So I was wondering, since I have a couple of possible projects, what would be the best way to go about it? I was thinking a picture/drawing would be a great start posted to the tribe and then a description of what would be desired. That way, others could comment with possible suggestions and there would be a good idea of the scope of the project.
What do you all think?
What do you all think?
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SF Bay Area
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yea-- bust out- let us know what the project is, what your ideas and goals are, give us some atmosphere and context (including your location), and let see how it develops, eh?
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Boulder Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains, to answer the first question.
Second question, basically a deck that is surrounded on three sides by redwood trees that could be used as main support members, the fourth side is where the house is at so would need some independence to allow for tree movement.
Basically, would love to build a tree deck for practice on building a higher up tree deck, perhaps multistory in another ring of trees that I have. -
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when are you wanting to start?
and do you have materials, or have an idea where you'll source them from?
an idea to play with: in practice for your multistory high up, how bout a multi story down below also ( a couple other mini-decks with specific purposes, like a sitting/yoga deck or a stair landing--im assuming that since you live in ben lomond, your property is sloped.)... and when both are completed there will be a continuity to them. -
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Well as far as starting I would probably do it come spring time, too mucky to do it now. Supplies I would go to Big Creek for any lumber I need to buy, sustainable forestry.
The thing is the deck deconstruction is going to be somewhat time consuming. The deck boards are old growth from old water tanks and I want to preserve as many as I can. Currently the supports are rotten so I don't use the deck.
Hmm...interesting on the multistory, that is sort of what I was thinking. One common stairwell throughout, then several small landings with an observation/meditation deck on top. But you are right, I could build a stariwell to the lower portion of the house, a side deck to connect off the house and then build up into the trees. Man I have a lot of deck projects ....:)
Oh, Boulder Creek, not Ben Lomond.
I'll post some pics later of the various areas. -
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so you've got an existing deck? and the boards are old growth, or the lumber youve got a line on is old growth?
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Existing deck planks are old growth 3x6's. A tragic waste of beautiful wood. I have planed a couple of pieces and found the grains to be so tight it was incredible. Sad. I am considering saving the boards, planing them out and then possibly using it in an interior situation.
The support structure is doug fir that is rotten. The deck really isn't that old, just that when they laid the planks, they left no allowance for air circulation, and doug fir is a favorite of the little beasties where I live. -
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Seanix is trying to talk you into lots of stairs. Tons of variety. Mix it up. Make it interesting, challenging to navigate. Secret places, social places, solitude places.
Where's our goddamn Ewok village?! -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.Sorry, boring project but it was one that I thought might help in working out some of the harder aspects of tree decks. I have a couple of fairy rings of redwoods that with some experience would provide some excellent places to start with for a tree platform/village.
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lots of stairs?? krikies, wes- theyre meditation decks- you levitate between them. stairs... pshaw. but ya could use ladders, or deck to deck to deck, and heck, ifn ya wanted, even put in a firepole, or a dummywaiter.
no, not a boring project at all, especially since you're incorporating the live redwoods- and decks are so uncomplicated and structurally flexible that you can play a lot with space and line. --its one of the few places in an established residence where giant curves can be introduced (you can mimic the contour lines of the slope, or complement them or totally ignore them, though its more integrative and exiciting to play with the exisiting enviornment)
and those old decking boards, holywow overkill!! it'd be neat to see those somewhere in the new deck, as seats or railing or trim or a mandala in the center of the meditation deck. and out where you are, you should have little trouble finding someone who has a home mill, and you might be able to snag their mill ends- and they would be great for seats/tables.
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.The hardest thing about this project is that Redwoods grow surprisingly fast. How do you design a deck that isn't crushed in under ten years by the trees?
If you message me your email address, I'll put you on the free-carpentry list. Of you can subscribe yourself (anyone can) by emailing mailto:freecarpentry-subscribe@lists.riseup.net -
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<<How do you design a deck that isn't crushed in under ten years by the trees? >>
floating deck: so that the primary horizontal support beam's attachment to the tree can be annually adjusted, the deck joists float on the the primary support. there can be simple reusable fastening mechanisms securing the joists to the support beam, but nonpermanent so that the primary can slide out away from the tree as it grows. the deck to tree interface-- removable concentric planking. and a sawsall to the radial joist.
theres a whole gripload of treehouse books out there, and theres been a micro industry growing, and thusly the body of experience and misadventure/reassesment has been well documented. good to start at the treehouse tribe.
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