Porch Swings

Where Did They Come From?

Have you ever wondered where porch swings originated or who had the great idea to put one on a covered patio, just steps from inside? Well I have, because it is a very pleasant invention and one I enjoy on numerous occasions. Some of the best conversations have taken place on a screen with the sounds of the world in the background.

The Patio

You can’t have porch swings without a patio, so where did this setup come into the picture? As the United States began to prosper and develop new technology they began to build bigger and bigger structures. Houses were some of these structures that continued to grow in size. As houses got larger, they were added to their outer structure so that there could be a sitting area on the exterior of a house. People realized that the country was gaining popularity and there were hoards of people moving in and building, so Americans wanted a way to enjoy the nature before they thought it would disappear.

Upper class citizens had more leisure time on their hands than the working class, and thus wanted to spend some time outdoors rather than indoors everyday. As furniture moved from sitting areas inside to the outside and on these areas, the design changed.

The Seating

As patio furniture gained popularity, a furniture designer and builder thought of a way to take a sofa frame and hang it from the ceiling. Once he did so, it gained much popularity throughout the country and porch swings began to pop up everywhere. Now there was a way to sit out, enjoy your surroundings, and glide back and forth in the beautiful weather.

The Shift

Around the time of World War II, the automobile became increasingly popular and in high demand. With a boom in the transportation industry and families having more children, suburbs grew in popularity as well. As suburbs grew around cities, these areas outside lost their popularity and most of the social interaction took place in the backyard. Porch swings did not bite the dust, however. Instead, they evolved into gliding seats that could sit on the lawn and have the same movement. Gliding seats took off and soon patios began to be covered, and the resurgence of porch swings took place. They have always been around during the history of America, but all they did was shift from the front of the house to the back.

The Now

So today, where are they located, and are they even still around? Well of course they are still around, and they are all over. Not all houses have an outside seating area, and especially ones that are covered, so the popular spot to place these setups has moved to the backyard. As pools and gardens in the backyard have gained popularity, people have placed them around those areas to add a more pleasant sitting space.

They have not disappeared, they have just evolved like many things we have in our culture today. They have taken on a new style and shape, one that is more comfortable and fitting for the area that you want to place it in. Take a look around, and you will probably spot porch swings in more places that you think.

Porch Swings

Maintenance

Many porch swings are made out of wood, but you need to do some good research on which types of wood are best for certain conditions. You also want to consider the climate in which you are currently living and where you will place your model.

A few types of wood to note for your research:

• Western Red Cedar—his type of wood is naturally weather resistant due to its make up and durability.
• Cypress—a very nice wood that is like Red Cedar and weather resistant, but does need to be maintained every couple of years.
• Teak—contains oil and rubber at high concentrations, which is nature’s way of producing water repellent. Teak wood is nearly immune to rotting, which is a great wood to have for your porch swings.
• Recycled plastic—this is becoming a popular material for outdoor furniture. There is no maintenance required. This material does not break down from the weather and is hassle free.

Now that you know a few types of materials used in porch swings and how they fare in the weather, it is also important to decide on the look of that material. If you choose a wood then you will have to maintain it if you want the color to look like new, or if you would rather it fade and have a more rustic look.

An important note: the elements of nature do change the color of wood that is unprotected, that is just the way nature functions. However, when wood changes color that does not always mean that the durability of the structure is sacrificed.

Ways to protect your wood:

• Paint—paint will always be one of the best protections against weather and you most definitely can paint your furniture. It is recommended that you use a good primer before you paint. The downside to paint is that it will eventually peel away and the protection and color will be lost.
• Outdoor finishes—these products are good for weather but have to be applied every year or so to keep your furniture protected. This can be a demanding process especially you don’t want to repeat this process over and over again.
• Oil based products—oil is definitely a good sealant, but it is rather messy. If you don’t want a mess in your yard or on your patio, and don’t want a toxic product all over, then you shouldn’t use oil.
• Water based products—water is an average sealant, but not as good as oil. The upside to water is that it is easier to clean up and it doesn’t create as much of a mess as oil.
• If you live in a climate that sees a lot of rain and humidity, then you want to make sure your porch swings will be mold free. Find a product that protects against mold.
• If you live in a hot climate just know that most products have UV protection but you need to apply it annually.

Store your furniture to continue protection:

If you can store your outdoor furniture during the winter, that is recommended. The wood sees enough harsh conditions during the spring, summer, and fall that it doesn’t need to be exposed during the winter. If you are unable to store your furniture indoors, then simply cover it. Make sure that the porch swings are dry before you cover it to ensure your furniture will last longer.

Porch Swings

Care and Maintenance

Thankfully, porch swings require only a small amount of care to keep them in great condition. Of course you want it to last you for many years, and you want to enjoy many great memories of sitting in it sharing treasured memories with the next generation, or your spouse, or your best friend.

Weather

Weather will break down your porch swings in a hurry if it is not properly protected. Not only will rain cause damage, but sun, snow, wind, all of these elements will aid in the deterioration of your beloved setup if it is not properly protected. If you have a covered patio, and it spends its days under the protection of that covering, you probably have less to worry about. However, if you are like me, and do not have a covered patio, then your model  is exposed to all of the elements, all of the time.

Starting with the wood, you need a good sealant. I am a huge fan of linseed oil to protect a seal wood, but the problem with linseed oil is that the oil will soak into the cushions or clothing if you sit on it too soon after treating the wood. You can use regular deck sealant; you can even use a stain in the color of your choice, or paint. Make sure if you choose to use paint that you get an exterior quality paint – one that won’t be washed off in the next rain storm. I like the way a fresh coat of paint makes things look new and clean, so I like to touch up the paint every spring. You could probably wait for 2 years between paintings if you wanted to.

If you have a metal frame, or all-metal porch swings, you’ll want to keep them just as protected because over time it will begin to rust if you don’t. It is pretty simple to protect it – a coat of exterior paint, which is designed for sticking to metal, will do the trick. Again, because I like the way a fresh coat of paint makes everything look new and fresh, I tend to touch up my exterior furniture every spring, but you can wait about 2 years between touch ups if you want.

Wear and Tear

With use, all things begin to wear out, and with one of these, it is no different. You’ll need to do an inspection of all the pieces of your unit twice a year. I would recommend checking the chain, and all of the moving parts, and tightening any of the bolts and screws that hold it together. This will keep you from facing a catastrophe of the thing falling apart because a bolt or two wiggled loose. I haven’t had to replace many parts on my porch swings over a year, but occasionally the hook that has the rubber piece, that holds the chain in place, needs to be replaced. The rubber wears out, and often it issqueaking when in use, it’s as simple as replacing that little piece.

I hope your setup brings you many years of enjoyment and the chance to pass memories down to the next generation – after all, isn’t that what a porch swings are for?