With summer here and boredom setting in, you might want to consider building a tree house with your kids. Tree houses aren’t just a great way to help kids stay entertained during the long days of summer, but will also add a few valuable lessons and some incredible bonding time for the whole family. The price of building a tree house can be so overwhelming though. In fact, as the years progress, what once seemed like a simple task can leave you spending hundreds of dollars that your budget just doesn’t allow. With a few handy tips and a lot of help from the kids you should be able to get your tree house up in no time and on a budget that doesn’t make you cringe. So, put your money concerns away and follow these ten tips to a great tree house at a low overall cost.
1. Free Wood
You might not believe it to be the case, but there’s most likely an abundance of wood in your neighborhood waiting to be take home at no cost to you. This wood can be found online on websites such as Craig’s List, or could be in your local classifieds. If you don’t see anything turning up in the area then try asking around the neighborhood and amongst family and friends. With any luck you’ll find some good wood to help get you started. You may also call up some local stores to see if there’s anything they may want to clear out of their rubbish bins. This is one of your best bets and you might be able to get a good start on the house with these items. Of course, you will probably end up with a bunch of scrap wood, so be careful what you use and where you use it. Typically, the free wood will be plywood, which is great for doors, roof tops and other areas that don’t have to hold up weight.
2. Think Simple
When it comes to planning out the tree house, it is pretty easy to get caught up in some elaborate plans. At the end of the day, your kids are going to be happy with anything you come up with, so you don’t have to design the Taj Mahal of tree houses just to impress. If you’re already feeling nervous about the budget for the tree house then start out with a simple plank base, some railings and a simple ladder. Simply having a place in the tree to play will impress your kids and will encourage them to work hard to help you make it. If you’re looking to spend more then you might want to look at plans online. This will help you get a rough idea of what you can do, rather than basing the tree house of your kids’ imaginations. Once you start writing down the figures for the materials and how long it will take to build the design should be altered in order to please both budget and your time frame.
3. Seek Renovation Sites
Your town should have plenty of renovation sites that will allow you to benefit from their amazing stock of used supplies. It might take a bit of looking to find one, but once you do simply ask permission to go through some of the items that might end up going to the dump. Once granted the okay, make sure to stay out of the way and carefully pick through items you may need. These sites are usually great for pieces of wood, old doors and windows and sometimes even hardware to help get you on your feet for free. You may also consider visiting a headquarters for charity groups like Habitat for Humanity. These locations will have plenty to choose from and the items you buy will go to help the charity build more homes for the people that need them. You may even find some items that will strike your imagination so much that you’ll have a whole new idea for the tree house.
4. Recycle Centers
Another great resource for your family’s tree house is the local recycle center. This center has a wide variety of items that might come in handy when it comes to building. You should have a pretty good selection of wood to choose from here. You may also want to consider using items like recycled tree trunks as cute chairs for the tree house. Simply sand down the top and it will create a cute look kids will love. Other items like hardware can also be found here. This can really save you money when it comes to nuts, bolts and hinges. One of the most common things to find here is leftover paint. If you’re planning on adding a few coats of paint to your design then this is place to find the paint without breaking a budget. Although you may not be able to find any color you planned on, you could end up finding a perfect match that never even crossed you mind.
5. Borrow Tools
Not everyone has a wide selection of band saws, sanders and other tools that might come in handy when building your tree house. This can be a major set back for a lot of people, but there are ways around it. For instance, you could always ask friends, family and neighbors to buy their items. Make sure you write down what you borrow for whom as the sheer amount of tools might become overbearing by the time the project is over. A lot of stores will also rent out tools to customers. This tends to require a down payment and credit card number, but it is definitely cheaper than buying everything you need upfront. Another way to cut down on the spending is to cut all your lumber at the store in which you bought it. Usually you can get an employee to do this for you if you don’t feel comfortable with the tools.
6. The Right Tree
When it comes to building a tree house, the tree makes all the difference. If you try to build on any tree you may end up loosing supplies, time, or worse yet, you could cause an injury. To find the right tree you have to consider the age of the tree as well as its health, branches and overall space. Trees with tiny branches are not good for tree houses and would probably be fairly frustrating to build on anyway. Thick and durable branches are what you should aim for when picking a tree. You should also know how old the tree is to ensue it has deep enough roots to secure your house and children. It might take a little research on your home to find all of this out, but generally looking at the tree, pulling on the branches and close inspection should be enough to let you know its okay to build in. You may also have to build around some aspects of a tree, so think outside of the box when planning.
7. Add On
One of the biggest financial problems many people have when it comes to building a tree house, is biting off more than they can chew. Elaborate plans on great, but you don’t have to do everything on the wish list at once. Instead, concentrate on the basics. Start with the floor, add some railings and create a safe ladder. Once these items are complete the tree house will be safe enough for the children to play in. However, this doesn’t mean you have to stop working on the house. Take some time to let the kids enjoy what they already have then think up ways to improve it. For instance, later on you can add walls and a roof. You can also create windows, doors and secret storage departments. If the kids are still younger then you might also want to add a swing, slide, or sliding pole to make it more fun. There’s a lot of items you can add on once you get a base, but taking a break can be important for both your creativity and your budget. A lot of the time you’ll be able to find some items on sale, rather than buying what you don’t have to have when you want it. Patience can be a virtue when it comes to the perfect tree house and it can create ample bonding experiences for you and the kids.
8. Know What You Have
Before you step foot in a store you should check around your house for items that can be used for the tree house. You never know what you have lying around that might add a little something interesting to the piece. For instance, old woods could go very far in some designs and shutters that are no longer in use will add a nice touch to the exterior. You might also find nuts, bolts, screws and other hardware to help keep the tree house in top shape. Paint is another common find in the home and is a fun task to assign to the kids. You might also find old pots that can be used for the kids to keep a garden in their tree house or maybe even an old bucket for drop down message pail. If you’re not having a lot of luck with your own home then you might ask your friends and family to donate some of their unwanted items for your kids’ new home away from home. Once you have your supplies written down, it should be safe to shop for everything else you may need.
9. Check Restrictions
Today, it’s never as simple as just building a tree house. Before you begin make sure you check your cities ordinances in regards to tree houses. This can be very light restrictions to heavy restrictions depending on your city. It is always important to know what you’re getting into before you start though as it might not be worth it to build a tree house at all. Knowing can be incredibly important when it comes to fees that you’ll be able to avoid. Your restrictions shouldn’t be hard to get a hold of either. You should be able to find the information online, but if not a quick trip to City Hall might satisfy your need to start building. You should also check with the insurance company to see if you need to add this to your insurance or if you need to pay more because of the tree house.
10. Strong Hardware
If you’re going to splurge then make sure you do it on the hardware. This is one aspect of the tree house that should be carefully purchased. With good hardware on your side you’ll end up doing a lot less maintenance on your tree house. This can save you big money years down the line, especially if you weather proof your wood. With good hardware in place you’ll be able to rest easy as your kids enjoy playing in the tree. Typically, you won’t have to spend all too much on these items even if you do splurge. However, you should do some research and buy some of the best brands available. This will keep everyone safe, the tree house sturdy and will keep all of your hard work standing strong for years to come.
A tree house is the beginning of an adventure for most children, so get your kids outside and playing with their own fun tree house. With these tips you shouldn’t have to stress about the cost. After all, once you see their smiling faces and playful giggles you’ll be happy you finally go around to adding a tree house to your parenting resume.
