_large.jpg)
Tree house - great entertainment for the child of any age. Such construction will be to the taste to adults too. It is possible to build the house of improvised materials, it is important to strengthen carefully design and to protect it from bad weather.
Ideal lodge: what it has to be
The house on tree – the perfect place for children's entertainments. It can become storage of secrets of the child, the place for necessary privacy, scenery for games in Indians, superheroes, pirates, knights and princesses. The loving parent owning elementary construction skills will be able quite to make small lodge with own hands. Such construction can be arranged at the dacha, in the forest, on the playground.
Correctly constructed children's lodge has to be:
- safe;
- simple on design;
- attractive to the child;
There is set of projects, many of which quite are suitable for the independent embodiment. It is easy to find suitable pictures in magazines for house handymen, detailed schemes and assembly instructions are printed in the same place.
Choice of tree
Before starting construction, it is necessary to pick up suitable tree. It should not be too old and mouldering, but young with insufficiently thick trunk will not approach too. Experts recommend to pay attention on:
- age of plant;
- its breed;
- thickness and condition of trunk;
- quantity and arrangement of large branches;
- structure of the soil around plant.
Optimal variant – strong tree with diameter of trunk not less than 30 cm. It should not be struck by parasites, hollows and other damages are undesirable. It is the best of all to establish lodge on maple, oak, ash-tree or apple-tree. The willow, birch, chestnut or poplar possess insufficiently strong root system, at linden too soft wood, pitch on coniferous breeds of trees can spoil the child's clothes.
The trunk has to be direct, on it it is simpler to strengthen design. Trees with double or threefold branching are very convenient above. Strong boughs allow to place conveniently lodge, they will serve as additional support and protection. Optimum thickness of basic branches – from 20 cm in the diameter. It is desirable that the tree was in site depth, far away from fence and windows of neighbors.
The trees growing in the soil with large amount of clay will be suitable for installation of lodge. Light sandy loam lowers reliability of support, the tree can tilt or sink under weight of design.
Preparatory work
It is necessary to begin work with preparation of tree. Excess small branches accurately cut off secateurs, but it is better not to touch large boughs. Having lost them, the tree can dry up, safety of lodge will appear under the threat. It is better to consider arrangement of massive branches by drawing up the drawing and to use them as support. All dry boughs are surely cut even if externally they seem rather strong.
The next stage – acquisition of necessary tools and consumables. It is necessary for construction of the house will be necessary:
- flat-nose pliers;
- electric fret saw or hacksaw;
- screw driver;
- drill;
- hammer;
- level;
- plumb;
- square;
- tape measure;
- paint brushes;
- abrasive paper.
The house on tree can be built from improvised materials: residues of lining, boards, metal gauze, tarpaulin. The necessary building materials can be bought in construction hypermarket at not too high price. For construction it is necessary to prepare:
- eaves boards with a section 5 at 25 and 2.5 by 15 cm;
- bar of 150 by 150 cm;
- supporting beams;
- galvanized self-tapping screws;
- carrier metal plates.
The wood intended for construction has to be well dried. Choosing the size of supporting beams, it is necessary to consider height of arrangement of lodge. Ideal length – is 1-1.5 m more than a distance from the building to the earth. Ready beams impregnate with anti-septic tank and dry, then cover the lower part with bituminous mastic or solid oil. Strong and inexpensive pine boards will be suitable for creation of floor and walls.
The bar, boards, rails and other wooden parts is recommended to be impregnated with anti-fungal solution, providing durability and gigiyenichnost of construction. Also the fire-prevention covering will not prevent, children quite often play with fire.
Lodge basis: how to make it in due form
The standard lodge consists of strong board basis, walls, roof and ladder. The design can be very simple or complicated, complemented with decorative elements. At first the distance from the earth to strong basic branches is measured. They will become basis for the platform. Corners of the basis project down and note indicators.
By means of drill, openings under supporting beams are preparing. Depth of everyone from 1.2 m, diameter of 20-30 cm. For bottom it is fallen asleep layers of coarse sand and crushed stone 10 cm thick. Columns lower in holes, expose on level and strengthen struts. After final alignment of level of pole fill in with cement slurry. When mix stiffens, struts remove.
The bar chosen for the platform of lodge is cut off to the necessary length. It is much more reliable if the framework leans not only on branches, but also on rod posts. Bars in turn lift and fix to inside face of columns on self-tapping screws. On corners the binding becomes stronger metal plates.
In framework, additional bars jam, them have in parallel, at distance of 20-30 cm from each other. At trunk the opening is left. From below the framework becomes stronger two cross boards, all connections are fixed by bolts.
One more option of fastening of lodge does not mean rod posts. Such decision is suitable for plant with the doubled trunk. The bar is beaten to it, previously having cut off bark. The framework requires 2 boards strengthened in parallel, over them the bar (4-5 pieces) perpendicularly keeps within.
Construction of lodge: step-by-step instructions
On the created support floor is fixed. For it polished boards without roughnesses and knots are necessary. They are cut according to previously made measurements, without forgetting about openings under large branches. It is necessary to make it precisely, it will be difficult to correct errors when laying. The model of floor is assembled on the earth, spreading boards with gap about 1 cm. If the design corresponds to the drawing, it is possible to start laying.
Boards mount on framework by means of nails or self-tapping screws. Correctly collected flooring should not be unsteady and creak. On its perimeter establish additional framework from bar. Material with smaller section will approach, it fix to supporting girders anchor bolts. Intermediate racks mount at distance about 50 cm from each other, fixing from outer side of framework. It is not recommended to fix racks to floor, walls will be unstable.
Intermediate and corner posts strengthen struts and start covering of walls lining. Boards it is possible to fix with gaps or closely, everything depends on the project of lodge. The quantity and size of windows depends on it. It is important to watch safety, the child can fall in too big or low aperture.
The final stage – creation of roof. The simplest option – the covering from tarpaulin fixed by metal brackets. Tarpaulin can be hung up on the hooks hammered into thick branches. More effectively the roof from plywood over which the soft roof with imitation of tile is laid looks. If it is necessary, in roof do openings for branches.
Construction of ladder
Different options of ladders will be suitable for tree house. Are most widespread:
- Ready can get it or to hammer together independently. Inexpensive and convenient option – wooden ladder from bunk bed.
- Ladders with handrail and not too narrow steps are safest. However they approach not each design.
- The design from boards and ropes is given from the house. When the inhabitant of the dwelling is inside, he can involve ladder and not worry about what to it will be glanced by unexpected guests.
Each option has advantages and shortcomings. It is the simplest to equip lodge with rope ladder with wooden steps, but such design is not suitable for kids. If the choice has fallen on wooden ladder, you should not beat it to tree. It injures trunk, besides because of its growth the steps can be deformed.
The interesting idea for children's lodge – ladder in the form of board with cuts for legs. It is simple, convenient, mobile. The bar 50 on the 50th about 2.5 m long is put to tree at an angle by 80 degrees and measure the necessary size. Surplus cuts off, stacks preparation on the earth. Over bar boards 15 wide and 50 cm long jam. In everyone cut the oblong hole corresponding to the child's foot, cuts process abrasive paper. Openings have to alternate in chessboard order.
The ready ladder is put to lodge and fix bolts and plates. The final stage – antibacterial impregnation, drying and covering paint or varnish.
Finishing work
Arrangement of the house – fascinating process in which it is worth involving the child. He can choose color for walls and floor, to decide what furniture is required for shelter. That wood has not suffered from rain and snow, the lodge is painted or covered with mordant. Not striking shades in natural gamma will approach, so the building will look more harmoniously. The ladder and roof are painted in combined tone. In wall it is possible to sheathe plywood, to paint, paste over with wall-paper.
Not to make heavier design, it is desirable not to overload lodge with furniture. Inside it is possible to suspend hammock which will replace the traditional vacation spot. Easy and mobile chairs pears, small padded stools will approach. On walls it is worth strengthening shelves, baskets for toys. It is better for Paule to lay soft rugs or jute mats. Furniture will be added by posters, curtains, amusing lamps.