How to Build a Porch Swing

Porch swings became popular all across America in the mid 1800s, when people bought houses with huge front yards, and built swings, where they spent a lot of leisure time, swinging and enjoying a glass of iced tea or lemonade. Porch swings are very popular as leisure furniture in many households. Just follow these simple instructions given below and get your swing ready. One can use the same technique for building smaller swing sets for children too.

Building a Porch Swing

Porch swings can mostly seat up to four people. They are generally five to six feet long and about four to five feet wide. The depth is based on individual requirement, but tends to vary from 20 to 40 inches. Design and style can be incorporated in the swing's back and arm rest. Some prefer keeping it simple, while others love to get artistic by creating decorative back and arm rests. While building a porch swing, one should give priority to comfort in its design. While most porch swings are made of wood, metal swing sets for the porch have also become quite popular these days.

Materials Needed:

• Treated lumber boards (Length and width as per needed)
• Rust proof fasteners
• Jigsaw
• Circular saw
• Hammer
• Tape measure
• Electric drills
• Screw, nuts and bolts
• Galvanized chain

Method:

Take three long rectangular 5 feet long and 1 foot wide pieces of wood, and using the electric drill and galvanized wood screws, secure them together in the shape of a big rectangle. This is the seat. Take four or five (depending on the desired length of the swing's back) long rectangular pieces of 5 feet long and 1 foot wide wooden boards, and attach them in the same way you did for the seat. One can get a ready-made decorative back and arm rest for the porch swing, or carve out the design themselves. Assemble the seat and the back frame by securing them together with nuts and bolts at five inch intervals in between the corners.

To build the arm rest, cut two pieces of wood about 1 foot long, and another piece three feet long. The short pieces of wood are support for the arm rests, while the longer pieces are the arm rests. Cut out another set of three wood pieces for the other side. Secure the pieces together and attach it to the swing. Once the porch swing is done, it is time to varnish or paint it. Use varnish or paint along with anti-termite treatment to prolong the swing's life. Allow the swing to dry up completely before hooking it up. Determine the position of your swing, this will ensure that while you are swinging, the swing does not hit a wall and get damaged. Attach two large hooks with the help of screws into the porch ceiling and beneath the porch swing's frame (towards the arm rest sides). Pass the galvanized chain through the ceiling and swing's hook and fasten.

It is important to have a plan for building your swing set before you actually put yourself to the task. There are a few important things one must bear in mind while building a porch swing. Curve out all edges by using a sandpaper to smooth out sharp edges to prevent splinter injuries. Ensure safety precautions when operating power tools, and never leave any other tools like saws, screws, etc. unattended, especially if one has children around.