Double bench seat type lawn swing

Ground prep to level and add large type pateo blocks for swing.

1. All ofthe commercial swings are smaller and made from douglas fir or pine, not hardwood. The boards have a lock of cracks from checking, wood shrinkage as the moisture dries out. The standard screws and hardware rust and stains the wood.
2. Every year the paint wood peel after a rough winter and wet spring. No matter what primer and paint I used it would peel. After about 6-8 years when I went to move it, I discovered the ants and rot destroyed it from the inside. It literally fell apart when I tried to move it.
3. Mowing the grass took two people, one to hold the swing out the other mowed one side under the bench seat and repeat for the other side.

This project resolves all the previous issues and made an excellent mother's day present.

Hardwood Swing now on platform for easy mowing and decor.

1. I was not able to buy red wood here in NH, but Highland Hardwoods in Epping NH, sold Brazilian hardwood that was just as good. Unlike pine the bugs and ants have not attacked it. Brushing on the clear Brazilizn oil gives the wood a smooth wax feel. This is so much better than scraping paint, brushing on primer and painting.

2. The supports for the bench seat were curved by cutting in a gradual concave curve from the topside and a rounded leading edge with the jig saw. Attaching the narrow wooden boards along the curved supports makes a comfortable curved bench seat. I used a jig saw to cut off the corners of the arm rests and sanded all the edges to make them round, Clamp the boards together to make both arm rests and bench supports exactly the same by makng two at a time.

3. The platform that connects the two bench seats has 4 support boards for a very solid floor. A shim or nail spacer is used to assure there is a space between the floor and boards on the bench seat to assure moisture isn't trapped.

3. Costs - although the cost may seem high, I won't have to buy a new one every 6-8 years and have a much nicer one then what is currently offered by the mass production companies. Wood cost about $750, stainess steel bolts,washers, nuts and ceramic coated deck screws coast $120. The heavy duty swing mechanism cost about $18.00 per pair. Five years later I added a light weight wooden roof to keep the branches, ticks and bird dropping off us and the swing.

Over the last 5-6 years the sun has darkened the color but the condition of the swing has not changed.

This year I added a low cost, light weight roof. The roof frame is made from 2x3's with two across the center peak. I'm experimenting with using inexpensive slats, most came from old box spring matresses, that I was going to use for a garden fense. The remaining came from Home Depot. They were closely spaced, about one inch for strength. The wood was all stained with an outdoor UV protectant stain.The top is paneling with primer and three coats of paint.

This provides some shade, keeps branches from hitting us or damaging the swing and bench seats. This also keeps the bird crap off the seats.