Tree Houses You Can Actually Build: A Weekend Project Book (Stiles, David R. Weekend Project Book Series.) (Paperback)

by David Stiles (Author), Jeanie Trusty Stiles (Author) "If you are thinking about building a tree house in your backyard, be sure to consider your neighbors..." (more)
Key Phrases: exterior plywood, tree house, lag screw (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Tree houses capture the imagination of the child in all of us, and they have never been more popular than they are today. This inspirational yet thoroughly practical guide shows even the most inexperienced weekend carpenter how to design and build a lifetime of memories for the entire family. With more than 200,000 copies of their popular Weekend Project Books sold, David and Jeanie Stiles have become America's First Couple of do-it-yourself woodworking. In Tree Houses You Can Actually Build, they explain basic building procedures through clear, simple instructions and non-technical line drawings that illustrate every step of the project, from the earliest sketches to the final cedar shingle. The authors outline five basic designs that can be adapted to virtually any set of conditions, and throughout the book, they emphasize safety for both adults and children. In addition to line drawings, the book contains a section of full-color photographs highlighting a variety of tree house projects, plus helpful building tips based on interviews with their owners.

About the Author
David Stiles, a recipient of the ALA's Notable Children's Book Award, is a designer/ builder and illustrator who has written ten books. His playground designs have won two awards from the New York City Planning Commission.

Jeanie Stiles has co-authored six books with her husband.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (May 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395892732
• ISBN-13: 978-0395892732
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,580 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Woodworking > Projects
  #3 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Carpentry
  #4 in	Books > Home & Garden > Small Homes & Cottages

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can only afford one treehouse book let it be this one, May 30, 2002

By	Fred Hutchinson (Tullahoma, TN United States) - See all my reviews

My background as a residential/light commercial builder for over 30 years has given me the opportunity to construct a few tree houses along the way. With a large tree house project coming up and more than a few years since my last project I wanted to make sure I was on top of the latest technology. This book is great! It will show you how to construct a tree house in a single tree or using 2, 3 or 4 trees. There are several different approaches the book takes which will cover just about every project you may face.

I purchased "Home Tree Home: Principles of Treehouse Construction and Other Tall Tales" hoping to find what I was looking for and although it was a fine book it cannot hold a candle to this.

This book covers safety and construction issues that I never even thought about. It has good solid engineering and design. If you follow the books advice you, and your kids, will have a great time building your tree house and will enjoy it for years to come.

So if you are building your mother-in-law a place to stay while in town or just a simple platform a few feet off the ground for the kids to eat lunch on, this is the book for you.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Information on building a Basic Treehouse, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a step-by-step plan to building a basic treehouse and many fun additions on to the treehouse such as crows nests, rope ladders, pulleys, telephones,furniture and more. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow. If you want to build a more complicated treehouse(for example a treehouse with electrical outlets or more than 2 rooms) this book most likely isn't for you. For people who just want to browse pictures of amazing treehouses around the world I suggest Peter Nelson's Treehouses: The Art and Craft of Living out on A Limb.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only tree house book you'll ever need!, October 29, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

The best book on tree houses! This is a great book for adults and children. David Stiles is the leading authority on tree houses and this beautifully illustrated book covers everything you need to know on how to build them. From conception to construction, this book will tap into your childhood dreams and set you to building the tree house that is right for you. Practical step by step instructions, and full color spreads of finished tree houses and huts. If you are even thinking about building a treehouse for your self or your kids, this is the only book you will ever need.