Engineered artificial limbs help the trees carry the extra load that a treehouse brings. Read an article about our respect for, and relationship with, the trees we build in.
The health of the trees is a top priority for us. To start, we require each tree in which we build first to be assessed by a qualified consulting arborist to make sure it is healthy and strong enough to withstand the additional load of the treehouse. We also work with an experienced engineer to assess the data. So, while we can’t completely avoid stress to the trees, we exceed industry standards for tree safety in all ways because we care about the trees and the people who want to enjoy them so intimately.
We use cutting-edge engineered bolts, called artificial limbs, which minimize impact to the trees, as they allow the tree to continue to grow around the steel “limb” in the natural way. These artificial limbs are a result of years of research and engineering from enthusiasts who love building in the trees, just like we do.
Owner and lead builder, Adam Laufer, has a special relationship with the trees and holds deep respect for his leafy compadres as he works among them. He and the World Treehouses team make sure to allow enough room for the tree to grow, ensuring that the relationship will be healthy for years to come. Please see Adam’s videos under our FAQ, “How do I choose the right trees that will be healthy enough to host a treehouse?” for more information on how the trees adjust and compensate after being built in.
We work hard so that the trees that provide the foundation for our structures can live long and thrive in close relationship with their treehouse and its human residents.
Inside and out, our treehouses are designed, engineered and built with integrity to last for generations.
Our team is committed to safety; in fact, it is our top priority.
The safety of our treehouses is ensured by employing quality materials and expert tree attachment techniques which accommodate both tree movement and growth as time progresses. We work with engineers and use cutting-edge tools and specialized bolts in order to ensure that your treehouse is as safe as possible for the people using it, as safe as possible for the tree, and is designed with a sophisticated understanding of human use patterns. The artificial limbs we use have been extensively tested to hold the heavy weights required in treehouse construction. Additionally, we strongly encourage engineer inspections/stamps for each project at the design and foundation-completion stages.
Of course, given the height of most treehouses, and taking into consideration bridges, tight stairs and special elements such as crow’s nests, users must use a level of care when accessing their treehouse. We design and engineer access methods that feel safe: some are as safe as entering a normal home. We have over 35 years of construction experience, and take pride that our custom treehouses are built with precision and structural integrity.
Whether or not you need a permit for your treehouse depends on many factors.
Determining whether you need to get a permit for your treehouse is an important decision, and it depends on the county in which your treehouse will be built. Often, factors influencing this determination are the scope of the project, the intended use of the structure, and whether or not your county has any treehouse requirements in place. Regardless of these factors we always recommend to our clients that our designs receive an engineer’s stamp, and we also get engineer approval at the completion of the foundation stage. As your builder, we are happy to offer pointers, but the responsibility of research and decisions about permitting are yours: after you’ve made those decisions and done any necessary paperwork, you tell us what to build, and we’ll build your project for you.
World Treehouses owner, Adam Laufer, and a certified arborist descend the treacherous slope at the site of a future treehouse. Here are some tips on choosing the right trees on your property.
As your treehouse experts, we will pay a visit to look over your tree siting options to get a sense of whether you have good potential trees for construction. If so, we then recommend that you make an appointment with a consulting arborist–a professional who is trained and qualified to assess the health and strength of those trees. Sometimes the arborist will find weakness or disease that is not visible upon initial inspection.
Watch these videos where World Treehouses owner, Adam Laufer, tells how to make some good initial assessments of your trees:
Adam explains how to choose the right trees.
Picking Trees to Support Your Treehouse: Part 1
Picking Trees to Support Your Treehouse: Part 2
Fine details like these beautiful hand-crafted, custom-bent crescent windows show the quality you can expect in a World Treehouses project.
Creating a structure in a tree is entirely different from building a structure on the ground.
Because our team must build while harnessed high in the air, moving half-ton objects and using specialty power tools, the process can be especially dangerous. Needless to say, unique skills are needed for building treehouses. At World Treehouses of Asheville, we are known for our technical expertise. We choose our team members for their experience, level-headedness, and advanced skills.
In addition to being technical experts, our team members are true craftsmen. Each of our creations are beautiful, unique masterpieces thoughtfully designed to fit the sensibilities of our clients and the particular constraints of the trees and site.
Because of these considerations, custom, finely crafted treehouses start at $500 per square foot. The cost can rise from this baseline if there are site challenges and/or special design/material requirements. Elements like crow’s nests, bridges, and platforms are very specialized. In order to advise on potential costs, we will need to know your project requirements. Please fill out our project form to get a better idea about the scope and costs of your project.
Our treehouses are built for private clients on personal property, so visits and tours are limited.
