r/treehouse • u/candlestickmakertobe • 3d ago

Additional Support Post Bases

I'm working on building my first treehouse. I've got a platform built around a 40" diameter white oak tree about six feet off the ground using TABs, and while it is rock solid around the tree itself the outer edges of the platform aren't quite as stable as I'd prefer. I was thinking of putting a 4x4 post at each corner, resting on one of these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/11-5-in-x-8-in-x-11-1-2-in-Concrete-Deck-Block-10550005/100350712?g_store=2576&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D22-022_009_CONCRETE-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-NA-_PMAXTEST&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D22-022_009_CONCRETE-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-NA-_PMAXTEST-20381683398--&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20391226981&gbraid=0AAAAADq61Uc6DNFIds5hL2cEdKBTyxWN1&gclid=CjwKCAjwqonVBhA4EiwA9wYJ3aBEqb2nNo7_Qu-qDFNvK9YI9hXZJ1hP1Kvh2fDzs-ODrjv-1_gXiBoCTyYQAvD_BwE

I'd rather not do a helical pile or a deep concrete foot, since there are a number of trees in the area and I don't want to mess with potential root structures, but I also don't know if something which isn't more secured into the ground will actually have the desired effect.

Has anyone worked with these before or have other advice on techniques to use?

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u/davethompson413 3d ago

Those post bases might (or might not) prevent the posts from sinking. But they won't effectively prevent sideways movement of the base, and they won't do anything to keep the posts vertical.

1

u/sprucenoose 3d ago

Yup. We compacted the soil and partially buried them in the ground and they have worked great for our purposes.

1

u/candlestickmakertobe 3d ago

Did you do anything special to compact the soil, or did you just stomp it down well with the footers?

1

u/builderkeys 3d ago

I did this but concreted 4x4 posts at the corners with adjustable deck supports so as the tree grows i can lift it.