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There is a magical quality to porch swings. In his summertime classic Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury describes the "ritual of the front-porch swing."

"In the garage they found, dusted, and carried forth the howdah, as it were, for the quiet summer-night festivals, the swing chair which Grandpa chained to the porch-ceiling eyelets…they sat, smiling at each other, nodding, as they swung silently back and forth, back and forth."

Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.

Materials and Construction
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet. You can even improvise with a rope chair or a wicker chair with the legs cut off and a support base added.

Whether you are buying or making, here are things to look for:
•Seat depths vary from 18 to 36 inches (50-100 cm). There is no one "correct" depth -- it's a matter of personal comfort.
•Chair slats should have some curve or slant to them to make a more comfortable seat, and there should be enough space between slats to allow air to circulate.
•Swings can hold one to three people depending on the length of the seat. Of course, the bigger the swing, the heavier the load and the sturdier the supports need to be.
•Swings with additional length-wise supports under the chair slats will be sturdier and will swing more evenly.
•All joints should be bolted or screwed together, not nailed.
•Pine, maple or oak swings will not weather as well as cedar or teak, but can be painted with an exterior paint to extend their life. They also suit a sheltered porch area.
•Wooden bench backs come in a variety of styles. Back slats can run horizontally, vertically with a topper or even vertically at differing heights to form a "round" back. Some styles will suit certain homes better than others.
•Seat cushions, covered in durable outdoor fabrics, can adapt a swing to just about any architectural or decorating style, and also make the swing more comfortable for whiling away those summer evening.

Debbie Rodgers

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