The Treehouse Project

A backyard build, documented as it happens.

House

Walls going up. Starting to look like a real structure.

Walls going up

Walls going up

Zip System sheathing on the wall frames, stairs framed out. Starting to look like a real structure.

Raising the walls

Raising the walls

Me, Greg, and Dave lifting the first wall frame into place on the platform.

Standing tall

Standing tall

Wall frames up, braced and plumb. First time the treehouse has walls.

Deck

Platform framed, decked, and claimed by the crew.

Deck boards down

Deck boards down

Platform is fully decked. Solid footing up in the tree now.

Platform framing

Platform framing

Farley and Ace helping to install the platform joists.

First one up

First one up

Celebrating on the beam frame. The platform is real.

Kids claim the deck

Kids claim the deck

Deck boards barely down and Teddy and Ace are already up here.

Teaching the tools

Teaching the tools

Showing Teddy how to drive screws. He's a natural.

Little builder

Little builder

Ace grabbed the drill and got to work. No hesitation.

Family on the platform

Family on the platform

Me, Teddy, and Ace on the deck for the first time.

Beam frame on piers

Beam frame on piers

Freestanding beam structure leveled and set on the concrete piers.

Footings

Measuring, digging, and pouring the foundation.

Supports and footings

Supports and footings

First support beams bolted to the tree. Concrete pier footings set in the ground.

Setting post holes

Setting post holes

Ace and me setting the post holes.

Strongest on the crew

Strongest on the crew

Ace hauling the concrete tube form. Strongest one on the crew.

Concrete in pajamas

Concrete in pajamas

Ace mixing concrete in her pajamas. Committed to the cause.

Measuring up

Measuring up

Leveling the first beam. String line from the tree to figure out the right height.

Digging with the crew

Digging with the crew

Teddy and Ace helping dig the footing holes.

Footing holes

Footing holes

Footing holes dug. Three piers to support the platform.

Tribeam

The TABs, the Tribeam, and the first climb.

First one up

First one up

Teddy's the first one up on the Tribeam.

Installing the TAB

Installing the TAB

Me, Tristan, and Dave using every ounce of leverage we can manage to get the TAB installed.

Triangle brace

Triangle brace

Triangle brace frame laid out and test-fitted.

Tribeam assembled

Tribeam assembled

After a lot of creative cuts, finally got the Tribeam assembled.

Birthday TABs

Birthday TABs

My birthday present — TABs for the treehouse! What more could I ask for?