Some of the best home improvement ideas are right under your nose. Or, in this case, your front porch! In this Backyard Life video, model Willow Hand debuts her DIY porch swing build project.
To Willow and fiancé Josh Knight, this DIY porch swing build comes down to three simple steps: woodwork, staining and sewing.
The length of Willow’s swing was an important consideration. She comments in this video that—despite searching online and scouring social media scouring—she couldn’t find a swing like the one she wanted. Her vision was one wide enough to seat two people comfortably, with a mattress thick enough to lay down and nap on.
Willow opted for a new crib mattress to serve as her swing’s cushion. It’s the perfect solution: cozy, supportive, and not too bulky. (It’s wide enough to meet her two-person criteria.) All it needs now is a protective cover to keep rain and mildew at bay.
Porch Swing Build
Josh starts the porch swing build by cutting the swing’s 2×4 and 1×4 frame bottom boards. Once cut, he puts the bottom frame together. Once complete, 1x2s will be used for the swing back and handrails.
Willow and Josh work with pinewood quite a bit in their projects. It resists swelling and streaking. Pine’s only downside, Willow and Josh say, is that it’s not preferred for staining. While stain brings out the character in just about all wood, pine needs a wood conditioner applied first. It helps the wood accept the stain better and provides a far better finish than if it wasn’t applied.
Pine’s notorious for blotching, Josh says, and conditioning the wood results in richer, more even color applications. In the video, the couple waits until the stain’s nearly dry before sealing it. Josh applies a polyurethane seal, and the results are impressive.
Installation
With the porch swing build complete, it’s time to suspend it from the ceiling. Josh chooses a thick rope and strong eye bolts. Before hanging any swing, Willow and Josh recommended ensuring the wood being drilled into wood can withstand the weight—2×8 joists or 4×4 beams being ideal. If the beams are exposed, you can make that determination easily. But, if they’re not, you’ll need to potentially remove a section of the porch to determine if your ceiling is strong enough to hold your swing.
