The House Projects Thread

[turboferret]

Thanks for the feedback, most of which I've got in hand. The platform will be supported by both the scaffolding brackets, and angled struts to lower down on the trunk. The frame won't be rigidly attached to the tree, there will be float so that as it both moves in the wind or grows it doesn't affect the treehouse. I was concerned that forces from the tree could damage the structure and make it unsafe over time.

Regarding planning, unfortunately it violates pretty much everything, it's right on 3 boundaries, spanning 2 different ones behind, hence why I want to keep disruption to a minimum during construction, and keep it fairly well concealed. It will be much higher than permitted, but it would be a complete waste of time to try and keep to those, so I am going for the hope no-one gets upset route, fingers crossed. Our immediate neighbours to the side are completely happy with the idea, and as soon as lock-down is over I'm sure their boy will be keen to make some use of it too. I'm only going to have a window on the side which looks back towards our house.

That treehouse looks ace Rich, due to the height a ladder wasn't really a safe option, despite being way simpler to construct than a proper staircase. I ummed and ahhed about having 3 or 4 steps to go around the 90 degree sections, and after building a full-scale cardboard mock-up I think 3 is the way to go



I've only ordered the wood for the platform and the stairs at the moment, its difficult to design much beyond that at the moment given the complexity of the branches - there will certainly be plenty of tree inside the house with branches going in and out of walls. I see this as a good thing as it should break up the shape and make it less obtrusive.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge of bonded resin drives?

Much nicer to look at that printed concrete which, sorry to above, I think looks fvcking terrible. You'll need to go through planning and it'll require an aco drain across the threshold.

I'd imagine it would be lethal when wet as well

[Carlos]

Lol as I said the resin would have been my first choice aesthetically but at double the price the second choice was a no brainer.

Stick a photo of your drive up tomorrow and we can have a 'Drive Off' to see who's looks 'fucking terrible'

[NotoriousREV]

Mines currently 20 year old, oil stained tarmac. Almost anything would look better

[unzippy]

Printed concrete can be absolutely lethal when it’s wet, stupidly slippy. Have seen someone who had resin driveway damaged by someone turning on it and wheelspan, taking some resin with it. Of course this may have been done incorrectly, but something to ask when getting potential quotes

I was servicing one of my old Golfs on the printed concrete drive. Drove up the ramps, the ramps lost grip with the floor and were fired back behind the front wheels
Goldf needed two replacement sills weldiong in and painting

[turboferret]

The first few bits are up, just tied on at the moment to get everything aligned, then it'll be screwed and doweled.





Clearly not all level yet, once I've got the end members on I'll use the level to shim the various supports and then measure up for the diagonal corner supports which go down to much lower on the main trunk. Certainly a good core workout when dangling almost horizontally from a climbing harness working above you

[McSwede]

We had some custom made wooden slatted blinds delivered this weekend that have been on order for a while.

It would appear that someone (who shall remain nameless) measured the window recess incorrectly. They are both 4or5mm too long. Bollocks!!!

Any thoughts from the collective for the best way to trim them down a smidge??

[NotoriousREV]

We had some custom made wooden slatted blinds delivered this weekend that have been on order for a while.

It would appear that someone (who shall remain nameless) measured the window recess incorrectly. They are both 4or5mm too long. Bollocks!!!

Any thoughts from the collective for the best way to trim them down a smidge??

Plane and sand? Grinding stone on a Dremel if you have a steady hand? It’s only 2mm from each side.

[Rich B]

Tape them all together tightly with masking tap and saw them. The top metal bit you can do with a hacksaw.

I’ve done it a few times, the tape will stop it splintering too much but use the finest saw you have!

[mik]

Pics needed.

If metal top & bottom then probably need to hacksaw them and use a file to make them suitably “square”.

Jigsaw for the slats (with a quick sand to finish eaxh.

Will be a pita I would take it all off one side.

[Rich B]

It takes about 20 minutes. The taping together means you only need one cut for all the slats.

[Mito Man]

Knock out window and frame and fit one which is 5mm bigger.

[dinny_g]

Tape them all together tightly with masking tap and saw them. The top metal bit you can do with a hacksaw.

I’ve done it a few times, the tape will stop it splintering too much but use the finest saw you have!

This - I’ve done exactly that a few times to make store bought blinds for the cavity.

Take your time and use as fine an edge saw as you have so each blind section doesn’t splinter.

[McSwede]

Thank you all for the ideas. Much appreciated!

[jamcg]

Check your suppliers website, they may have a guide

[McSwede]

Check your suppliers website, they may have a guide

They wouldn't recommend anything other than a 25% discount to order again. Any shortening would invalidate warranty.

I shall be shortening shortly

[McSwede]

Tape them all together tightly with masking tap and saw them. The top metal bit you can do with a hacksaw.

I’ve done it a few times, the tape will stop it splintering too much but use the finest saw you have!

Did this job today. Ended up taping together tightly, clamping in a B&D workbench and using a belt sander. 40 grade to remove the bulk then 80 to finish.

It couldn't have gone better TBH the fit in the window recess is super snug and better than if I'd measured correctly in the first place. Pleased with myself and have earned some brownie points for doing a good job

[Rich B]

Yep, an awkward job that turns into a pretty simple job if you think about the method first! Good call on the belt sander too!

[Simon]

When I order blinds I opt for the 10% self measure guarantee. It's a 10% premium but means that if you measure wrong you send them back and they send new ones for free.

Not that that helps you now.

[McSwede]

When I order blinds I opt for the 10% self measure guarantee. It's a 10% premium but means that if you measure wrong you send them back and they send new ones for free.

Not that that helps you now.

I like the sound of that but the whittling down of them with the belt sander was quite satisfying plus the fit is awesome.