Living in a tree top house may seem like a unique and adventurous way to live, but it also comes with some significant drawbacks. While being up in the trees can provide beautiful views and a greater connection to nature, there are practical, financial, and safety considerations that need to be taken into account.
Practical Considerations
When living in a tree house, simply getting in and out on a daily basis poses challenges. Unless the structure has multiple access points, you likely need to climb up and down a ladder each time you want to enter or exit the home. This can be tiring and difficult, especially when carrying groceries, supplies, or children. Additionally, any belongings or furniture will need to be hauled up into the tree house.
Living off the grid is part of the tree house appeal for some, but modern conveniences like electricity, plumbing, and WiFi require special planning and installation in an arboreal home. You may need to rely more on generator power, composting toilets, and solar panels. Water access requires pumps and drainage systems. While achievable, off-grid living takes considerably more effort and maintenance.
Accessibility is another consideration. Anyone with limited mobility would find a tree house extremely difficult to navigate. The height and ladder access make tree houses unsuitable for small children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Also, stairs within the home may be steeper than normal. This limits who can comfortably live in or visit a tree house.
Financial Considerations
While tree houses conjure up images of childhood adventure, building and maintaining one as an adult is a serious financial undertaking. The unique design and engineering requires extensive planning by a specialized architect and contractor. The home must be securely integrated into the tree itself, able to withstand weather and the natural movement of the living tree.
Compared to a traditional house build, there are far fewer contractors qualified to take on such a specialized project. The limited pool of expertise significantly increases building costs. Most tree house builds cost $200-$400 per square foot. So a modest 500 square foot tree abode would cost $100,000-$200,000 to construct.
In addition to the build cost, homeowners insurance is notoriously difficult to find for tree houses. Standard policies almost never cover these non-traditional dwellings. You would need to seek out specialty insurance that offers sufficient coverage but likely at a high premium.
Heating and cooling costs may also be higher for a free-standing tree house with greater exposure to the elements. Routine maintenance and repairs require climbable exterior access or lift equipment to reach the home for upkeep.
Safety Concerns
While exhilarating to live nestled high up in the trees, safety is a valid and serious concern. Building codes and inspections rigorously cover standards for traditional home foundations, electrical, plumbing, and structure. However, most areas have no such codes governing the construction of tree houses. It is vital to have extensive engineering evaluation of your plans and for an experienced contractor to oversee the build.
Fire presents an obvious risk for a home surrounded by highly flammable trees. Ensure your build materials and any heating, electrical, or cooking elements are well-insulated and up to code. Have an emergency escape plan in the event of a fire and maintain smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
Severe weather can also wreak havoc on a tree house. High winds or accumulated snow puts pressure on the structure and its anchor bolts in the tree. Even swaying in lighter winds may cause motion sickness for some tree house inhabitants. Integrity checks should follow any extreme weather.
Falling remains an inherent risk of living elevated high off the ground. Use safety rails around all exterior walkways and consider netting or scaffolding beneath the house as a safeguard. Keep first aid supplies on hand in case of injury and ensure you have cell service or another way to call for help if needed.
You’ll also need to inspect the health of the trees supporting your home. Disease or rot within the trunk or branches can compromise the integrity. Have an arborist evaluate any signs of weakness and determine if cables or supports could provide reinforcement.
Isolation
Another disadvantage of a tree house home is the sense of isolation from the community around you. Since most tree houses are built as standalone structures, you lose the feeling of neighborly connection found in typical suburban or urban housing. For some residents, the remoteness can exacerbate loneliness.
Isolation also brings practical complications like getting mail and deliveries to your airborne address. Arrangements need to be made for postal service and handling packages or food deliveries. You’ll likely need to install a locking mailbox at ground level.
Living primarily up in the trees makes casual interactions and last-minute errands with neighbors much less feasible. The extra effort of climbing down and up makes coming and going more difficult. And weather conditions like high winds or storms may occasionally trap you at home.
Zoning Limitations
Before selecting a site to build your tree house, investigate the local zoning laws and building codes. Many neighborhoods prohibit structures over a certain square footage from being built without a primary house also on the property. Tree houses may be required to be classified as an accessory building or dwellings without a permanent foundation may not be allowed.
Even if local ordinances do not restrict tree houses outright, the permitting process can still be difficult. You will likely need to hire an architect, engineer, and lawyer to navigate the bureaucracy around unconventional builds. Some homeowners associations prohibit or strictly limit tree houses within their communities. Be discreet in the early planning stages if you think nearby residents may object.
Environmental Impact
While connecting you to nature, building and living in a tree house also comes with an environmental impact. The construction process, including clearing brush, disturbing the soil, and digging trenches harms local flora and fauna. But the greater habitat concern is impairing or destroying the trees themselves.
The trees bearing the weight and anchor bolts of a home undergo significant stress. Installation requires damaging the outer protective bark and interior vascular tissues. This makes the trees more vulnerable to diseases and pests. Poor design that overburdens trees risks slowly killing them.
Bridges, stairs, and railings also interfere with the natural light reaching the tree canopy and can compact roots below. If possible, use a cradle mount system that distributes the structure’s weight across multiple trees to reduce damage.
Conclusion
Tree houses capture the imagination and can seem like the ultimate place to reconnect with nature. But the reality of living in one involves substantial disadvantages like accessibility, high costs, safety risks, isolation, and environmental impact. For these reasons, tree houses work better as short-term retreats or vacation rentals rather than full-time homes.
Carefully weigh the drawbacks against the benefits before undertaking your own arboreal abode. Partner with specialized architects and builders versed in sustainable tree house engineering. Be prepared for both the joys and frustrations of living in such an unconventional, remote dwelling. With eyes wide open to the challenges, you can make tree house living work successfully.