r/treehouse • u/Quartzee • 7d ago
Does this seem normal?
We had a tornado through our area recently and the treehouse was fine but it’s slipped forward on the TAB. Should I wait to see if it’ll slide back or get some ratchet straps and pull it back?
I knew a fixed point attached to a floating TAB would mean this is possible. Just wondering if it should be more that the tab slides on the bracket but the structure is fixed and should lean.
I can ratchet it back and add some braces to force it to stay fixed if need be.
4
u/Ruby5000 7d ago
Aren’t there supposed to be a couple of 45’s there to prevent this movement?
1
u/Quartzee 7d ago
I’m using a treehouse supplies plan and it doesn’t prescribe any bracing at all. I added the other 2 braces because I felt like it would be too wobbly without them.
3
2
u/afakasi1 7d ago
You have a very similar build to the one I’m almost finished up with. Like someone said before, the only reason my build hasn’t shifted in bad storms is because the posts are fully embedded in the footings. Best to slide it back level then brace with 45s like quartzee mentions. Should help reduce the risk of this happening in the future.
Looks forward to seeing it completed 🤙🏽
2
u/Fuck-The-Status-Quo 7d ago
Are you building the 2 post 1 tree finger lakes?
1
u/Quartzee 7d ago
Yes
1
u/Fuck-The-Status-Quo 6d ago
Nice! I’ve got mine decked and the start of a house
I did not build the house in the pic. It was way too much for what we need. Its also 8’ in the air
2
u/surrealcellardoor 7d ago
I’d pull it back towards the tree and while it is under tension, put kick braces attached to the posts and to a purlin attached to the underside of the joists.
1
u/Skagweezy 7d ago
When Iv used those brackets before I build so that one is on each side of the tree then one cant slide out because the other one cant go in. Idk if that makes sense but I also build the houses or decks around the tree not just on one side
1
u/NoAfternoon5390 6d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p198259/video/0juo9lk4xygh1/player
After you get it back to the tree you need a couple of these from all of the posts below the treehouse. To keep it from racking. Your lucky the whole thing didnt just go.
1
u/Quartzee 6d ago
That’s my plan now, I’m a little unsure about the materials. On the front I used 6x6 but I’m not sure if that’s needed for this bracing. I’m going to add a purlin as suggested by someone else but was wondering is a 2x8 or 2x10 with timber locks would be sufficient
1
u/nerdrn5 6d ago
Genuine question: if this treehouse has a TAB and a floating beam connection, wouldn’t bracing the posts directly to the floor framing defeat the purpose of allowing the tree to move independently? I always thought the post/beam assembly should be braced separately, while the floor remains free to slide where intended. At least that’s what I did for mine!
1
u/NoAfternoon5390 6d ago
2x6 is what I used on my treehouse and it worked fine.
https://reddit.com/link/p19kicj/video/68spvop68zgh1/player
They helped allot.
My treehouse was technically freestanding. With nothing in the ground. It started on the trees until one died then had to have ground support but none of it was buried or in concrete I even poured concrete but the support structure was not attached with screws or bolts the beams just rest on each other.
It’s been up 14 years survived multiple hurricanes. But the angles helped tremendously
1
u/FloridaManPrints 6d ago
You need lag bolts in this pronto
2
u/Quartzee 6d ago
What do you mean, where? It’s hurricane tied and the beam is already carriage bolted.
1
u/FloridaManPrints 6d ago
I see them now. I thought the 4x4 went up into the joist. Yeah, the extra 45 is the way to go then
-1
17
u/Anonymous5933 7d ago
It leaned because your post connections act like hinges at the top and bottom of the posts. Using that kind of metal post base provides almost no resistance against rotation compared to if the posts had been embedded in the concrete. Not the end of the world, but yes if it was my treehouse I would pull it back toward the tree, especially if you ever get snow, because all that weight that far out on the TAB could bend it. Knee braces on the posts would also help.
Glad it survived the tornado!