Treehouse

        This is not your average treehouse. It's 16' in diameter and includes octagonal windows, a pair of French doors that lead to a covered porch, a sleeping loft, a cedar shingled roof and adirondack style porch and stair railings. It was built for both the children and adults in a family of four, and provides an oasis away from home.
        During the last week of construction, when I was finishing up the job by myself, I would eat my lunch on the porch. It was dreamy to sit
high among the tree boughs, feel the breeze and hear only the sounds of the forest.

The supporting timbers are hemlock. The bottom of each brace was fastened with a single giant lag bolt.

The bottoms of the braces are arranged in a spiral to preserve the health of the tree. If all the bolts were at the same level on the trunk, the tree would be more susceptible to injury.

The braces were sawn and spokeshaved for appearance. The top and bottom wall plates were sawn out of 2 layers of 3/4" plywood.

Framing, sheathing and shingling the roof was labor intensive.

A layer of thick neoprene seals the top of the roof.

One quarter of the circle was devoted to a porch. The terrain drops off fairy steeply on this side, giving a feeling of great height when looking out from the porch.

A circular header was required to carry the rafters above the porch.

This is the laminated header being glued up in the shop. You'll want a slow setting glue for this!

French doors installed. The sleeping loft is above the porch area

The temporary post holding up the header is replaced with a small tree trunk, and the railing is installed.

Thanks to Brandon Grover, Bob Letourneau and Kevin, a good natured and hardworking crew.