DIFFICULTY: Intermediate

Building the roof was one of the most challenging parts of this treehouse build. I have worked with tar and gravel shingles before but never wood. This was quite challenging because I had to figure out how to properly attach them as well as work from a high and dangerous height. I looked at a lot of YouTube videos on how to install cedar shingles but none of them were that good. I will be posting a video to my YouTube channel soon with a video on the technique that I used to install my cedar shingles. If you want to know when I post the video please subscribe.

Watch The Video

This is the final instruction video and last treehouse video I have created showing you how I built this amazing clubhouse treehouse for my kids in my backyard. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer.

Step 1

First laid down tar paper over the plywood roof. I then used my nail gun (Freeman P4FRFNCB Framing/Finishing Combo Kit with Canvas Bag, 4-Piece) to attach the cedar shingles. I have to say my Freeman nail gun is one of the best purchases I have made. It was very affordable and does what I need for almost all of my building and woodworking projects. Here are some additional pictures of me applying the cedar shingles to the treehouse clubhouse roof.

Step 3

After I installed the cedar shingles on the roof I started attaching the cedar siding to the side of the clubhouse. My parents came to visit this summer and I was able to put my dad to work. This made the process go a lot faster as I didn’t have to keep climbing up and down the ladder etc. He was also able to help me hold the siding and take measurements in hard to reach areas. The back side of the treehouse was the hardest area to add the cedar siding. The picture on the left where my dad is sticking his head out was the most challenging area to install the cedar siding because I had tree branches in the way and I didn’t want to cut them or fall off the ladder when installing them.

I was really happy to install the last piece of the cedar siding to the clubhouse treehouse. I cut the last one a few times because I had to make sure it fit just right. In the end I rather enjoyed installing the siding because I could see the vision of my treehouse come to life.

I almost didn’t use cedar siding because of the cost but I am happy that I did and it was well worth the investment. The other good thing about cedar is that it doesn’t rot like other lumber and living where I live, the weather changes quite often. This way I know that the treehouse will last for several years or until the kids outgrow the treehouse, which I hope never happens.

Step 4

With all the cedar siding attached I now had to plan for the next phase, staining the treehouse. I have to say I was not really excited about staining the treehouse but my son was every excited to help out. He really liked helping me out with every aspect of building the treehouse. He told me that his favorite thing was using the drill to screw the treehouse together.

I used an oil based cedar stain that I got from my local hardware store. It was messy and I would recommend wearing clothes that you can throw away when you are done. I used several methods for staining the treehouse.

• Oil based stain brush
• Deck Mop
• Cotton rags

My favorite method was using an oil based stain brush. Here is a link to the one I used. You can get it on Amazon.