Here are some recent shots we took of the Eastham treehouse in October.
Just waiting for those relaxing Cape weekends.
This is the approach from the street.
View from the top.
Decking cut around for the tree.
Roof Structure for a little shade.
Tree anchor with structure above.
View from the street with raised garden beds below.
Hope you enjoy these photos. It was a fun project that we hope to do more of.
Concrete countertops can be a unique and cost effective way to get the most out of a kitchen renovation. However, concrete comes with it’s own set of compromises and maintenance requirements.
What’s important to remember is that there is no perfect countertop material. Some may resist scratching, but hot pans can’t be placed on them. Some take the heat well, but stain easily when you spill red wine on them. Concrete is a very porous material, even though it doesn’t look like it. It will soak up liquids quite easily and it penetrates quite deep. It is quite durable on the whole but the corners and edges are vulnerable to chips both in the creation stage as well as throughout it’s life. The countertops are cast upside down in a mold made of melamine (a sheet good with a plastic veneer attached to it) and then flipped over and polished to the same smoothness of stone countertops. Concrete must be sealed in order for it to resist staining. We like to use a penetrating sealer which goes deep into the concrete. This helps liquids stay on the surface longer in order to be wiped up. Leave the liquid on top for too long and it will still stain. This sealer needs to be reapplied every 6 months or so in order to maintain this barrier. We also wax the countertop with beeswax to give it just a little extra protection. If you’re looking for a countertop material that’s going to look pristine on day 1 and 10 years from now, concrete is probably not your answer. Variation in color is common, and they all build up stains over time, no matter how careful you are. To us, it builds character over time that is appealing.
The fun part about concrete is that you can make any shape you want out of it. You can embed things into it that will show on the surface. You can cast recesses for things like cutting boards, drains, and sinks. Most of these are cast in a mold, rather than in place, so care must be taken to make them manageable in size and weight so they can be transported. Stay tuned for more on concrete countertops and how we’ve used them in the past.
To see more of the project above visit www.linealinc.com
Are you one of those people who marvel at the gardens of friends and relatives and think “If only my thumb where green like theirs”? Believe it or not, there are people who can help you. Backyard Harvest is a company that helps people set up and maintain gardens. They specialize in edible gardens, from vegetable gardens to herbs, but they can help you design and build any type of garden you wish. They will take a look at your land, deck, or patio, and make recommendations about what to plant based on your taste, the natural conditions, and your budget. They can provide just the design service all the way to installing your new garden.
There is something rewarding about making dishes out of ingredients that come from your own backyard. Just because you’ve killed every houseplant you’ve ever owned doesn’t mean, that with a little help, you couldn’t be pulling juicy tomatoes and other goodies from your soil. Even though the growing season is coming closer to the end here in New England, this company can help you set up cold frames, which are covered raised beds which extends your growing season further than you thought possible.
We’ve worked with Backyard Harvest in the past, and can say that they provide an amazing service, quality construction and products, and the knowledge and experience to get your garden growing right away.
You can visit them at www.backyardharvestboston.com
Facebook users visit Backyard Harvest
Supporting the weight of a couple kids from a tree is one thing, but what if the adults want to play in the trees? Trees can support a lot of weight, but only if your connection to the trees is sufficient. There are special bolts made that literally screw into the tree trunk and can hold the weight of a small car. Best of all, it doesn’t hurt the tree. Special provisions must be made to make sure that the trees can still move and sway in the wind without putting undue stresses on the treehouse structure, or the trees themselves.
As you can see in the diagram above, a special metal angle that has a slot cut into it allows the rigid structural beams to move while still being supported by the tree anchor. It’s also a good idea to have a tree specialist inspect the trees to make sure they are free from disease and insects, and to check to make sure the root structure is adequate to hold the weight.
To see more pictures of this treehouse visit;
