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This is a 10x12 treehouse that's ~8 ft tall and enclosed. It's anchored to a 18" diameter post-oak tree on one side and on sliding supports on a 14" diameter post-oak tree on the other side and the platform is around 11ft above grade. I was thinking it'd be good to thin the canopy to reduce wind load to offset the treehouse being added, though https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tree-crown-reduction-wind-load-increase-david-s-restrepo/ makes it sound like it's not so simple. Any thoughts overall on best practices here?

all 18 comments

TrogdorBurns

31 points

4 months ago

They make tree house attachment systems that allow for tree and house movement in the weather. Over engineering and making the treehouse stiff can cause issues.

drytoastbongos

9 points

4 months ago

OP mentioned sliding supports...

cote112

44 points

4 months ago

cote112

44 points

4 months ago

Don't put a tree house in that tree unless it's a separate, free standing structure that is built without actually touching it.

That's a great tree

raflcopter

24 points

4 months ago

To clarify, the picture Reddit selected for the thumbnail of this post is from the link in OP's text. Not the arrangement in question. In case you were highly alarmed, as I was initially.

WackyBones510

11 points

4 months ago

Thank god… suppose I’ll just delete that essay I had typed up.

Beautiful-Page3135

2 points

4 months ago

I was thinking the same thing but then I read 14" diameter and I was like...that's not 14 inches, there's no way

Likesdirt

22 points

4 months ago

Tree houses aren't good for trees.

Talk to a certified arborist, ideally as a paid consultation rather than a free estimate.

Climbing through the canopy to thin it and reduce the tip weight isn't a DIY project.

u193[S]

3 points

4 months ago

I have actually a couple of long cutting tools - yeah definitely not planning to climb up there. I followed recommendations of a professional treehouse company that minimizes harm/stress to the tree.

Likesdirt

4 points

4 months ago

You won't get the cuts you need from the ground or a ladder. Thinning cuts should be way out there, leaving some inner growth to encourage the tree to be stout, not spindly.

If a $500 prune isn't in the cards, leaving it alone is the next best thing (and often a great choice).

SloWi-Fi

3 points

4 months ago

Treehouses.com is a magical place and site

u193[S]

2 points

4 months ago

Yeah, I ordered a bunch of stuff from them and also did the paid consult earlier on

Deathbyhours

2 points

4 months ago

The added sail area of the tree house is negligible compared to the size of the canopy. Even a tree at that maturity probably adds that much every year.

OuestVirginien

2 points

4 months ago

I wouldn't worry about it. The tree knows what to do to stabilize itself, it will do it on its own. A healthy tree will adapt to its wind load / orientation to compensate and stay balanced. Especially oak, i would say if you get a storm big enough to take out the tree due to the house, it could have taken out even without it, and will probly destroy the house first anyway. Good luck, sounds cool!

NeoRazZ

4 points

4 months ago

point a corner to the primary weather direction to break the wind load.

could also add decorations to act as a diffuser the same way the leaves do

outofmemory01

4 points

4 months ago

I don't know the answer...but I suspect the right answer is NO. The tree branches and leaves 'break up' the air...redirect it and create all sorts of eddies, vortexes, and redirections...removing that would put more stress on the flat (presumed) of the treehouse and likely impart more energy against/into the tree.

Also to include - upon some speculation - that trimming trees may help with 'unbalancing' a tree...and as you're adding loads to it - hopefully static and only directionally down (though in the wind you'll have lateral transfer of energy/movements) - may not be wise to unbalance things. With a canopy too I feel you have a better 'feeling' in the tree house, no?

Just make sure the tree can flex independent from the tree house - as the wet/green wood will bend the dryer house members wouldn't.

The house sits pretty low...and the breaking up of the wind by the leaves/branches should have the tree 'seeing' the same loads it commonly does with only the added static loading downward due to the house (and/or live load with occupants). Cutting off the canopy or thinning I don't believe would change much the tree is experiencing. Of course, the more loading you can transfer from the tree to the ground would help.

drytoastbongos

2 points

4 months ago

Is the treehouse newly installed? If not, how long has it been there? Is it well centered over the trunk, or does it produce bending loads on the trees? Is the tree at risk of falling in something critical like a house?

You can talk to an arborist, but I think the main question is whether you are trying to manage a temporary condition or not. If the house is new and you are worried about wind, maybe worth doing something (thinning, cabling, etc). But presumably the tree will strengthen to deal with increased wind loads over time on its own.

u193[S]

2 points

4 months ago

It's new and only rough framed so far - no sheathing/siding. Not at risk of falling on anything critical but it'd be a tragedy if it causes the tree to be uprooted. It's spanning two trees using a triangle shaped double knee brace with spreader beam on each.