How to Build a Porch Swing - and if all else fails... buy one!

There’s nothing quite like sitting on your porch swing in the morning while watching the sunrise. You can take in the morning air with some delicious coffee or end your day swinging into relaxation. I bet you’re sold on getting one now, aren’t you? If you’re wondering how you can make one yourself, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn how to build a porch swing and if all else fails to buy one. 

Choose Your Materials

Before you start building the porch swing of your dreams, you need to decide what type of wood you need. Many types of wood would do the trick, but you can find some good options below: 

• Red Cedar Wood- This is a typical option for outdoor use due to its durability and gorgeous color. It’s easy to cut for furniture as well as lightweight. 
• Teak Wood- Teak is a very popular wood for furniture due to its rich yellow coloring. It’s able to repel water, rot, and insects and can support a decent amount of weight making it a good contender. 
• Pine Wood- Pine is a durable wood that is the best option if you’re wanting to paint or stain the swing. That being said, its a softer wood that can get dents or scratches if you’re not easy on it. 

You will also need to use a seal on the wood to keep it protected and have a nice shine. Now that you have the type of wood you need, let’s get building!

Step One: Measure and Cut Your Pieces

It’s best to use a cutting blueprint or diagram before going straight in. This can prevent you from cutting too short and wanting to pull your hair out! Cut your wood according to the length and width of the area you want the porch swing to go.  You will need wood for the frame, slats, and the armrests. Using a table saw is best but any saw will do the trick as long as you use a steady hand. You will need a thicker wood for the frame than you do the slats- generally ¾ and ½ inch thickness for each. 

Depending on the size of your swing, you will need more or fewer slats, so take it slow and remember you can always make more if it’s not enough. 

Step Two: Start Assembling 

Now that all of your pieces are cut to the right size, you can start to assemble the porch swing. The easiest way to start is to layout the frame so you can see your vision coming to life. Drill holes into the ends so you can place the wood pieces together and screw them together through the holes. Having a thicker and durable screw such as gold plated wood screws is important as its the main support for the swing. Insert two screws at different angles for the ultimate support.

Next, you can work on attaching the slats for the seating. Make sure to leave at least ¼ inch of space between each slat.  Attach them the same way you did the frame by drilling holes and adding supportive screws.

After that, you need to attach the armrests. Drill holes where you want them attached to the back of the seat and the bottom then secure them with wood screws.

Step Three: Attach Swing to your Porch

Now for the piece de resistance, adding your swing to the porch! Start by drilling holes through the armrest and seat frame for the eyebolt. Then another hole for the back frame. Screw-in both eyebolts and tighten the nuts with a wrench to make it secure. Repeat these steps on the other side of your swing. Install eyebolts into a secure area on your porch, making sure to measure the correct space from the bolts attached to the swing. Attach the chains to the porch from the eyebolts and then to the swing. 

And voila! You now have a beautiful porch swing that will last for years to come. You can thank me later! Go enjoy your amazing new porch swing.