Wooden Porch Swings for Fun and Relaxation

Wooden porch swings, I know, but it is still winter. Believe it or not wooden porch swings will be hung back up and be put to good use sooner than we think. I can remember growing up in the mid-west years ago that every other house that had a front porch also had a porch swing. Those that did not have one had some sort of lounge chair for relaxing in the evening.

A front porch swing can be a very valuable item for your home. Have you ever walked by a house with a wooden porch swing and seen everyone sitting on the swing having a good time? The swing just screams out fun and relaxation. Swings can be a lot of fun, but now days there are too many newer homes that do not have front porches to place those porch swings. We can place a wooden porch swing just about anywhere. The hanging type will need a front porch roof, a very sturdy patio cover, or a couple of strong branches from a couple of side by side trees to attach the chains.

Porch swings make your house seem cozier and have a relaxed atmosphere. They are a great place for reading the morning paper and having a cup of coffee or swinging with a loved one on a lazy day. Adding some cushions makes the experience even more comfortable. Front porches with their wooden porch swings are wonderful entertainment places. You can also take advantage of the night sky and those cool outdoor breezes.

Before buying a wooden porch swing, it is important to buy the swing that meets your needs. Below is a list of things you need to think about and why they are important. Where is your swing going to be, on a covered porch, in your garden, on the deck or patio? You need to make sure to get the proper size for that particular area, the proper hardware, cushions, and you need to decide what wood suites you best. The most popular swings are wood porch swings and wicker porch swings. The wicker swings have that old world charm and can be painted to suite your taste.

There are at least five types of wood used for wooden porch swings and they are cedar, cypress, pine, teak, and alder. Cedar porch swings are one of the most popular because of its natural ability to resist weather and its natural oils help prevent decay and the invasion of insects. Cedar swings start out as a reddish brown color and changes to a silvery gray with age. Cypress porch swings are popular due to its durability and it takes paint very well. It will hold the paint longer than other types of wood. Cypress swings however, can develop small cracks known as weather cracking.

Pine porch swings are also very popular but they will need staining on a regular basis because it is a very delicate wood. It is also very soft and light weight, and will resist decay, insects and the weather. Alder porch swings have the strength and durability of hardwood and are easy to paint like the cypress. Teak porch swings have a similar fragrance to that of rosewood and its natural oils will repel water quite well. Teak does not need to be treated but can be sealed if desired. Teak swings will not rot.

Porch swings are available in other types of materials, but I just wanted to touch on wooden porch swings. You can also purchase self contained wooden porch swings or a porch glider swings that will sit on a deck, patio, garden, or even in your front yard. The installation of a porch swing is not that difficult and it can be done in just a couple of hours. All you need to do is find the kind that best suite your home.