Tree Houses You Can Actually Build: A Weekend Project Book

Like the 24 other reviews of this book I built a great treehouse for my kids in fall 2002. Many, many people ask me how I learned to build one and I simply show them the book. I even used an illustration to modify a one-tree tree house into a two tree treehouse that is 8 X 10 feet and 15 feet off the ground. My 8 year old daughter built a rope ladder and had a blast. I've since looked at several other treehouse books to see how this one compares - and for the price, it's well worth it.

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.

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.

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.

We built a fantastic treehouse this summer using many of the ideas from this book. My 8-yr old son and 6-yr old daughter learned so much from the simple illustrations. The book helped us decide on a tree, a design, and gave us nuts & bolts instructions as well as many practical tips. We highly recommend this book!