Customer Reviews

Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I live in a treehouse (corbin's treehouse), and I used a lot of techniques in this book when building my house. excellent book, and highly reccomended.

Very good book for dummys who wants to build a treehouse! Easy understanding and detailed information about every step on biulding.
Also includes additional features if the reader wants to build a more elaborated house.

Based on other reviews I bought this book as a must have. I don't agree on that, but it's nice and handy book to have.
Nice reading and some good advices. I think that you won't make a mistake if you buy it. Good luck.

FABULOUS BOOK FOR THE BEGINNER WHO IS LOOKING FOR THE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON "HOW TO BUILD A TREEHOUSE"- IT EVEN TELLS YOU HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT TREE. A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE THINKING OF TAKING ON THIS KIND OF PROJECT!!!!

A very good book to take a look at. Quite professional and quite easy to read.

I wish I had this book the first time around. The tree house I built for my wife was tragically destroyed late one summer. We chose a tree on the basis of its strength. It happened to be one of the maple trees flourishing on the edge of our property in Syracuse, the heart of central New York. Unfortunately, there was a mammoth storm on Labor Day in 1998. The treehouse was destroyed, as was the tree and the car beneath it. This book was an incredible asset in the rebuilding process of our dream tree house.

Hard to read. It only has a couple of different designs for treehouses. This is for an experienced builder.