Tree Houses You Can Actually Build: A Weekend Project Book (Weekend Project Book Series)

This is a fun book and just what I needed. I could see someone being either delighted or disappointed, depending on what kind of book they were expecting. First of all, this is a thin book, about 125 pages, about the dimensions of a thick magazine. It's not pages of detailed paragraphs of written instructions. This offers a general overview to get you started. It doesn't have plans or start-to-finish instructions with every detail. It's an illustrated idea and tip book, something you can open to any page and read a 'little of this or a little of that'. The illustrations are doodle-style with some little notes here and there, tips, and very basic how-to notes. Also offered are safety precautions, common tools needed, suggested hardware, etc.One of my favorite features of this book are examples of treehouses for one tree, two trees, three trees and four trees. I've been trying to pick which trees and how many to use and this helped me narrow it down easily based on my personal skill level and ambition. They also offer some basic styles of treehouses and how to go about building a platform, braces, adding a roof, etc. But again, all in an easy to digest format. They encourage reusing materials and show some examples of how the most basic treehouse can be made with scrap materials you might have kicking around. There's also more elaborate styles with trap doors, circular stairs and several levels. There are a few color pages in the center of the book, not many (four color pages with front and back photos, so 8 total), just enough for inspiration and to show a few examples of a house made in two trees, or a house with a deck, etc.I had an idea of what I wanted to make but only a very general idea of how to do it. This book filled in the gaps of my limited knowledge with basic and helpful info. There's also some random info, like how to install a pulley, best ways to make a ladder, how to make some basic kid-sized furniture, signs, trap doors, etc. Jeanie and David Stiles are both talented and knowledgeable on all things outbuildings: sheds, cabins, treehouses, gazebos, etc. I knew they'd be a reliable resource. I have another book by them on building your own cabin. That one is fun to browse, but turned out to be far too advanced for my skill level. But this treehouse book is right up my alley, and I feel confident now that I can build something simple and fun this summer.

So I have told my children two years running- either their dad or I would help them make a tree house. I guess the chips have fallen and I'm the tree house building. So this is it. This is the book I bought so that I could start educating myself on tree house building safety and final product safety and ideas for building a simple tree house.This has been an excellent resource and I believe I'm going to be able to help my children begin building a tree house this summer. I have garnered several ideas, we have agreed on a floor plan (Square) and we have started gathering our supplies.I agree with the other reviewer who said 'if you can only have one book about building a tree house, let it be this one.' There are color pictures similar to the one on the cover of tree houses that people have actually built. There are floor plans and suggestions and helps. I particularly liked the diagrams and drawings because that helped me picture what it was I am hoping to do when I buy my wood and start making a tree house.Enjoy.

This is a simple, easy to understand book about building tree houses. I bought it for my son since he and a friend decided they needed to build a tree house. Ironically, my husband hates to do this type of thing so I have had to figure out how to build a tree house! Since I have not building experience at all, this has been an interesting project. However, we are getting it done with the help of the book! It is still in process so I will let you know how it goes. I would not have known how to even begin if it were not for the help of this book!!

The media could not be loaded.  excited to read & start a sick tree house for m the kids

I bought this book and the black and decker book while trying to prepare to build a tree house for my girls. I sort of know what I was getting as I had already looked at the authors other books and even his website. My girls liked looking at some of the pictures but ultimately I returned it because by the time I got the book I had already been researching all aspects of building and there were literally 2 pages of things I didn't know. If your starting out and just want some basics (and I mean basics) then this book is for you.

I had this book in the past and then when I passed the book on I saved it in my Amazon wish list. Now that I am in a place to build a treehouse I re-ordered so we could use some ideas from the book.

The book is easy to follow. The illustrations and the examples are excellent. All the practical tips are very useful, especially if you don't have much construction experience. So far I have started building a tree house using the "one tree" design starting on page 62. There are a few things that I am doing differently. I don't like using ladder. I use 2.5ft tall workbench to stand tall, and I started the base frame at 6ft off the ground. I recommend using stable platform to stand on, over a ladder. Also, I was able to plan out all the lumber I need and realized that it would cost me $300 to make the tree house. So I went looking for used lumber and so far I have saved about ~$150.

The line drawings make it easy to understand the text, and photos of inventive styles are inspiring. The suggestions for attaching the treehouse beams to the tree itself seem a bit dated, as it recommends pounding nails into trees. I opted for building around the tree from a base that has its foundation on posts in the ground. Maybe that's a matter of personal choice.

This book was incredibly helpful and without I would not have been able to make a treehouse. The book is very helpful with how to actually build the tree houses, and has great pictures of examples of tree houses and the steps you need to build there treehouse. If you are hoping to build a treehouse, or are just curious about them, this is the book for you!

Excellent, I highly recommend this product. This is the 1st one i have purchased. Some great ideas here !!!!!!Good value for money !!

Once again, the almost unanimously positive reader response is spot on. What a brilliantly put together book ... and its scope is superb too - this could be helpful in putting up the most simple 6'x 6' platform right through to a village in the sky that would last three generations. And yet it never forgets that true tree house happiness is not always to be found in some over-designed and absurdly ornate superstructure ... but more likely in a simple crow's nest at the end of a suitable branch.Although I ordered this during a fine English spring, and it has taken four months to arrive from the U.S. and the nights are now drawing in, I am very glad I waited: a tree house is for life, and early next year our family will build a fantastic one - all because of this fine book.

This book was an excellent resource in the creative art of treehouse building. I highly recommend it to Dads, Moms, and yourhs who want build a treehouse.

Bought as a gift. It's written in a very easy, interesting manner and although it doesn't exactly give you step-by-step instructions for building a tree house, everything you need to know is there and anyone with a bit of common sense can complete a safe, sturdy construction with this book. There is information on choosing a good tree or trees, or even building a house without a tree! The emphasis is on strength and safety for both the builder and the finished project. Don't be put off by the american terminology the information is relevant wherever you live, and there are lots of handy tips to make the task easier and safer. The photos and illustrations will inspire you to get started and this book will ensure you have the knowledge to finish the job.