8 Best Types of Wood for Building a Treehouse

Treehouses are a popular type of backyard play structure. Treehouses can be built for children or adults, and they range from simple to elaborate. Treehouses can be designed as tree fortresses, tree dens, tree lofts, tree offices—you name it! The most important thing about building a Treehouse is that it should use wood that is durable enough to withstand the elements (winds and rain). Read on for an overview of some types of woods you could use while making your Treehouse.

Cedar Wood

One of the most convenient woods to use for Treehouses is Cedar. Cedar Treehouse Wood comes from western North America, in the U.S. and Canada, where forests have both redwood trees and evergreen cedars growing together. In fact, Cedar Wood is used for a variety of woodworking projects. Treehouses made purely from Cedar Wood are, however, susceptible to rotting and weather damage. Therefore it must be treated before use. Treehouses built with Cedar Treehouse Wood are often painted or stained, as the natural oils in the Cedar Treehouse Wood makes it difficult to paint over later on. Characteristics of Cedarwood

Pine Wood

Pine Treehouse Wood is a close second when it comes to convenience. Pinewood resists rot well and can be painted or left unfinished. It takes paint easily and it’s good for building because it’s softwood – meaning the grain is generally straight and even which eliminates unsightly gaps in your boards. The only downside to this type of wood is that it warps, twists and shrinks more than other types of wood, so keep that in mind when you’re building your treehouse.

Pine Wood is a close second when it comes to convenience. Pinewood is softwood which means the grain will be straight and even, eliminating unsightly gaps in your boards. The only downside to this type of wood is that it warps, twists, and shrinks more than other types of wood – so keep that in mind when you’re building your treehouse.

Douglas Fir Wood

Douglas Fir Treehouse Wood comes from the Pacific Northwest of America, in the U.S. and Canada. It’s a strong, durable wood that resists warping and shrinking while being hard enough to last long term on a treehouse. Building a Treehouse out of Douglas Fir Wood is usually a good idea if you want something to last a while outside in the elements because it is found to be resistant to rot and decay while also being aesthetically pleasing. Douglas Fir Wood has a straight and even grain that makes it perfect for building. Douglas Fir Wood has lasting power and is also aesthetically pleasing.

White Wood

White Wood, like Cedar Treehouse Wood, is durable enough to make an ideal choice for building a Treehouse. The wood resists rot and insects better than redwood or cedar trees. Another nice thing about White Wood is that it can be re-painted later on if you don’t like the colour it turns out as after becoming exposed to the elements. However, its not advisable to use this type of wood outside because it easily absorbs water (and will eventually warp). It is also a good idea to have some preservatives on hand for maintaining white wood. You can even buy a sealed white wood from the store if you want, but eventually, it will warp and need maintenance, so it’s best to get familiar with how to maintain your own to save money in the end.

Spruce Wood

Spruce Treehouse Wood is a strong and resistant wood that can be used to build durable Treehouses. It’s also aesthetically pleasing and readily available in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Scandinavia. However, spruce wood warps easily, so it needs careful handling when building your treehouse. Despite the fact that it’s a durable, strong and resistant wood, Spruce Wood Treehouse is less costly than many other kinds of wood commonly used to build treehouses. Spruce Wood is a very regular and straight-grained wood, so it’s pretty simple to work with. It has a low shrinkage rate, which means that there aren’t significant variations in its dimensions. In addition, Spruce Wood Treehouse doesn’t have any knots or voids, which makes it perfect for building high-quality arbours, bridges and other structures that require planks.

Redwood

Redwood is the most ideal wood for building a Treehouse. Redwood trees live longer and produce strong, rot-resistant wood that holds nails and screws very well. Additionally, this type of tree has a beautiful colour: A rich, dark brown with reddish undertones (and usually looks better with age). It’s also important to note that you should let redwood trees sit in the elements for at least 6 months before cutting them down because they contain natural oils that repel bugs. These oils can make the wood extremely difficult to cut. The downside to redwood is that it’s much more expensive than other types of wood like Cedar or Pine. Another disadvantage is the quantities necessary to build a substantial treehouse. It takes significantly more lumber to build with the redwood (and, therefore, higher material costs).  

Cypress Wood

Cypress grows in the southern United States, near wetlands. It is really resistant to decay and insects, which makes it an ideal wood for building a treehouse that will last long. Cypress trees grow at a relatively fast rate (not as fast as cedars), so you can cut down these trees and use them as much as you need without fear of using too many resources. Another great thing about cypress is that, like redwood, it holds nails and screws pretty well, so there’s not much concern over how tight the boards are after the treehouse has been built. As far as maintenance goes: The downside to Cypress is that it absorbs water quickly – so plan on assembling your tree house with cypress and painting it, rather than using a cypress as is.

Greenheart Wood

Greenheart (otherwise known as “Ironwood”) is a kind of wood used frequently in yacht building because of its strength and resistance to decay. It’s also commonly used to make archery bows and cricket bats because the density of greenheart wood allows them to be made thinner, which means that they can be fast without drastically reducing accuracy. Despite its popularity among nautical craftsmen, greenheart isn’t always available. The tree grows naturally along the coasts of South America and must be sustainably harvested by hand for use in construction projects. If you want a greenheart treehouse, chances are you’ll need to get in contact with a local supplier.

There are many different types of wood that you could use for a treehouse, but it’s important to figure out what you want the treehouse to look and feel like. The wood should be sturdy and luxurious to give you the richest treehouse feeling and comfort. Every wood has advantages and disadvantages. If you are looking for something more affordable, cedar would be the best option. However, if you want to make your treehouse last longer, redwood is a better choice. Different types of wood can serve different purposes;  cypress wood is waterproof and so on. Here’s hoping that we made your wood procuring process a bit simpler.