Sealing Logs For A Treehouse

[Keith Starosta]

I've got a friend who is building a treehouse for his kids, and he asked me a question that I wasn't too sure how to answer. So, I turn to you good folks. Rather than try and re-tell it, here is the text of his note to me...

I need some woodworking advice. I am building a treehouse and all rails and studs are branches and trunks with bark still on. Do you know any product I can seal with or do I have to stip bark (alot of work).

So, what say you? Is there a realatively inexpensive product out there that I can suggest he use?

Thanks for any help you can give!

- Keith

[Chris Padilla]

I wouldn't seal them at all...just let them go natural. I don't think anything you put on is going to do much good out in the weather.

What kind of wood?

[Scott Holmes]

Anchorseal for the cut ends will slow the drying and help prevent checking.

It a wax base that will need to be recoated. It is used to slow drying WoodCraft sells it.

[Ted Calver]

Another considerarion is that leaving the bark on helps keep moisture in the log --not necessarily a good thing if it accelerates decay, and attracts bark boring insects that can weaken the wood. If retaining the load bearing capacity is an issue IMHO removing the bark would help. When the logs dry consider some form of deck stain as a preservative.

[Henry Ambrose]

My suggestion is that any meddling he does now will ruin the rustic charm of the tree house.

A tree house isn't supposed to be too nice.
Let it be.