Is my treehouse safe?

[TNTractor1]

I am about to finish up a treehouse for my kids... it is about 10 - 12 feet high. As you can see in the photos, I have built it between 3 trees in a triangle shape with the house at the back and a deck out front. I used three 2 X 10 planks around the 3 trees attached at each end with a large lag bolt. I built the floor from there... My concern is the length of the spans. The longest span of the three 2 x 10s is 16 feet. The other side is about 14 feet and the shortest (on the "front" below the deck) is 12 feet. With no other support underneath other than the 3 trees, does this seem structurally safe? When I am up there, it feels solid, with just a slight bounce... very slight. Thanks for the help.

 

[sailorman]

I 'm no engineer, but it sure likes it may get really racked if strong winds start those trees bending .

Edited : forgot to say it does look real nice !!

 

[TNTractor1]

Thanks sailorman. All that I have left to do is finish the walls on the house part.

 

[lockhaven]

A friend of mine built one very similar about ten years ago and it is still up and very sound. wood can flex and is very forgiving. Nice looking job:thumbsup:

 

[bearhawk]

I would put another lag bolt into the trees, but maybe that's just me..

Looks great..

 

[CAT97]

Looks great, but being an old school carpenter, my concern is at least 2 items. One. What part of the U.S. do you live because of snow load (dead weight) on the deck and roof area.
Two. If I were you and concern is always about our kids ( in my case grandchildren), find some steel straps and tie the ends of your 2x12's together or wrap around the tree with lengths of Simpson CS18 or CMST16 if available in your area. Nail one end with galvanized 16 penny nails or equivalent, wrap around the tree and nail the other end to the other 2x12, being sure to nail at least 12-18 inches onto the ends of each 2x12.:thumbsup:

 

[magicheater]

I 'm no engineer, but it sure likes it may get really racked if strong winds start those trees bending .

Edited : forgot to say it does look real nice !!

Good point and may warrant checking on a regular basis.

I would put another lag bolt into the trees, but maybe that's just me..

Looks great..

One lag and a couple of screws is a tad wanting.

Looks great, but being an old school carpenter, my concern is at least 2 items. One. What part of the U.S. do you live because of snow load (dead weight) on the deck and roof area.
Two. If I were you and concern is always about our kids ( in my case grandchildren), find some steel straps and tie the ends of your 2x12's together or wrap around the tree with lengths of Simpson CS18 or CMST16 if available in your area. Nail one end with galvanized 16 penny nails or equivalent, wrap around the tree and nail the other end to the other 2x12, being sure to nail at least 12-18 inches onto the ends of each 2x12.:thumbsup:

Sound advice

A friend of mine built one very similar about ten years ago and it is still up and very sound. wood can flex and is very forgiving. Nice looking job:thumbsup:

Very nice job! Just remember everything you add is still resting on 6 lag bolts and 12 screws with a bit of compression thrown in. Your kids are really lucky to have a Dad like you!!:thumbsup

 

[TNTractor1]

Thanks... all good suggestions! We live in West TN... not much snow, maybe one or two snows a winter... usually not many inches, but sometimes we'll get a good 6 or 8 inches. I like the idea of strapping the ends of the boards together and I will look at adding another lag bolt. If it doesn't look like I can get another lag bolt in a good position do you have any other suggestions that would help? I guess I cold always put a vertical support post under the middle floor joist, but I was not wanting to have any poles other than the trees. Thanks again! :thumbsup:

 

[arsenix2001]

Thanks... all good suggestions! We live in West TN... not much snow, maybe one or two snows a winter... usually not many inches, but sometimes we'll get a good 6 or 8 inches. I like the idea of strapping the ends of the boards together and I will look at adding another lag bolt. If it doesn't look like I can get another lag bolt in a good position do you have any other suggestions that would help? I guess I cold always put a vertical support post under the middle floor joist, but I was not wanting to have any poles other than the trees. Thanks again! :thumbsup:

I agree if it were me i would have used more lag bolts, they arent the strongest in terms of shear strength. Perhaps add a butt plate under each span where it mounts to the tree atached by 1-2 lags ans screwd into the main supports.

 

[Fixemall]

Get som angle iron and bolt sections of it under the boards, it will hold like...well iron.