| Today's adventure is to create a tropical style | | | | to fasten your trunk to the overhead joists as |
| hammock installation within your home. Obvious | | | | previously discussed, and to the floor. You will |
| locations for this would include a Tiki Bar, family | | | | want to attach the "trunk" securely to a footer, |
| room or covered patio, anyplace, in fact, where a | | | | and then attach the footer securely to the floor. |
| hammock hanging from a couple of palm trees | | | | - Once your trunks are sturdy the fun begins. A |
| would lend an inviting decor. No, we are not | | | | visit to your local or online floral supply store |
| going to expect you to plant trees inside the | | | | should net you palm bark, coco fiber, and silk or |
| house. But we are going to create a little tropical | | | | plastic palm fronds. |
| island feeling that is sturdy enough to support a | | | | - Wrap the palm bark around the trunk (this is |
| hammock. | | | | why we like the rounded lumber) to give the |
| - To make the trees we will first need the | | | | effect of a palm trunk. |
| trunks. While these could be 4x4s, you will get a | | | | - Near the top, you will estimate where the |
| much better look from the semi rounded lumber | | | | fronds will go. Drill holes of the appropriate size |
| used in landscaping for built up garden beds. | | | | diagonally downward and insert the fronds. |
| Depending on your design, you may attach these | | | | - If you could get the coco fiber you can hang it |
| just to the ceiling and floor, or to ceiling and walls. | | | | from the fronds. If not, use your imagination to |
| - If you are attaching to walls you will need to | | | | get that rumpled palm look. Now you have your |
| countersink holes every foot or so along the | | | | trees. |
| lumber and use 3 1/2 inch screws to attach to | | | | - To install the hammock drill a 1/4 inch hole in |
| the stud. Since it is unlikely that you will find a | | | | each trunk approximately five to seven feet |
| ceiling joist in line with the wall stud you will also | | | | from the floor (let your hammock be your guide), |
| need a 2x6 or 2x8 section to fasten securely to | | | | and screw in 3/8" diameter eye lags. |
| two ceiling joists. Then attach the trunk piece to | | | | Hook up your hammock and relax in tropical style, |
| the overhead with angle braces. It will not be | | | | regardless of the weather outside. BTW, a drink |
| necessary to fasten into the floor. | | | | with an umbrella in it won't hurt anything at this |
| - If you are not going to use a wall you will need | | | | point! |