Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales [Paperback]

Peter N. Nelson (Author), Gerry Hadden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

Peter Nelson, the nation's foremost authority on treehouses, and writer Gerry Hadden join forces to tell readers everything they need to know about designing and building the treehouse that's right for every individual or family. Step-by-step instructions for a children's playhouse, a vacation home, an office, and a full-time residence are included. of color photos.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); First edition. edition (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140259988
• ISBN-13: 978-0140259988
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars detailed information for planning a serious treehouse, January 15, 2003

By 

christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Houston Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales (Paperback)

This is a book to read before you even decide what type of structure you want to build. This book is not a book of plans or a quick-read instruction manual of how to build tree houses. This is a serious book about the most important part of the process: the planning.

Nelson begs us to realize that first we must select the tree(s) and that the characteristics of the tree(s) will dictate what size and type of structure can be built. Nelson includes information about which trees are best suited for building in, taking their strength and growing characteristics. This is great information to know, and something I think my tree landscaping books don't include. We learn that the growth of some trees will actually crush the structure over time, while others are too weak to safely hold up a structure, let alone one with people inside it.

The key element in this book is safety. Nelson gives detailed information about how to build a structure that is safe to inhabit, whether it is a playhouse for children or an actual house for adults to use to work or live in. I was surprised to see that some of the tree houses in the book are for actually living in and working in!

Several different methods to attach the structure to the tree are outlined in detail. Exactly what type and how many tree "attachments" to use is explained, such as too many direct nailings into the tree will kill it. I think this information is key.

Looking at the plans for the tree houses in the book, I realized the quality of the workmanship surpasses houses that I have lived in. These are not quick slap-up tree houses, not the type where you use scrap wood that you have lying around. The houses featured have fine edgings, safe banisters and ladders for climbing, beautiful doors and windows. Some have balconies!

Anyone considering building a tree house should read this book first lest they waste their time building a tree house that later kills the tree, ends up being not-secure, or is flat out unsafe for people to use. As a non-carpenter, frankly I am feeling intimidated and doubt I have trees on my property that are worthy!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book, August 1, 2005

By 

Jeremy (Skiatook, OK, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales (Paperback)

A previous reviewer said that this wasn't for beginning treehouse builders. I don't think that is the case at all.

I bought this book because I wanted to explore attachment options, and it had a chapter on that topic. There was so much more inside this book. There is a detailed description of a massive treehouse they built. Even though I never plan to build such a thing, the read was wonderful.

I was going to put a treehouse in our back yard. After reading the section on picking the tree, I realized that it probably would have killed the tree completely. My tree, which I saw as huge and tall and a great tree-house tree turned out to be very sick, and the book even pointed out why.

This is the kind of book that makes you want to sit down with the author and have dinner. His writing style is very conversational, easy to follow, and hard to put down. I wish I was fortunate enough, as those in the book have been, to have him come and build my treehouse.

This book is a great read and great value. I hope that he writes more of his treehouse adventures for us to enjoy.

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good information on basic construction., December 26, 1998

By 

Mike Koss (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales (Paperback)

This book provides basic construction tips as well as excellent advice on how to properly support a tree house. I built a tree house for my son this summer.