked recently about the treehouse progress we've made recently and in general how the build was going. In a recent fit of weekend activity, we actually got sides on the platform, so it's more contained, and actually sleep-worthy. The entire 6' x 10' platform has a 36" wall all the way around, with the exception of an opening where they climb in.

I had ambitions of making a rope ladder with wooden rungs, similar to what you see here. But while my ambition was good, the rope just didn't live up to expectations. 1/2" sisal, it turns out, just can't hold up to the weight and stretch pressures of two boys and their dad. Instead, I built a custom ladder out of 2 x 4 sides and salvaged the 1 1/4" dowels as steps for the ladder. All in all, it's a very reasonable replacement and a whole lot more comfortable/sturdy for the climber. The one thing that did need some unexpected attention were the bolts I'd installed that hold the platform to the crossbeams. I hadn't expected them to loosen up as much as they did over the winter, but in some cases, they were loose enough for me to hand-tighten. They've been seriously cranked down, but it's a good reminder for me of the need for ongoing inspection of any construction that's going to live outdoors and be subject to nature's stresses and strains.

The only part that remains is some sort of roof structure, and I'm looking at clear corrogated plastic panels from Lowes for strength, flexibility and weather resistance. The only unexpected thing is the need to severely angle the roof in order to shake off the elements; specifically if we have another winter with 17" snowfalls. I've been trying to go for lightweight construction overall, and don't have any plans to install full roof joists and plywood. But lightweight can't handle the stresses of sixty square feet of snow at a depth of 18" (at an average weight of 15 pounds per cubic foot, that's a load of 1200 pounds). Long story short, when the treehouse-building-advice websites suggest that you angle your roof at least 30 degrees, they know what they're talking about.